Paul Murphy
Question:252. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he considers that the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was within the parameters of the UN Charter. [53028/23]
View answerUnited Nations
Questions (252)
Written answers
On 20 March 2003, the Dáil adopted a motion on the invasion of Iraq, which reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of collective global security and the appropriate forum for the resolution of disputes threatening international peace and security.
The motion further recalled Ireland’s statement as a member of the Security Council on the adoption of Resolution 1441 that it would be for the Security Council to decide on any ensuing action in the event of Iraqi non-compliance with Resolution 1441, and regretted that the US-led coalition found it necessary to launch the campaign in the absence of agreement on a further UN Security Council resolution.
In his statement to the House in the context of the Dáil motion, the then-Taoiseach acknowledged that there was no clear legal consensus on whether there was a mandate for the use of force against Iraq, based on previous Security Council resolutions. He noted that the arguments put forward by the US-led coalition asserting the existence of a mandate were also supported by a number of countries which were not participating in the military action.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (253)
Ged Nash
Question:253. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53053/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs.
As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs engages the services of a third-party media agency (PHD Media) for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including digital advertising, print media, radio, outdoor and TV.
The Department’s spend on advertising and public awareness campaigns is primarily conducted through this agency with the aim of maximising the audience reach, without direct engagement or financial transactions with social media organisations such as Twitter/X.
The below figures represent the costs of DFA HQ advertising activity placed with website Twitter/X that took place within each of the relevant calendar years.
X (formally Twitter) totals spent 2021- 27 November 2023
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Totals (€ |
49,773.36 |
60,540.31 |
10,347.87 |
Departmental Advertising
Questions (254)
Ged Nash
Question:254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53073/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs.
As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs engages the services of a third-party media agency (PHD Media) for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including digital advertising, print media, radio, outdoor and TV.
The Department’s spend on advertising and public awareness campaigns is primarily conducted through this agency with the aim of maximising the audience reach, without direct engagement or financial transactions with the websites Facebook and Instagram.
The below figures represent the costs of DFA HQ advertising activity placed with the websites Facebook and Instagram that took place within each of the relevant calendar years.
Facebook and Instagram totals spent 2021- 27 November 2023
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Totals (€) |
105,964.53 |
104,706.00 |
122,188.00 |
Departmental Advertising
Questions (255)
Ged Nash
Question:255. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53090/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs.
As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs engages the services of a third-party media agency (PHD Media) for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including digital advertising, print media, radio, outdoor and TV.
The Department’s spend on advertising and public awareness campaigns is primarily conducted through this agency with the aim of maximising the audience reach, without direct engagement or financial transactions with social media organisations such as Google.
The below figures represent the costs of DFA HQ advertising activity placed with the website Google that took place within each of the relevant calendar years.
Google totals spent 2021 – 27 November 2023
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Totals (€) |
36,026.00 |
65,396.00 |
113,341.00 |
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (256, 257, 258, 259)
Alan Dillon
Question:256. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a detailed update on the status of the long-delayed pension increases for An Post pensioners, which were approved by the Labour Court in January 2023 and signed off by both the An Post Pension Board of Trustees and the Board of Management of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53104/23]
View answerAlan Dillon
Question:257. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason for the eleven-month delay in granting final approval to pension increases for An Post pensioners; the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer or to An Post, given the average pension at An Post is €320 a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53105/23]
View answerAlan Dillon
Question:258. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the financial implications for either the Exchequer or An Post for the granting of consent for the payment of a 2% increase to An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2023, as well as the separate increases of 5% from 1 January 2022, and 1% from 1 July 2023, in accordance with the Labour Court recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/23]
View answerAlan Dillon
Question:259. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide assurance that more than 7,000 An Post pensioners will start receiving the backdated cost-of-living increases at the end of November, as mentioned; the measures that have been put in place to ensure the timely disbursement of these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53119/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 259, inclusive, together.
I received a recommendation from my officials on 25 August and granted my consent on 28 August to the payment of an increase of 2% to the An Post pensioners with effect from 1 January 2023 and to the payment of separate increase of 5% effective from 1 January 2022 and 1% effective from 1 July 2023 in line with a Labour Court Recommendation.
The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the proposal was subsequently provided on 8 September 2023. An Post was made aware that consent had been granted.
The processing of the payments to Pensioners and the associated cost involved are direct operational matters for An Post and not matters in which I, as Minister, have any direct function.
Energy Usage
Questions (260)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:260. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how much renewable electricity was used here in the years 2019 to 2022 expressed in terra watt hours, in tabular form. [52913/23]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Energy In Ireland report, which provides data with regard to renewable electricity consumption. It shows that renewable generation accounted for the following percentages of electricity demand in Ireland in each of the following years:
2019: 36.5%
2020: 39%
2021: 36.4%
2022 (provisional): 36.8%
Ireland’s renewable energy share (RES) is calculated under a methodology set out in the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.
Further information can be found at the following links:
www.seai.ie/publications/Energy-in-Ireland-2022.pdf
National Energy Balance | Key Publications | SEAI - www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-publications/national-energy-balance/
White Papers
Questions (261)
Carol Nolan
Question:261. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the titles of the White Papers published by his Department from 2008 to date; if he will provide online links to these papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52978/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has published one White Paper since the formation of the current Government. This is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/550df-the-white-paper-irelands-transition-to-a-low-carbon-energy-future-2015-2030/#Check
Departmental Consultations
Questions (262)
Carol Nolan
Question:262. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by his Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52997/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has commissioned 65 consultancy reports since the formation of the Government in 2020. 39 reports have not been published by my Department for a variety of reasons including reports containing commercially sensitive information and matters for consideration of Government. The total cost for the reports commissioned but not yet published is €3.65m.