Tuesday, 25 Jul 2023

Written Answers Nos. 20-34

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (20)

James Lawless

Question:

20. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on a foreign births registry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35738/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, a member of the FBR team has contacted the applicant directly to update them on the progress of their application and to outline the outstanding requirements for his entry into the Foreign Births Register.

Question No. 21 answered with Question No. 18.

Question No. 22 answered with Question No. 18.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (23)

James Lawless

Question:

23. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on a foreign births registry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35741/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific FBR applications about which the Deputy has enquired, once the application of the older sibling is processed, the supporting documents will be returned to the parents, who can then in turn use those that are relevant to support the younger sibling’s application. It is the responsibility of each applicant (or their guardians if the applicant is a minor) to submit relevant and original documentation that demonstrates that person’s entitlement for entry into the Foreign Births Register.

Official Engagements

Questions (24)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

24. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken formally to his Polish counterpart since the last EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting. [35796/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland enjoys good bilateral relations with Poland. 2020 marked the 30th anniversary of the opening of Ireland’s Embassy in Warsaw (1990), and Poland opened its Embassy in Dublin in 1991.

I have not spoken formally to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, since the last EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting on 26 June. However, I had a brief bilateral meeting with the Minister at the previous Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 22 May last.

At this meeting, among other things, we both emphasised our support for Ukraine and we discussed the large Polish community living in Ireland.

My officials regularly engage with our Polish Embassy colleagues on a range of EU and other issues and we hope to continue this engagement going forward.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (25)

Frankie Feighan

Question:

25. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the prolonged delays for decisions regarding foreign birth registrations within his Department; and the reason one such case (details supplied) demands certain documents that appear irrelevant. [35815/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

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 Foreign Birth Registration applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications have been approved and FBR certificates will issue to the applicants shortly.

Equality Issues

Questions (26)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

26. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action his Department has taken to honour the programme for Government pledge to ensure that Government Departments and public bodies take positive steps, including the use of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms, to assist non-binary people. [35829/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future contains a number of actions with respect to gender recognition. These actions include promoting the use and acceptance of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms to assist non-binary people.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is engaged in promoting and progressing these actions with respect to gender recognition. The Passport Service enables applicants to have their passport issued in their preferred gender and, if applicable, in a new name in accordance with the provisions of the Gender Recognition Act 2015.  In April 2023, additional improvements were made to simplify the process for applicants aged 16-17 applying through the Passport Online system who are changing their name due to gender change.

The Passport Service continuously explores ways to make its services more inclusive, working within the constraints of the legislation and the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) guidelines.

My Department is working to embed a culture of dignity and respect in the workplace and, as part of these efforts, in 2022 we launched a Guide to Supporting Transgender Colleagues for all staff. This guide provides useful information on how to forge an inclusive environment for our transgender colleagues including clear guidance on the use of pronouns.

Departmental Data

Questions (27)

Matt Carthy

Question:

27. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 20 June 2023, if, in the case of each embassy, consulate, representative office or mission to multilateral institutions, the property is owned by the State; if so, the year it was purchased and the associated cost or, in the case of rental properties, the cost associated with each such instance in 2022. [35852/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs has 101 overseas missions (including Embassies, Consulates, Representative offices and missions to multilateral institutions). The list of missions both owned and leased is set out below in tabular form.

My Department’s policy is to increase the number of State-owned mission properties gradually, particularly in strategic locations for Ireland, where rental costs are very high or where there is limited supply of suitable properties for rental.

My Department will purchase properties when there are compelling strategic reasons and Business cases to purchase and there is capital funding available to do so. All such property purchase decisions are taken in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Properties Owned by the Department of Foreign Affairs at 31 December 2022

Property	Year of Purchase	Property Value as at 31 Dec 2022
ABUJA - CHANCERY UNDER DEVELOPMENT	2020	544,950
ABUJA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION UNDER DEVELOPMENT	2020	388,264
ADDIS ABABA - CHANCERY	2004	3,440,620
ANKARA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2006	626,204
ATHENS - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1977	2,650,000
BELFAST – SECRETARIAT & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2005	3,570,238
BERLIN - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1999	9,250,000
BERNE - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1972	5,807,763
BRASILIA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2007	618,057
BUENOS AIRES - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1997	1,460,632
CANBERRA - CHANCERY/OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1979	2,286,263
COPENHAGEN – CHANCERY	1978	3,227,368
COPENHAGEN - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1969	1,639,906
DAR ES SALAAM – CHANCERY	2003	1,878,548
DAR ES SALAAM - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1998	2,085,959
LILONGWE - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2017	328,408
LISBON - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2004	3,872,174
LJUBLJANA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2006	743,000
LUSAKA – CHANCERY	1990	448,706
LUSAKA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2002	594,477
MADRID - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1964	7,901,626
MAPUTO – CHANCERY	2005	2,209,599
MEXICO - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2006	4,649,582
NEW YORK – PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS	1957	8,670,316
OSLO - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2002	4,004,485
OTTAWA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1968	7,121,517
PARIS  - CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1954	41,500,000
PRAGUE - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2004	5,994,046
PRETORIA - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	2008	645,660
RIYADH - CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1985	7,435,670
ROME - CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1946	21,757,500
SANTIAGO – CHANCERY	2022	1,173,101
STOCKHOLM – OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1994	5,121,801
STRASBOURG -  CHANCERY	2006	2,200,000
THE HAGUE – CHANCERY	2007	1,710,000
THE HAGUE – OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1955	4,750,000
TOKYO - CHANCERY SITE	2017	7,739,705
TOKYO -  CHANCERY UNDER DEVELOPMENT	2022	8,244,992
WASHINGTON DC - CHANCERY	1949	11,618,400
WASHINGTON DC - OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1964	8,178,527

 

* All properties listed on the basis of professional valuation as at 31 Dec 2021 in accordance with accounting policy and included in the Appropriation Accounts.   

** The Department’s accounting policy is to value property assets on a rolling 5-7 year basis, the next valuation to be completed 2026-2028.  

Properties Rented by The Department of Foreign Affairs at 31 December 2022.

Mission	No. of Properties	2022 Rent
ABU DHABI	2	203,143
ABUJA	2	201,068
ADDIS ABABA	1	110,230
AMMAN	2	205,005
ANKARA	1	134,641
ARMAGH	2	135,088
ATHENS	1	87,914
ATLANTA	1	85,569
AUSTIN	1	131,177
BANGKOK	2	176,961
BEIJING – CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1	739,133
BELFAST	1	245,369
BERLIN	1	278,799
BERNE	1	74,546
BOGOTA	2	209,896
BOSTON	1	233,680
BRASILIA	1	60,938
BRATISLAVA	2	141,549
BRUSSELS	1	98,297
BRUSSELS – PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE	1	55,639
BRUSSELS - PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION	3	1,426,388
BUCHAREST	2	182,172
BUDAPEST	2	247,473
BUENOS AIRES	1	168,589
CAIRO	2	181,504
CANBERRA - CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1	16,551
CARDIFF	1	60,040
CHICAGO	1	137,630
DAKAR	1	33,863
EDINBURGH	1	64,137
FRANKFURT	1	241,288
FREETOWN	2	95,201
GENEVA	2	446,967
HANOI	2	358,106
HELSINKI	2	236,267
HOLY SEE	2	125,464
HONG KONG	1	355,987
JAKARTA	2	265,647
KAMPALA	2	272,579
KUALA LUMPUR	2	63,887
KYIV	1	3,033
LILONGWE	1	55,500
LISBON	1	95,264
LJUBLJANA	1	101,809
LONDON	3	1,148,497
LOS ANGELES	2	244,681
LUXEMBOURG	2	103,200
LYON	1	27,555
MADRID	1	228,499
MANCHESTER	1	40,358
MANILA	2	186,570
MAPUTO	1	89,139
MEXICO	2	332,300
MIAMI	1	63,356
MONROVIA	1	61,199
MOSCOW - CHANCERY & OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION	1	277,200
MUMBAI	1	312,666
NAIROBI	2	150,420
NEW DELHI	2	582,618
NEW YORK – CONSULATE GENERAL	2	1,600,367
NEW YORK – PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS	2	1,661,443
NICOSIA	2	104,400
OSLO	2	246,061
OTTAWA	1	317,116
PARIS -  PERMANENT MISISION TO THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT	1	103,173
PRAGUE	1	135,390
PRETORIA	1	115,085
RABAT	2	187,482
RAMALLAH – REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF IRELAND IN PALESTINE	2	152,193
RIGA	2	99,474
SAN FRANCISCO	1	579,796
SANTIAGO	2	144,315
SAO PAOLO	1	46,241
SEOUL	2	300,750
SHANGHAI	1	809,015
SINGAPORE	2	441,564
SOFIA	2	190,710
STOCKHOLM	2	321,865
STRASBOURG – PERMANENT MISSION TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE	1	75,057
SYDNEY	1	341,845
TALLINN	2	117,734
TEHRAN	1	8,775
TEL AVIV	2	240,975
TOKYO	2	862,711
TORONTO	2	105,041
VALLETTA	2	161,069
VANCOUVER	1	254,219
VIENNA – CHANCERY	2	251,590
VIENNA – PERMANENT MISSION TO THE ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE	2	199,440
VILNIUS	2	118,876
WARSAW	2	324,747
WELLINGTON	2	181,579
ZAGREB	2	119,952

European Union

Questions (28)

Matt Carthy

Question:

28. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparatory work under way in relation to Ireland assuming the Presidency of the European Union in 2026; his intended approach regarding engagement with the public, civil society, ministerial colleagues and other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35853/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time on 1st July 2026 and we have already begun preparations. EU Member States holding the Presidency work closely in groups of three, called "trios". This system was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. We will be the first in the Trio Presidency made up of Ireland, Lithuania and Greece.

I brought a Memorandum to Government on EU engagement and Presidency Planning on the 4th of May last. The Government agreed that the responsibility for both EU Presidency policy and operational planning will be led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in close consultation with the Department of the Taoiseach; and that planning should be taken forward through two new Inter-Departmental Groups on Policy Presidency Planning and Operational Presidency Planning.

Both new inter-departmental Presidency planning structures - an Interdepartmental Group on Presidency Policy Planning and an Interdepartmental Group on Operational Presidency Planning have since been established. These two groups will advance Presidency preparations from this summer onwards and will see increased engagement on EU matters with the EU Institutions and across EU capitals in advance of Ireland’s Presidency.

Communication on EU matters to citizens remains a priority for the Government. This year and last, we marked the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the EU through the EU50 programme of events and initiatives at home and abroad. My Department will continue to build on this programme of enhanced citizen engagement on EU matters in the lead up to, and during, the Presidency.

Question No. 29 answered with Question No. 18.

Ukraine War

Questions (30)

Matt Carthy

Question:

30. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the decision of the United States Government to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine; the status of the treaty that called for the ban of cluster bombs, agreed in Dublin on 28 May 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35915/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland has held a strong and unwavering commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) since its adoption in Dublin in 2008. Along with the over 100 States Parties to the CCM, Ireland's position remains that these weapons are, by nature, indiscriminate and imprecise.

In line with our obligations under the CCM, Ireland will not use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer (directly or indirectly), cluster munitions under any circumstances, and Ireland will continue discourage all actors from using these weapons, even those not party to the Convention.

There are currently 111 States Parties to the CCM and a further 12 signatories.  Neither USA, Ukraine, nor Russia are party to the Treaty and so are not directly bound by its provisions.

Ireland will continue to do our part to support Ukraine and its people against the Russian Federation’s unlawful aggression. However, we maintain, in line with our CCM obligations, that these weapons should not be used in any circumstances.

Passport Services

Questions (31)

Patrick Costello

Question:

31. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of issuing an individual passport to the State. [35916/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Following an extraordinary surge in demand for passport services since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the Passport Service has successfully restored full, normal service and regular processing times for passport applications. In 2022, just over 1,000,000 passports were issued, and to date in 2023, almost 650,000 passports have been issued.

To provide these services, the Passport Service has offices in Dublin 2 and Cork, which include public offices. Other operational and support staff are based in Dublin at premises in Balbriggan and Tallaght. In addition, central services are shared with other units of the Department of Foreign Affairs, such as information technology, human resources management, and other corporate services.

The direct costs incurred in operating and providing passport and foreign birth registration services include staff costs, operating costs, premises and building utility costs, postage, etc. The budgeted direct costs for 2023 are €48.4m. However, this figure does not include the allocation of indirect costs of my Department's central services, for example, information technology, human resources management, finance, corporate services, etc.  As central service costs are not allocated to the Passport Service, the cost of issuing an individual passport is not possible to calculate.

Official Travel

Questions (32, 34)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

32. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a parliamentary delegation to an event (details supplied) was an official delegation with the involvement and support of his Department, a delegation of which he had prior knowledge were attending; by whom the visit was paid; if it was an official trip, under what budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35926/23]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

34. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if two documents presented at an event (details supplied) are official Irish Government documents and-or if they were presented to or voted on by either Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann at any stage before being presented, in light of the fact that both purport to represent the majority views of both Houses, and-or if he has been presented with either by the delegation in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35928/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 34 together.

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not have prior knowledge of a delegation made up of members of the Oireachtas attending the event referred to and is not aware of how the delegation's attendance at the event was funded. The Department is not familiar with the documents referred to by the Deputy and can confirm that these are not DFA documents or documents approved by Government.

I would also note that it is not the policy of the Irish Government to engage with the organisation mentioned in the Deputy's question. The organisation concerned was previously listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU, although this designation was lifted by a European Court ruling in 2008.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (33)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

33. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of occasions on which he contacted the Iranian Ambassador subsequent to the death of a person (details supplied) in relation to expressing his views, and that of the Government, in relation to the subsequent handling of the protest movement; the dates on which the contact was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35927/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Since the protests, sparked by the tragic death in Iranian police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, on 16 September, we have repeatedly raised our concerns directly with the Iranian government, including with the Foreign Minister, who I spoke with most recently in May.

Our Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran regularly raises human rights concerns directly with Iranian officials, as does our Ambassador to Iran (based in Ankara) during her visits to Tehran. Senior officials from my Department again raised these issues during political consultations in Tehran in May. 

I spoke with the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland directly by phone on 20 January 2023. In addition, senior officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs have met with the Ambassador on a number of occasions, most recently on 12th July 2023. 

I commend the courage of the Iranian women and men who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and extend my condolences to the loved ones of all those who have died in the protests since September of last year. Ireland raises human rights concerns with Iran at every suitable opportunity. 

In 2022, Ireland again co-sponsored the annual Canadian-led resolution on Iran at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution addresses a broad range of human rights issues.

Ireland also co-sponsored the convening of a special session of the Human Rights Council on 24 November 2022, which voted to create a fact-finding mission to investigate and report on the human rights situation in Iran. Ireland also supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran, Mr Javaid Rehman.

We consistently call on the Iranian authorities to cooperate fully with the mandates of the fact-finding mission and the UN Special Rapporteur, including allowing them to visit Iran and conduct relevant meetings, most recently on 5 July in our national statement to the Human Rights Council. Along with over 30 other countries we also joined a statement led by Costa Rica on the matter at the HRC on 5 July.

The executions carried out by the Iranian authorities and sentencing of protestors using the death penalty is unjustifiable. Ireland calls on Iran to immediately impose a moratorium on the death penalty, consider alternative sentencing, and revoke death sentences issued for involvement in protests.

Ireland has supported the addition of a number of individuals and entities linked to human rights violations to the EU’s Iran human rights sanctions regime. Restrictive measures now apply to over 223 individuals and more than 37 entities in Iran. These include asset freezes, EU travel bans, and a ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 32.