Catherine Murphy
Question:112. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to allow first-time applications online to be available to Irish passport holders located in Thailand. [33788/23]
View answerPassport Services
Questions (112)
Written answers
The Passport Service is pursuing a Digital First strategy and promoting Passport Online as the best way to apply for a passport. Passport Online is a multi-award-winning online platform, and places the Irish Passport Service amongst the most innovative in the world. It is certainly the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. It is the priority channel for the Passport Service, as it has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers.
Passport Online is accessible for passport renewals from every country in the world, and for first time applicants in over 70 countries worldwide. Since last month, first time applicants living in Thailand can now apply for their passport online.
The Passport Service continues to rollout the expansion of Passport Online for first time applicants worldwide, and aims to complete the expansion by the end of this year. Most recently, as well as to Thailand, the service has been expanded to first time applicants residing in Bahrain, China, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Over 90% of applicants across the globe now apply online and this number will continue to grow.
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.
I encourage Deputies to advise their constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service when applying for their passport.
Passport Services
Questions (113)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:113. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how a person (details supplied) can progress their application to renew their passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33823/23]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service will contact the applicant directly in relation to the application.
Passport Services
Questions (114)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:114. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a Northern Ireland electoral ID card is acceptable when applying for a passport when it is accompanied with a birth certificate as well as an expired Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34131/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 189 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.
All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Under Section 7 of the Act, the Passport Service may require the applicant to produce such documents as are considered necessary for the purposes of issuing a passport.
Government issued photographic identification is required for all first time adult passport applications, in order for the Passport Service to establish the identity of the applicant. This can be a Public Services Card, an original passport from another country or a certified copy of a driver’s licence (certified by a solicitor or notary public). The Passport Service does not accept Electoral Identity Cards issued by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland as these are not government issued photographic identification.
The Passport Service website outlines the documentary requirements for first time applicants residing in Northern Ireland: www.dfa.ie/passports/documentary-requirements/anadult/firsttimeapplicantbornontheislandofireland/.
The Passport Service understands that a very small number of applicants will not hold any of the specified types of government issued photographic identification. In such cases the Passport Service will provide further information to the applicant as to how their identity may be verified.
With regard to the specific application which the Deputy has shared with the Passport Service, this applicant's previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago. In such cases, the applicant must apply for their next passport as a first time applicant, and provide the required proof of identity. The Passport Service will contact the applicant directly in relation to the documentary requirements for their application.
Departmental Data
Questions (115)
Carol Nolan
Question:115. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department operates a ‘barter account’ for the provision of goods or services; if so, if payments have been directed to be made to a barter account during the period 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34148/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs does not operate a barter account.
There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department.
Passport Services
Questions (116, 122)
Steven Matthews
Question:116. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34164/23]
View answer
Brendan Howlin
Question:122. 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. [34335/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 122 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
Question No. 117 answered with Question No. 111.
Official Engagements
Questions (118)
Matt Carthy
Question:118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the respect engagements Government has had with the Australian government or Australian state; the proposals for upcoming engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34238/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has strong bonds with Australia, founded on shared values and on the vibrant Irish communities in both countries.
There have been close and frequent contacts at all levels. Members of the Government have held a number of meetings with the government of Australia at both federal and state level, reflecting our close friendship. This March, as part of the St Patrick’s Day programme, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment undertook a five city visit to Australia, where he visited Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, with political engagement, trade and investment promotion, community events and media encounters. During his visit, Minister Coveney met with Prime Minister Albanese as well as Minister for Trade Farrell.
In July 2022 Minister Simon Harris had an informal meeting with his counterpart Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Skills and Training whilst he was on a personal visit to Ireland. In the same month, the Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan paid courtesy calls on both President Higgins and I received him in my role as Taoiseach. We discussed matters relating to the Irish community in Western Australia.
In February of this year, senior officials in my department held bilateral consultations in Canberra, to discuss Ireland-Australia relations and areas of bilateral engagement.
Visits by Australian Ministers to Ireland are most welcome as they offer an opportunity to continue the close dialogue between Ireland and Australia. Visits are due to take place later this month by the Australian Minister for Government Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP and by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP.
Diplomatic Representation
Questions (119)
Matt Carthy
Question:119. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the diplomatic presence that Ireland has in Australia; any proposals to expand the Government's presence in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34239/23]
View answerWritten answers
Australia and Ireland share close and long-standing connections, underpinned by strong people-to-people links. In 2021, we celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations with Australia and our Embassies are engaged in a range of activities to deepen bilateral engagement as well as cooperation at multilateral level.
Ireland is represented by two Diplomatic Missions in Australia, with an Embassy in Canberra and a Consulate General in Sydney. The Embassy and the Consulate work to promote and protect Irish interests in Australia, to strengthen political and economic relationships, to support the Irish community, to promote cultural ties and the Irish arts. In addition, our Honorary Consul in Perth provides consular services and assistance to Irish citizens, supports local Irish community efforts and assists in developing trade and economic relations with Western Australia. Our missions work closely with Irish State Agencies, to promote trade, tourism and inward investment.
Our network of diplomatic missions in the Asia Pacific Region is kept under constant review, in the context of the Programme for Government and the Global Ireland Strategy: Ireland's Global Footprint to 2025.
Visa Agreements
Questions (120)
Michael Lowry
Question:120. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34314/23]
View answerWritten answers
Securing future immigration flows between Ireland and the United States continues to be a Government priority. This matter is raised with the U.S. Administration and with U.S. political representatives on an ongoing basis. During my visit to Washington last February, I raised the question of access to visas with politicians on both sides of the aisle. During my St. Patrick's Day visit to New York and Massachusetts earlier this year, I discussed ongoing efforts in Congress to secure legal immigration pathways with Congressman Richie Neal.
The bipartisan reintroduction of the E3 bill last year in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives was welcome. However, the bill lapsed with the conclusion of the last session of Congress at the end of 2022. The Government strongly advocated for this proposal which, if passed, would bring about new two-way traffic between Ireland and the United States that could impact positively on economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. New immigration flows would also reinvigorate Irish communities across the United States and, overall, add to the vibrancy of our sizeable Irish diaspora in the U.S.
While the Government continues to support efforts to get an ‘Irish specific’ category of E3 visa, the challenges to enactment should not be underestimated. Almost every U.S. legislative proposal related to immigration reform in the last decade has stalled in Congress. Nonetheless, I will continue to take all opportunities to develop new immigration pathways for Irish people who wish to live and work in the United States.
Question No. 121 answered with Question No. 106.
Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 116.
Foreign Birth Registration
Questions (123)
Dara Calleary
Question:123. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on a foreign birth register application (details supplied). [34339/23]
View answerWritten answers
Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of between 6 and 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was received by the Department on 28 February 2023. The Department is on schedule to process this application on time.
Departmental Policies
Questions (124)
Ivana Bacik
Question:124. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how the human cremation process is regulated; the statutory reporting responsibilities of crematoria relating to air, water and soil quality in the areas adjacent to the crematorium; to whom crematoria report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33427/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no function in relation to the regulation of the human cremation process. The power to make regulations in relation to this process rests with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage under Planning legislation and Section 47 the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act.
Crematoria are not currently a licensable activity under the Air Pollution Act (1987) and as such I am not aware of any specific reporting requirements that may apply in relation to air quality.
Protected Disclosures
Questions (125)
Michael Ring
Question:125. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a review (details supplied) is ongoing; if it has been completed, whether the findings will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33432/23]
View answerWritten answers
A number of protected disclosures have been made in relation to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to the Department between September 2022 and March 2023, from named and anonymous disclosers. These disclosures have been progressed in line with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Protected Disclosure Policy, which is available on the gov.ie website.
All reports of wrongdoing have been assessed and, where it was identified that investigation was necessary, investigated in line with the Department’s policy. The Department contracted Messrs McCann Fitzgerald to conduct the investigations.
Regulatory Impact Assessments
Questions (126)
Richard Bruton
Question:126. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of a report which suggests inaccuracies in the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the levy on single-use containers, particularly concerning: the overall size of the market impacted, the existing penetration of reusable cups, the elasticity of demand in response to the levy; and the emission intensity of the production and use of a recycled paper cup compared to that of reusable cups commonly in use when compared over their life cycle; and his views on the claim that this invalidates much of the argument in favour of the levy. [33556/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware that a report, commissioned by the Irish paper packaging industry which includes producers of single-use cups that will be subject to the levy, was launched last week.
In October 2022, my Department published a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) as part of a public consultation process on draft regulations to introduce an environmental levy on single-use cups. This RIA was produced by EnvEcon Decision Support Ltd, as independent third-party analysis, and was informed by a comprehensive literature review, two major independent nationally representative surveys and two consultations carried out by the Department, the details of which are set out in the RIA.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool used to assess the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. In a LCA, all raw materials and emissions are considered for each of the processes that make up the life cycle of the product.
There have been many LCAs carried out in this area, assessing whether or not reusable cups represent an environmentally preferred option to single-use cups. The Department adopted a meta-analysis based approach to its LCA of single-use cups and reusable alternatives, to inform the regulations to introduce a levy on single-use cups. In particular, two recent meta studies carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were considered by the Department; Addressing Single-Use Plastic Products Pollution: Using a Life Cycle and Approach (UNEP 2021) and Single-use beverage cups and their alternatives -Recommendations from Life Cycle Assessments (UNEP 2021)
These studies found, inter alia, that:
• ‘single-use’ is more problematic than ‘plastic’ and that replacing one disposable plastic product with another made of a different material (paper, biodegradable plastic etc) will simply transfer and not necessarily reduce the environmental impact;
• Policies should support, promote and incentivise actions that keep resources in the economy at their highest value for as long as possible, by replacing single-use plastic products with reusable products as part of a circular economy approach;
• reusable cups have a lower overall environmental impact than single-use cups, provided the reusable cup is used enough times and washed efficiently.
My Department’s RIA includes a lifecycle assessment of cups, which considers the methodologies and results from a number of LCA studies in determining the break-even point - the number of cycles a reusable cup must undergo to have comparable or lower environmental impact than a single use cup.
The RIA suggests a break-even point of 10 to 20 uses, which aligns with the broad conclusions of the UNEP study.
I remain satisfied with the assessments made by the published RIA.
Broadband Infrastructure
Questions (127)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:127. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason an area (details supplied) is underserviced for broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33566/23]
View answerWritten answers
The premises referred to in the Question is located in the BLUE area on the NBP High-Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie.
BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high-speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. Under State aid rules, it is not permitted to intervene in areas where commercial investment exists or is planned, as to do so would be an infringement of these rules. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and my Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
In December 2022 my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets namely:
* all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028;
* all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
* digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023.
The majority of digital connectivity across the State will be delivered through commercial investment by the telecommunications industry and this will be complemented by the National Broadband Plan.
Departmental Staff
Questions (128)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:128. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the names and contact information of all special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33581/23]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the deputy is outlined in the table below:
|
Name |
Position |
Current Salary Scale |
|
Paul Kenny |
Policy Adviser to Minister Ryan |
paul.kenny@decc.gov.ie |
|
John McDonald |
Policy Adviser to Minister Ryan |
johnmcdonald@transport.gov.ie |
|
Edel Hackett |
Press Adviser to Minister Ryan |
edelhackett@transport.gov.ie |
There are no advisors appointed by Minister Smyth or Minister Chambers to this Department.
The 3 advisors referenced above work across the portfolio of both this Department as well as that of the Department of Transport
Energy Conservation
Questions (129)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:129. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of one-stop-shop SEAI energy retrofit providers refusing to undertake initial energy rating assessments for works of less than €30,000 under the guise of being bound to only undertake works that deliver a BER of B2; if this is permitted in law; and if not, the steps he will take to address this matter. [33636/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. SEAI oversight of One Stop Shops (OSSs) is underpinned by robust governance processes to ensure the OSSs are meeting the necessary customer and quality performance indicators. The matter raised by the Deputy has been brought to the attention of SEAI officials.
It is important to note that under the eligibility criteria for the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS), one-stop-shops are contracted to carry out a full home energy upgrade. The service is available to homeowners whose home has an existing BER of B3 or lower and must achieve a minimum rating of B2 on work completion, with a 100kWh/m2/year or better improvement on the BER primary energy value. Homes that fail to reach this post works uplift will not be eligible for grant payment. This can mean that achieving the NHEUS requirements is a primary driver of participation, as opposed to cost of works.
The cost of a retrofit to bring a property to a post works building Energy Rating of B2 depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended. The SEAI advises that of the 936 home upgrades completed by the One Stop Shops under the NHEUS, 743 had costs of less than €30,000.
There are currently 16 OSSs registered, and the SEAI continues to actively engage with the construction sector, with the aim of ensuring that more companies register as One-Stop-Shops. As more OSSs become registered this creates greater competition in the marketplace as well as affording homeowners greater choice. It is always recommended that a homeowner speaks to several OSSs before making their decision, so that they can choose the company that best suits their budget, timeframe and other considerations, including the need for additional building works.
It is also important to note that homeowners wishing to complete individual measures with no set BER requirement post works can avail of individual energy upgrade grants from the SEAI through the Better Energy Homes Scheme. Grant rates under this scheme were increased significantly last year.
The SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members, and it is open to the Deputy to forward any specifics regarding the matters raised to that address so that they can be examined and addressed promptly, in line with SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@seai.ie.