Written Answers Nos. 602-621
602. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will respond to concerns relating to an agreement between Morocco and an Israeli energy company (details supplied) for natural gas exploration in the territorial waters of Western Sahara; and if this theft of Western Sahara’s natural resources will be highlighted with the Moroccan and Israeli ambassadors. [63453/22]
View answerAs per the UN position, Ireland recognises Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. Under international law, the economic resources of a non-self-governing territory may only be exploited for the benefit of the people of the territory, on their behalf, or in consultation with their representatives. Any exploration and exploitation activities that proceed in disregard of the interests and wishes of the people would be in violation of the principles of international law applicable to natural resource activities in non-self-governing territories.
Ireland does not have a role in any commercial agreement between the parties in this case.
Ireland’s position on Western Sahara is clear, including to our international partners. Our long-standing policy is one of support for United Nations Security Council Resolutions on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. We do not have a view on the outcome of a decision on the future of the territory, as long as it is decided peacefully and in a genuine exercise of self-determination. During our term on the United Nations Security Council, Ireland consistently reiterated this position.
604. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the implementation of the UK Nationality and Borders Act and the need to have exemptions to this scheme to ensure the continuation of the free movement of people on a cross-Border basis on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63514/22]
View answerThe UK Nationality and Borders Act provides for the establishment of a scheme under which non-Irish and non-British citizens would need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. While details of how this scheme will be implemented still need to be established, I am deeply concerned at the potential impact of the scheme on non-Irish residents of Ireland and visitors who wish to travel from South to North.The introduction of the ETA scheme - as it is currently proposed by the UK government - would impact upon the fluid nature of movement on the island, and on the effectiveness of North-South cooperation under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. There are particular concerns relating to tourism and cross border health service provision, both of which have a cross border dimension.
Tourism Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance have articulated clearly to the UK Government the risks to tourism, in particular the tourism industry in Northern Ireland. Since this legislation was proposed, the Government has been engaging actively with the UK on this issue. As Taoiseach, I voiced my concerns repeatedly. My predecessor as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Coveney, in addition to expressing the Government's concerns in writing to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has together with the Minister for Justice used the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to follow-up on these concerns formally with the UK government. The introduction of the ETA will again be discussed at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting in Dublin on 19 January. In addition to high level political contact, there continues to be regular engagement at official level to scope out possible exemptions to the scheme.
605. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will propose a similar agreement to the proposal by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister to the US Government to agree a maximum number of representatives in each of their respective diplomatic missions in order to fix the maximum number of Russian diplomats in Dublin equal to the number of Irish diplomats in Moscow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63534/22]
View answerThe Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows:
- Diplomatic staff;
- Administrative and Technical staff, and;
- Service staff.
There are currently 21 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - 9 Diplomats and 12 Administrative and Technical staff.
Prior to the invasion of Ukraine there were a total of 30 officers at the Embassy, 14 diplomats and 16 Administrative and Technical staff.
Despite our strong disagreement with the actions taken by Russia, the Government's view is that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open, not least in the interests of our own citizens, both in Russia itself and the five central Asian republics to which Ireland is accredited via our Embassy in Moscow. These contacts are also an opportunity to reiterate to the Russian side our expectation that Russia will fully meet its VCDR obligations in respect of our Embassy in Moscow, including in relation to the security of our personnel and premises.
As with all of our responses to this crisis, we continue to coordinate closely with other EU Member States on our engagement with Russia and this includes keeping the size of embassy personnel under review.
606. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to devise a way in which individual passport holders can be advised that their passport requires renewal, close to its expiry date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63728/22]
View answer616. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will run a national media campaign to encourage persons to check passport expiry dates ahead of booking holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1532/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 616 together.
Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the following year. Part of this planning involves a public communications strategy carried out by my Department, with a view to ensuring passport demand is manageable throughout the year, by encouraging citizens to apply in plenty of time for their passport prior to travel.
The 2022 communications campaign for passports ran throughout the year over print, broadcast and digital mediums, as well as stadium, event and airport advertising. It included advertisements in national and local radio, as well as advertisements in national press and social media. My Department also issued a press release at the end of 2022, which contained a reminder to citizens to check the validity of their passports and to renew if required. This press release received significant coverage across national media.
My Department is currently rolling out a Digital First media and communications campaign for the Passport Service for 2023. The campaign aims to encourage citizens to check their passport before booking travel, and to apply for their passport online and in plenty of time. This campaign began in December, with digital, print and social media advertisements. Radio advertisements will commence this month, followed by outdoor advertising. All ads will remind citizens to check the validity of their passports before booking travel. The first few weeks of the campaign have already seen a marked increase in traffic to the Passport Service website, compared to the weeks preceding the campaign. The Passport Service will also have a presence at the Holiday World Show in Dublin at the end of January.
The Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service, including a passport reminder service as part of future system enhancements.
607. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the relationship between Ireland and the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization C-24; the input that Ireland has made to this special committee; and if Ireland has ever applied to join same. [63899/22]
View answerThe Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24, was established in 1961 by the General Assembly, as its subsidiary organ devoted to the issue of decolonization. The Committee’s mandate is to examine the application and implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 of December 1960, also known as the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
The C-24 annually reviews the list of seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories to which the Declaration is applicable, hears statements from representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at its annual sessions, dispatches visiting missions to the Territories and organizes regional seminars on an annual basis.
The C-24 consists of 29 members, with the Chair, three 3 Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur acting as the lead group or ‘bureau.’ Ireland supports the work of the Committee, as we do all organs of the General Assembly in keeping with our policy of active and constructive membership of the United Nations.
Ireland’s participation in UN Committees or executive boards of bodies and agencies is subject to regular consideration by the Department of Foreign Affairs in consultation with our Permanent Missions to the United Nations, taking into account a range of factors, including the work and significance of the committee or body, the values and interests of our foreign policy, and available resources. Ireland has not applied to join the Special Committee on Decolonization.
608. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that have been taken by his Department to enforce European Union sanctions against Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1045/23]
View answer609. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that have been taken by his Department to enforce European Union sanctions against Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1059/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together.
The Cross-Departmental International Sanctions Committee (CDISC) monitors, reviews, and coordinates the implementation, administration and exchange of information on international sanctions regimes in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs chairs CDISC. In this capacity, I am responding to these two related questions on behalf of a number of Departments.
CDISC is comprised of officials from the Departments of Agriculture; Enterprise, Trade & Employment; Environment, Climate & Communications; Finance; Foreign Affairs; Justice; Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and Transport, as well as officials from An Garda Síochána; the Central Bank of Ireland; the National Security Analysis Centre; the Office of the Attorney General; and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Officials from other Departments and agencies join CDISC meetings on an ad hoc basis. While various Committee members lead on different areas of sanctions implementation (e.g., the Central Bank of Ireland leads on asset freezes, the Department of Justice on travel bans, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, on import and export controls), there is a high level of coordination between CDISC members on all implementation matters.
Within the EU, each Member State is required to designate competent authorities that are engaged with sanctions issues, and to grant derogations where provided for under EU sanctions regimes. In Ireland, the three national competent authorities for EU sanctions are my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Central Bank of Ireland. The three competent authorities work closely together when considering and granting derogations, particularly in the context of sanctions on Russia and Belarus.
Ireland has fully supported and implemented the sanctions adopted in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, including the sanctions imposed on Belarus for its role in supporting Russia in this conflict. The extent of these sanctions is unprecedented in EU history, and the level of coordination and cooperation on sanctions matters among EU Member States, as well as at national level, has increased as a result.
In March 2022, the European Commission set up a “Freeze and Seize Task Force”, to ensure coordination at EU level of work done by Member States on sanctions implementation in the context of the war in Ukraine. Ireland participates in this Task Force, as well as in its four sub-committees, at official level. The Commission also convened a high-level Expert Group on sanctions in October 2022, to discuss how the EU and its Member States can improve sanctions implementation concerning Russia and Belarus, which officials from my Department attended. At national level, we have significantly increased our reporting to the Commission of Russian funds frozen in Ireland, now updating on a weekly basis. At present, €1.8 billion is frozen.
All Government Departments and agencies in Ireland remain committed to fully implementing and enforcing EU sanctions on Russia and on Belarus, with implementation and enforcement of these measures discussed regularly at meetings of CDISC. Ireland stands resolutely with Ukraine and its people, and is unwavering in its support of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
612. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1305/23]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.
During 2022, my Department implemented a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications on hand, with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these applications. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, have had a positive impact on the waiting time for applicants. The current waiting time for FBR applications is 11 months from receipt of supporting documents, down from over 2 years in mid 2022.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for this application were received on 4 April 2022, and are being stored in a secure environment pending entitlement checking.
614. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific delegated functions that have been transferred to Ministers of State appointed in December 2022, in tabular form; and the date of transfer. [1470/23]
View answerThere are two Ministers of State at my Department, Peter Burke TD and Seán Fleming TD. On 21 December 2022, Minister Burke was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs and Minister Fleming was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora.
The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 1977 provides for the delegation of statutory Ministerial powers and duties to Ministers of State. This may be done at the request of the Minister concerned, by Government Order.
My statutory powers as Minister for Foreign Affairs relate to consular, passport and other technical matters and it is not the practice, nor is it considered necessary, to delegate these functions.
615. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the name of the company, organisation or persons contracted to provide media training to him from 1 January 2021 to date; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1507/23]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has not contracted any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1 January 2021 to date.
I can also confirm that the Department of the Taoiseach did not contract any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to me, as Taoiseach, from 1 January 2021 to date.
617. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that Ireland intends to take in response to the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians due to commence in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1609/23]
View answer619. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement that he has had with his counterparts in Israel with regard to the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinian residents of the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank, in view of the announcement on 2 January 2023 by the Israeli Government that the transfers would commence immediately; the details of any engagement between his Departmental officials on the ground in Israel and Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta since the beginning of January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/23]
View answer622. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the engagements that he has had with the government of Israel in relation to a case (details supplied) and the forced transfer of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1978/23]
View answer625. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations that he has made to the Israeli authorities to protest against the proposed imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children from Masafer Yatta; the response that he has received; the further steps that he intends taking on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2067/23]
View answer626. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that he is taking to stop the imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children, by the Israeli Government in clear violation of international law; if will he acknowledge that the forcible transfer of such people in Occupied Territories is a war crime under international law and that the UN and international, Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisation have called this a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/23]
View answer627. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports that the Israeli Army has informed Palestinian officials of their imminent plans to forcibly displace more than 1,000 Palestinian residents, including more than 500 children in the Masafer Yatta area of the Southern Occupied West Bank; if he agrees that such forcible transfer of protected residents is a war crime under the Geneva Convention and therefore a grave breach of international humanitarian and human rights laws; the action the Irish Government proposes to take to seek to address this systematic oppression against Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2140/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 619, 622 and 625 to 627, inclusive, together.
I am deeply concerned by developments in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, which could amount to the forcible transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians. I again urge the Israeli Government not to proceed with any planned demolitions and evictions, and to abide by its obligations under international law. The forcible transfer of a civilian population of an occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Ireland has been active in raising the issue of evictions, and Masafer Yatta specifically, including during our tenure on the UN Security Council. On 13 May 2022, Ireland, along with fourteen other European countries, issued a statement urging the Israeli authorities not to proceed with these evictions. Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah visited the communities affected on 7 July 2022. Ireland consistently raises the issue of evictions and demolitions in engagements with Israel at both official and political level.
Ireland will continue to work with our international partners locally to emphasise our concerns to Israel, including in close coordination with our partners in the West Bank Protection Consortium.
The Government has been consistently vocal in its opposition to illegal Israeli settlements and their expansion in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions clearly violate international law, undermine prospects for a two-State solution and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
618. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of the Irish Embassy in Colombia in the ongoing land dispute between a company (details supplied) and the Misak people in the Cauca region of Colombia; if he will provide an update on the ongoing mediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1614/23]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs continues to closely engage with the communities and the company in Colombia referenced by the Deputy. This continuing engagement with all parties ensures my officials have a deep understanding of this highly complex situation, to best support inclusive dialogue to resolve the issues at play.
Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Colombia have visited the region and met with stakeholders, most recently in December 2022, to support the facilitation of a dialogue process. This dialogue is proceeding through engagement locally with all relevant stakeholders, including the communities and company involved, the Government in Colombia, and non-governmental organisations.
I encourage all parties to engage constructively in this dialogue process. I hope that this will result in a long-term and inclusive solution that respects the rights of all concerned.
Ireland fully supports the efforts of the Colombian Government to implement land reforms in order to improve equality of land access in Colombia. This support has been communicated to the administration of President Petro. On-the-ground engagement on these issues continues through our Embassy in Colombia.
620. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the dates in 2022 that the Irish ambassador and-or Deputy Head of Mission in Bangkok visited the Pattaya area of Thailand; and the purpose of each visit, in tabular form. [1803/23]
View answerIreland and Thailand continue to enjoy good bilateral relations, which have deepened in recent years following the opening of Ireland's Embassy in Bangkok in 2014.
In the normal course of events Embassy officials regularly engage in work across the many regions of Thailand, including for trade and promotional purposes, to engage with the Irish community, and to provide consular assistance.
Embassy officials visited Pattaya in 2021. In October 2022 the Ambassador met with Irish community representatives from Pattaya in Bangkok. There were no visits by Embassy officials to Pattaya in 2022, due in part to the impact of COVID-19 domestic travel restrictions.
Since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, regular travel by the Embassy has resumed. The Ambassador intends to travel to Pattaya in the coming period.
621. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1970/23]
View answer623. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2001/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 623 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
