Written Answers Nos. 136-149
136. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of Overseas Development Aid in 2022 which was comprised of first-year costs associated with the provision of services for beneficiaries of temporary protection; if such expenditure can be accounted for under overseas development aid in year two or thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29251/23]
View answerUnder the rules for accounting for Official Development Assistance (ODA), managed by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), support for refugees within donor countries is included in ODA in accordance with clear criteria. Costs counted are for refugees' first 12 months only. They include all direct expenses for food, shelter, and training, as well as basic health care and psychosocial supports.
Preliminary analysis from the OECD shows that Ireland's total ODA in 2022 amounted to €2.33 billion, representing 0.64% of Gross National Income. This includes an estimated €884 million in eligible first-year costs in support of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. None of these costs were sourced from the Government's allocation for ODA for 2022, and this will also be the case for 2023.
137. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the renewal of a passport for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29267/23]
View answer139. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue on time for travel date of 26 June 2023 for an online application submitted by a person (details supplied) on 19 May 2023; if additional supporting documents were correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29407/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 139 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
138. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing this application given the fact that it is a renewal application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29279/23]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application. Turnaround time for both renewal and first time paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.
I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the substantial benefits of applying using Passport Online. It is by far the quickest way to apply for a passport.
140. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number and percentage of staff based at either the Irish Embassy in New Delhi or Consulate General Office in Mumbai, who are fluent in speaking and or writing in Hindi. [29437/23]
View answerThe Embassy in New Delhi currently has 32 staff, which includes nine officers posted from Ireland. All of the staff recruited in India, i.e. 23 of the 32 staff, or 72% of the total, speak and write Hindi fluently.
The Consulate General in Mumbai has five staff, which include two officers posted from Ireland. There are three staff recruited in India. All of these locally recruited staff, i.e. three of the total, or 60%, speak and write Hindi fluently.
141. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied). [29439/23]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within its turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.
142. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the implementation of circular 25/2016 by each State body under the aegis of his Department; and if he will provide, in tabular form, by State agency, the compliance with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29475/23]
View answerThere are no State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a child passport submitted in April 2023 will process in time for travel on 21 June 2023 to a family wedding abroad (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29597/23]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date.
145. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the status of a passport application (details supplied) as the applicant’s travel date is imminent; the application has passed the estimated target issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29667/23]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application. When the additional supporting documents are received the Passport Service will prioritise the application for processing.
146. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to a case (details supplied), if he will request confirmation as to why the Irish Consulate are suggesting that this person physically represents themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29674/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance.
The local Embassy of Ireland has engaged with the relevant Ministry of Justice on the matter and has provided advice to the citizen accordingly. Should the citizen wish to pursue formal mediation through the established mechanisms, it is advisable that they appoint a local lawyer to represent them and to act on their behalf. The Department of Foreign Affairs cannot represent individuals in any formal mediation or legal proceedings, and this has been made clear.
The formal mediation process also enables the concerned individual, if so desired, to attend the mediation process in-person, as has been done in other such cases in that country. However, to be clear, this is at the citizen's own discretion - and we are aware of the citizen's reservations in that regard.
Please rest assured that my Department will continue to provide support, assistance and guidance to the citizen where possible and appropriate.
147. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expand the current Passport Service and open a number of regional passport offices to cover the different counties outside Dublin and Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29685/23]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports, and has issued over 536,000 passports to date in 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level, and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week.
We are currently in the busiest season for passports, as citizens prepare for upcoming summer holidays. The Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork operate an Urgent Appointment service for passport renewals, with a one or four day turnaround in Dublin and a four day turnaround in Cork. However, since over half of all simple adult online renewals issue within two working days, for many, the Passport Online service is even faster than the 4 day urgent appointment service offered at our public counters. There are almost 700 appointments available per week, which applicants can avail of using the online booking system. Due to the complex nature of first-time applications, it is not possible to process these at the public offices.
It is important to note that the Passport Service public counters do not function as a walk-in service for passport queries. The Urgent Appointment service operates by appointment only. Applicants who have a query about their application should contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub via phone or webchat. The Passport Service website also provides comprehensive guidance to applicants in relation to all aspects of the application process, from video guides to tracking an application in real time.
Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is an award winning online platform, which places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. Through Passport Online, citizens also have the option of applying for a passport card, which is valid for travel in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Over 90% of applicants across the world now apply using Passport Online, and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First strategy continues to roll out. Passport Online has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers.
In view of the fact that the overwhelming majority of passport applicants apply online and the considerable benefits of Passport Online for all of our citizens, I am confident that the range of service options available meets the current needs of passport applicants. The Department is of the view that a strong business case cannot currently be made for opening additional passport offices. Furthermore, recent service improvements allow the Passport Service to provide this essential citizen service in an efficient and effective manner.
The Passport Service will continue to consider ways that it can improve its service to all citizens regardless of where they live.
148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 134 and 137 of 13 June 2023, in which he indicated that "the contribution by the Department of Foreign Affairs will be made from within existing resources in Vote 28", to provide specific detail on the precise programme and heading within vote 28 in which the expenditure for Forum is accounted for and/or reflected in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29744/23]
View answerAs I noted in my previous reply, costs related to the Forum will be split on an equal basis between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence. The contribution by the Department of Foreign Affairs will be made from within existing resources in Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs).
Expenditure related to the Forum will be in line with the Public Spending Code to ensure value-for-money.
In relation to Vote 28 expenditure, the budget for the Consultative Forum is contained in the budgetary allocation to Political Division for 2023, in particular Subhead A3, which includes a budget line for conference costs.
149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason he has established a consultative forum to discuss future Irish foreign policy instead of proposing the establishment of a citizens’ assembly; the reason he feels that a citizens’ assembly would not have been conducive to discussion of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29752/23]
View answerThe international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. We have seen blatant disregard by Russia of international law and Europe’s collective security architecture, bringing war to the European continent. Ireland’s commitment to a rules-based international order and our traditional policy of military neutrality, do not inure us from the need to respond to this new reality.
Against this backdrop, I hope that the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will build a deeper understanding of the international security environment and the policy options available to the State.
As I have said on several occasions, I am conscious that two other important Citizens’ Assemblies are already under way; the first on drugs policy and the second on the future of education policy. My view was that discussions on our international security policy could not be delayed, particularly given the increasingly complex and challenging security context across Europe.
The Consultative Forum will draw on the principles underlying the Citizens’ Assembly model but, importantly, will be an open discussion which any member of the public can access and participate in. The Forum has been designed to reach a broad audience with the aim of creating a national conversation, in a way which is not be possible through a Citizens Assembly, that is informed and evidence-based.
In total, there is capacity for almost one thousand people to attend the Forum in person. All discussions will be live-streamed, allowing members of the public full access to the all the discussions across the four days. In addition, the public consultation process in now open for submissions. Information on registration and details of the written consultation are available on the Gov.ie website.
