Written Answers Nos. 93-113
93. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the current situation in Myanmar; the action Ireland is taking at international level in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13646/23]
View answerI remain gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. The military coup has resulted in over 3,000 deaths. 16,000 people remain in arbitrary detention. The prospect of elections being held this year is also concerning. It is inconceivable that fair, free and legitimate elections could be held, particularly in the context of the ongoing detention of political figures and the introduction by the military of the Myanmar Political Parties Registration Law.
Ireland remains actively engaged on the crisis, nationally, through the United Nations and at the EU level. We maintained a strong focus during our United Nations Security Council term, including supporting Resolution 2669, the first Resolution on Myanmar in decades. During the current 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland's Statement highlighted the work of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and other efforts to ensure accountability. Ireland also supports the International Court of Justice: we have made a €1 million contribution to the Office of the Prosecutor to help him meet the increased demands, including with regard to Myanmar.
Over 17 million people in Myanmar are in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland has provided nearly €6m in humanitarian aid and civil society support including towards the Rohingya crisis response since the outbreak of the coup.
On 20 February, the EU agreed a sixth round of sanctions. This latest package includes companies supplying fuel, arms and funds to the military. Ireland supports further measures that would be effective in working to restore the democratic path in Myanmar, without exacerbating the humanitarian situation.
Ireland is fully supportive of ASEAN’s efforts to solve the crisis through the Five-Point Consensus, which I discussed with counterparts during the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in December last year. I welcome ASEAN’s plans to engage all stakeholders soon and reiterate the Consensus must be implemented as a matter of urgency.
94. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any effort has been made by the Government to follow-up on requests for Ireland to assist Moldova in preparing for EU membership, particularly in view of attempts to destabilise the democratic government of Moldova through hybrid warfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/23]
View answer113. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has engaged with the government of Moldova; if any assistance has been offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13615/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 113 together.
Ireland welcomed the decision of the European Council last June to grant EU candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine, an outcome we had long advocated for. As I reiterated when I spoke to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu in January, and again at the Foreign Affairs Council last month, Ireland fully supports Moldova's application for EU membership.
In Brussels, we have worked with a group of likeminded Member States to propose a range of political and practical steps through which the European Commission might advance Moldova’s European perspective, as well as that of Ukraine and Georgia. This has included advocating for targeted EU technical and expert support to develop national negotiating platforms and comprehensive communication strategies to inform the public throughout the accession process. At the same time, we continue to support programmes in other regional and multilateral fora, including at the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to reinforce Moldova’s commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
We continuously advocate for intensified efforts to assist Moldova at the EU level. I expect that the European Council will address the matter later this week, in the context of increasing evidence of destabilising activities by external actors.
Ireland is and will continue to be steadfast in our support for Moldova. In addition to humanitarian help provided at the beginning of 2022, we confirmed an additional €5 million in December 2022 in budgetary support, which was channelled through the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This funding, aimed at assisting the Government in meeting its most immediate expenditure needs, was in recognition that Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, continues to be disproportionately impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I have been deeply impressed by the generous welcome the Moldovan people have given to refugees from Ukraine, and their resilience in the face of Russian interference. I know that both Deputies Brady and Howlin share my sentiments and have expressed this on many occasions since visiting Moldova in June 2022.
My Department has been engaging with the Moldovan administration and with partners at multilateral level to identify the most efficient way to continue support Moldova to prepare for EU membership. Officials from my Department have visited Chisinau to meet senior Government representatives to discuss what other measures might be taken to accelerate Moldova’s path to accession.
We have also been following recent political developments with concern, and it is clear that attempts to destabilize Moldova have escalated. It is incumbent upon us to do all we can to support the Moldovan government and people, not least in the context of Moldova’s EU Candidate Status.
95. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the further supports Ireland will be providing for Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13637/23]
View answer122. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of bilateral aid provided to Ukraine in 2022; the amount committed to in 2023; the additional supports or funds Ireland has made available this year; if he has sought an increase in assistance above the current allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13616/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 122 together.
Ireland has been supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people both bilaterally and through the EU budget since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched on 24 February 2022. Ireland’s support has been directed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of the invasion, as well as supporting the Ukrainian government, public services and economy. We have also contributed to the provision of non-lethal assistance to Ukraine to assist it in withstanding the Russian aggression.
Ireland was among the first to respond to the crisis in Ukraine with humanitarian assistance. Irish Aid provided €20 million in support in the first weeks of the conflict, disbursed through UN agencies, the Red Cross movement and Irish NGOs. From this package €1 million has been earmarked for UNHCR’s response to refugees in Poland and Moldova respectively. €2 million is supporting the response of Irish-based NGOs in partnership with local civil society while another €1.5 million was granted to UNFPA who are focusing on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including maternal and new-born health; and protection from gender-based violence, predominantly for women and girls and the most vulnerable. In addition, 5 members of the Rapid Response Register were also deployed to support the efforts of UN agencies in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
In December 2022, my Department made a further contribution of €25 million in bilateral funding to Ukraine. Of this, €20 million was disbursed through the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This funding supports the Ukrainian government in providing essential public services, including pensions, social assistance grants, health service delivery through hospitals and clinics and wages to State Emergency Service staff. €4 million was provided to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Small Business Impact Fund. Ireland’s contribution will be allocated to SMEs in Ukraine who are playing a vital role in maintaining economic activity under extreme extraordinary circumstances. €1 million was provided to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Ukraine Solidarity Fund. The Fund addresses social needs created by the war, such as emergency assistance, resettlement and integration of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Ireland has also committed €77 million in support for Ukraine’s armed forces under the European Peace Facility. In line with the Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution is directly solely towards non-lethal assistance and is used to help supply items such as medical equipment, food, personal protective equipment and fuel.
In addition, Ireland has provided significant in-kind assistance from the Health Service (HSE and IBTS) including hospital supplies, ambulances, blood bags, bio-protection suits and medical protection masks. The estimated value of these in-kind donations is €9.4 million. We have also provided assistance via the EU led mechanisms to the Ukraine energy sector including spare parts to repair gas and electricity infrastructure.
Ireland also contributes to the crisis in Ukraine through our core funding to key humanitarian partners and joint mechanisms such as WHO, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC, WFP and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). To date, the CERF has allocated €60 million to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Ireland was the 9th largest donor to the CERF in 2022.
In terms of support within the State, the Department of Justice began granting Temporary Protection to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine on 9 March 2022. To date some 77,000 people have been granted Temporary Protection in Ireland.
€75 million was announced in Budget 2023 to address humanitarian and other needs in Ukraine, neighbouring countries and the global response to the crisis. This will include €32 million in direct support to Ukraine and its neighbours, as well as support to countries around the world dealing with the broader impacts of the crisis.
96. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will detail the level of support Ireland is providing for countries experiencing food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12642/23]
View answerThe world is facing a global food affecting hundreds of millions of vulnerable people. It has been driven by climate change, conflict, and the continuing impact of COVID-19, and has been exacerbated by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Ireland has been a long-standing champion of efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. Our policy approach is firmly rooted in the knowledge of the long-term impact which famine can have on the fabric of a nation. The fight against hunger and malnutrition is at the heart of our development work, and is critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2021, Ireland provided over €200 million for initiatives to address the hunger crisis. We have committed in our international development policy, a Better World, to target those furthest behind, with a priority on preventing hunger and developing sustainable food systems. At the December 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit, Ireland pledged to provide a total of €800 million over five years on nutrition and food security. At the UN last September, Ireland pledged an additional €50 million over three years to address the scandal of acute malnutrition among children.
In November 2022, the Government provided an additional €30 million to the Department of Foreign Affairs for Irish Aid's humanitarian response to the crisis in the Horn of Africa, one of the regions hardest hit by food insecurity. Throughout Ireland's two-year term on the UN Security Council, we consistently highlighted the underlying causes of food insecurity and the links between conflict and hunger.
Ireland's strong engagement with the World Food Programme is central to our work to address food shortages. We agreed in December 2021 that Ireland will provide at least €75 million to the World Food Programme over the three years to 2024. Ireland is also actively engaged as a member of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme and of the Board of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
97. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the engagement he has had with the British government, political parties in the North and the European Union following the announcement of the Windsor Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13668/23]
View answer554. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he continues to press for an early and amicable resolution to the impasse in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol in the course of the various opportunities he has had with his UK and EU counterparts. [5875/23]
View answer556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has had discussions with the British Prime Minister in the context of the Northern Ireland Protocol in recent weeks. [8520/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 554 and 556 together.
The announcement on 27 February by European Commission President von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Sunak that the EU and UK reached political agreement on a new way forward on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is very welcome.
This new agreement, the ‘Windsor Framework’, is the result of genuine engagement, and of the EU and UK working together and listening to elected representatives, citizens and business in Northern Ireland.
The Framework is a series of practical and sustainable measures that addresses in a definitive way the real-life concerns raised by people and business in Northern Ireland. It is a comprehensive, jointly agreed solution that offers a solid basis for stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.
Both in the run up to the announcement of the Windsor Framework and in the period since, the Government has maintained regular contact with stakeholders in the UK, Northern Ireland and the EU.
I met Prime Minister Sunak and Foreign Secretary Cleverly at the Munich Security Conference in February where we discussed the EU-UK talks on the Protocol. The Taoiseach has also spoken with Prime Minister Sunak. The Minister of State for European Affairs Peter Burke met Foreign Secretary Cleverly in New York on 24 February and spoke with his British counterpart Leo Docherty on 26 January. As part of the St Patrick’s Day programme, Minister Humphreys and Minster of State Carroll MacNeill visited cities across Great Britain where they engaged with a range of stakeholders from politics, business and civil society.
The Taoiseach and I have been in regular contact with the political parties in Northern Ireland. I am in touch on ongoing basis with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and last spoke with him on 9 March.
In all of our engagements, we express the hope that agreement on the Windsor Framework will provide momentum towards ensuring that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement get up and running, across all three strands. This is very clearly what the people of Northern Ireland want and is a core priority of the Government.
I am in ongoing contact with our partners across the EU. I speak regularly with European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič. When we spoke last, I thanked him and his team for their indefatigable work on the Windsor Framework. The Taoiseach is also in contact with Commission President von der Leyen.
It is also abundantly clear from speaking with my EU counterparts that solidarity with Ireland and their support for Northern Ireland and the peace process remains strong. EU support for the Windsor Framework has been overwhelmingly positive. Minister of State Burke will attend the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 21 March at which we expect EU member states to give their formal backing to the Windsor Framework.
We are also in regular contact with the US administration and key interlocutors in the United States. More broadly our recent St Patrick’s Day programme provided a platform to share our priorities on this issue with stakeholders across the globe.
The Windsor Framework provides an important opportunity for a renewed British-Irish partnership, which has been so vital for peace and prosperity on these islands. It also marks the beginning of a new phase in EU-UK relations. As we respond to shared global challenges – war in Ukraine, climate change – it is in the best interests of all our people that the EU and UK work together.
98. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action that is being taken in relation to Russia's campaign to remove Ukrainian children to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13639/23]
View answerIreland is deeply concerned by mounting evidence that Russia is forcibly transferring Ukrainian children, either to parts of Ukraine’s territory temporarily controlled or occupied by Russia, or to Russia itself. Concerns in relation to Russia’s actions in this regard have been raised by credible bodies, including the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the UN Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights.
Such actions, if confirmed, would be in violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Russia is a party to. These actions could also amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Ireland has raised this issue in our statements in multilateral fora, including the Human Rights Council, both in national capacity and as part of the European Union. We will continue to do so, to highlight our concerns and to hold Russia to account.
Ireland also co-sponsored a resolution of the UN Human Rights Council establishing an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Commission will establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of any such violations and abuses. The Commission has already provided an interim report to the Human Rights Council in September 2022 and to the General Assembly. The Commission have reported that, among other grave human rights violations, people have been unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation. Ireland will support the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council.
I welcome the decision by the International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor Office to issue arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in respect of possible war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Ireland is a strong supporter of the independence and integrity of the International Criminal Court and its vital work in investigating and prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ireland will continue to support accountability measures for violations of international law committed in Ukraine, including through support for the ICC Prosecutor’s office, and intervening in support of Ukraine in cases against the Russian Federation before the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
99. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had any discussions on the impacts of Israel’s continued aggression and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and its destabilising effects on the region during his recent trip to Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/23]
View answerI undertook a visit to Lebanon from 25 - 27 January this year. The key focus of the mission was to visit the Irish troops serving with UNIFIL and discuss the investigations into the 14 December attack on a UNIFIL vehicle in Al-Aqbieh in which Private Seán Rooney died and three others were injured.
During the visit I met with the Lebanese Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr Abdullah Bou Habib, and with the Minister for Defence, Mr Maurice Sleem. These political level meetings provided an opportunity to underline the need to ensure that the ongoing investigations by UNIFIL and by the Lebanese authorities into the incident are thorough and complete as possible. While there were some discussions on some regional issues, current events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory were not discussed in any detail.
Ireland remains deeply concerned by those current events, including the high number of casualties in recent months. The Israeli Palestinian conflict is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland and is a regular point of discussion with regional partners and in multilateral formats including in the EU and at the UN.
100. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures he has put in place to ensure there are no delays to the issuing of passports this summer; the number of applications that are on hand at present; the current processing time for a passport application for an adult and for a child, respectively; the number of passports that have been issued in each month of the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13613/23]
View answer104. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that are in place to deal with any surge in demand in passport applications this year; if any surge in applications will affect the processing times currently being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13666/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 104 together.
The busy season for passports in 2023 is underway, and demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue just under 1.1 million passports this year. The busy period is expected to run until the end of June, with the peak expected in April.
Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements were made in 2022 and full, normal service was restored following disruptions to the service during the pandemic. All processing times are at their target level and there are no backlogs.
The Passport Service has implemented operational and staffing plans for 2023 and as a result it is successfully meeting demand. The Passport Service has issued over 230,000 passports to date in 2023.
My Department has run 16 competitions since 2021 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service and another is currently underway. Adequate staffing remains a priority and recruitment will continue in the coming months. Additional office space on the Balbriggan campus provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers. This brings the total capacity of the Balbriggan campus to 500 workstations.
Currently, 100% of calls are being answered by the Customer Service Hub and the staffing plan for 2023 aims to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained during periods of peak demand.
Over 90% of applicants now apply through Passport Online. The Passport Communications Campaign for Winter-Spring 2023 focuses on highlighting the benefits of the Digital First approach for passport applications. Indications are that the campaign is having the desired impact. January was the second busiest month on record for the Passport Service, with over 148,000 applications received. Of these applications, 92% were made online.
There are currently 69,000 fully complete applications in the Passport Service system. There are a further 66,000 applications that are awaiting further action by the applicant.
The current processing times are as follows:
Online simple adult renewal - 10 working days
Online child/complex adult renewal - 15 working days
Online first time application, adult or child - 20 working days
Post Passport via An Post, adult or child - 8 weeks
I am confident that the staffing and accommodation measures implemented, along with other improvements, will continue to have a positive impact on passport processing times for 2023. I am also confident that the forecasted high demand for the coming months will continue to be successfully met by the Passport Service.
The number of passports that have been issued in each month of the past year are outlined below in tabular form:
|
Month |
Passports Issued |
|
2022 |
|
|
February |
124,231 |
|
March |
108,763 |
|
April |
117,277 |
|
May |
121,914 |
|
June |
120,677 |
|
July |
101,925 |
|
August |
84,971 |
|
September |
73,600 |
|
October |
55,592 |
|
November |
57,195 |
|
December |
32,797 |
|
2023 |
|
|
January |
93,697 |
|
February |
100,987 |
102. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action Ireland is taking to protect people from persecution on account of their religious beliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13645/23]
View answerIreland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are.
The protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief is a priority for Ireland and the EU’s human rights engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels, as reaffirmed in The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World.
At a multilateral level, the right to freedom of religion or belief features prominently in Ireland’s engagement at the United Nations including in the General Assembly, at the Human Rights Council, and during our recent term on the Security Council. Ireland consistently co-sponsors resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and at the Human Rights Council.
On 9th March 2023, at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland highlighted our concerns about the rise in incidents of religious hatred, discrimination, and intolerance and called on States to ensure that religious communities can manifest their right to freedom of religion or belief and to contribute to society openly and on an equal footing.
Ireland also participates in intergovernmental alliances dedicated to religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities, including the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Within the EU, Ireland works with partners to address the persecution of religious minorities and to step up action to combat discrimination on any ground, including religion or belief. During our Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013, Ireland played a key role in the development and adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. These guidelines provide a framework for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in the EU's external human rights policies.
103. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13497/23]
View answerI am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, in person, by telephone and through the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which met in Dublin in January.
In our last conversation, on 9 March, we discussed the importance both governments attach to the full functioning of the institutions across the three Strands of the Good Friday Agreement, including and in particular the Assembly and Executive. While the Northern Ireland parties require time to consider the Windsor Framework, it remains my view that this should not delay getting the institutions back up and running in fulfilment of last May’s electoral mandate.
In that conversation I also reiterated the importance of the principles of consent and of parity of esteem, and the enduring need for close cooperation between the two governments on any matters which might touch upon the delicate balances that underpin the Good Friday Agreement.
I also raised the British Government's Legacy Bill, expressing my view that it would be unlikely to be found in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and that enactment would damage reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. I again noted that the Bill is a unilateral move away from the arrangements agreed in Stormont House, and that Bill that is not supported by political parties, civil society, or victims and their representatives in Northern Ireland. The best way forward would be to pause passage of the Legacy Bill and return to an agreed approach.
I will remain in regular contact with the Secretary of State in the weeks ahead.
108. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on Ireland's contribution to the 'Global Partnership for Education'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12643/23]
View answerThe Government believes that education is a human right, and that it is fundamental to sustainable development. Through our international development programme, Ireland supports the strengthening of education systems, and focuses in particular on education in emergencies and on girls’ education. The Government's international development policy, A Better World, commits to scaling up support for education, guided by the overarching principle of reaching the furthest behind first.
In line with this commitment, Ireland pledged to contribute €60 million over the period 2021 to 2025 to the Global Partnership for Education, Ireland’s most significant global education partner. This represented a 44% increase on previous levels of funding. The mandate of the Global Partnership for Education is to contribute to equitable, quality education and learning for all. It is a multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to strengthen education systems in developing countries in order to increase the number of children in school, with a specific emphasis on girls’ education. During 2022, grants by the Global Partnership for Education supported more than 106 million students and the training of more than 675,000 teachers. It is a key partnership for Ireland’s support to building resilient education systems.
Since 2021, Ireland has provided €22 million of the €60 million pledge. For 2023, we will provide a further €13 million.
Of Ireland’s €60 million pledge, €10 million is ring-fenced for the Girls’ Education Accelerator. This aims to advance gender equality in education in regions and countries where girls’ attendance and learning has been identified as a key challenge through provision of dedicated resources.
Earlier this year on the International Day for Education, Minister Sean Fleming took part in the Raise Your Hand campaign, reaffirming Ireland’s support to the Global Partnership for Education and to championing education that has a transformative impact on gender equality.
109. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on popular protests in Israel at attempts by the Netanyahu government to make changes to the country’s judicial system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13676/23]
View answerI am concerned by recent developments in Israel regarding judicial reform and call upon the Israeli Government to ensure that the rule of law is protected. I am also aware of the widespread popular protests regarding these proposals, and support the right of people everywhere to engage in peaceful protest. I note that Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called on the Government to suspend the current legislative process and engage in talks to gain broad consensus on any reforms.
Ireland is committed to strongly advocating for democracy and democratic values and the rule of law, of which an impartial judiciary is a prerequisite. Under the rule of law, all public powers must always act within the constraints set out by law, in accordance with the values of democracy and fundamental rights, and under the supervision of independent and impartial courts. Successfully implemented, the rule of law protects the rights and liberties of individuals and provides the legal protections and space for a truly free and open society.
110. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government is currently taking to secure the release of a person (details supplied), who was recently sentenced to six and half years in prison in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/23]
View answerI remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department.
To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case, including through my own discussions with the Foreign Minister of Iran.
In our engagement we are stressing the urgent importance of the citizen being released from prison on humanitarian grounds, in light of his deteriorating medical condition.
My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen, and to his family - with whom I have been in direct contact. We are liaising with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.
As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.
111. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of online passport applications that are currently waiting to be processed; the general processing times for online applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13514/23]
View answer124. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason there is such a disparity in online passport application processing timeframes compared to postal application processing timeframes, given that the online application process is not accessible to all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13515/23]
View answer125. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of postal passport applications that are currently waiting to be processed; the estimated timeframe for this backlog to be cleared; and the general processing times for postal applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13513/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124 and 125 together.
The Passport Service is successfully meeting the current high demand for passports, having implemented operational and staffing plans for 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs of either online or paper applications.
Following a strategic media and communications campaign that was rolled out in December 2022 with a view to managing demand and encouraging applicants to apply online, the Passport Service received over 148,000 applications in January. This is the second highest monthly figure on record.
The deployment of additional resources to the Passport Service Customer Service Hub ensures that 100% of customers who call the Passport Service are getting through each day. The Passport Service has issued over 230,000 passports to date in 2023.
The Passport Service is pursuing a Digital First strategy and promoting Passport Online as the quickest, most convenient and least expensive channel for applicants.
Passport Online is available to 97% of applicants around the world regardless of whether they are first time applicants or are renewing their passport. Over 90% of applicants from around the world now apply for their passport using this channel. The Passport Service continues to offer a range of application channels, including a paper-based service for citizens who are not eligible or do not wish to use the Passport Online service.
There are currently over 49,000 fully complete online passport applications and over 18,000 fully complete paper applications in the Passport Service system. These applications are not considered outstanding, as they are being processed in line with normal turnaround times. There are a further 55,000 online applications and 11,000 paper applications in the Passport Service system that are pending further action by the applicant.
The current processing times for all applications are as follows:
Online simple adult renewal - 10 working days
Online child/complex renewal - 15 working days
Online first time application - 20 working days
Post Passport via An Post - 8 weeks
The quicker processing times for online applications are a result of the centralisation of passport processing which Passport Online has allowed for. There are limitations to the paper-based processing system which mean it will always be less efficient than the online system.
The processing time of 8 weeks for paper-based applications compares favourably internationally with countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where advertised processing times are 10 weeks and 8-11 weeks respectively.
Whilst there are no current plans to reduce the processing time for paper-based applications, the Passport Service is committed to maintaining the published processing time.
