Duncan Smith
Question:105. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the loss and damage fund following COP28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55066/23]
View answerClimate Change Negotiations
Questions (105)
Written answers
At the opening plenary of COP28 on Thursday 30 November in Dubai, final agreement was reached on a new Loss and Damage Fund to support developing countries to respond to the impacts of climate change. Ireland, represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, played a key role throughout this year on the design, scope and structure of the new Fund for Loss and Damage through our shared seat with Germany on the Transitional Committee established last year at COP27.
The main priority for Ireland was to ensure that vulnerable countries, particularly Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, would be able to access the new Fund. We are glad that the Fund will have a specific minimum allocation for these country groups.
On Saturday 2 December, at the World Leader’s Summit at COP28, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland will provide €25 million to the new Fund for Loss and Damage over the two years, 2024 and 2025. This pledge is a recognition that vulnerable populations that have contributed the least to global emissions have the greatest difficulty getting access to the finance and resources needed to cope with these impacts.
Other countries announced pledges to the fund at COP28, including UAE, US, Japan, and many EU member States, including Germany, France, Italy, and Denmark.
Ireland’s pledge for Loss and Damage aligns with Ireland’s broader climate finance commitment, to provide at least €225 million a year in international climate finance by 2025, a more than doubling of our climate finance since 2020. We are on track to meet this target and will ensure that we balance our contributions between our climate finance priorities, including support for adaptation and for Loss and Damage.
Foreign Birth Registration
Questions (106)
Alan Dillon
Question:106. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) who applied to the foreign birth register will have their application processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55188/23]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.
Departmental Priorities
Questions (107)
Cathal Crowe
Question:107. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his main policy and legislative priorities for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55208/23]
View answerWritten answers
Next year, my Department is prioritising to a number of policy and legislative areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government and the Departmental Statement of Strategy.
Delivery of services to Irish citizens will remain central to the work of my Department, as we will continue to operate high-quality Consular and Passport Services. The Emigrant Support Programme, established in 2004, continues to operate successfully. By the end of 2023 the ESP will have disbursed close to €240 million to Irish communities over the last two decades. ESP20 in 2024 will represent a major milestone marking the twentieth anniversary of the programme.
The promotion of international peace and security will remain core to Ireland's foreign policy in 2024. We will continue to stand with Ukraine by providing humanitarian and stabilisation support, supporting the strongest sanctions against Russia, and engaging with international partners to ensure accountability for any crimes committed in Ukraine. We will stress the need for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and highlight the importance of developing a credible process leading to a two-state solution.
The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the promotion of reconciliation on this island will remain a major priority for me in 2024. We will also continue to work to ensure the Windsor Framework is implemented fully and in good faith, including by engaging with EU partners.
At EU level, we will continue to deepen our relationships and influence across Europe. We continue to prepare with partners across Government for Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2026.
2024 will see yet another increase in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ development assistance budget, allowing Ireland to help many more people, particularly those impacted by climate change, food insecurity and humanitarian crises around the world. €776.5m will be allocated to Irish Aid, the highest ever level. This represents an increase of €60m, or 8.4%, on the 2023 allocation, and is indicative of this Department’s commitment to assisting those most in need around the world. This funding includes €30 million for international climate finance and €30 million for an ambitious and targeted response to humanitarian crises, prolonged acute food and nutrition insecurity and the impact of the war in Ukraine. With estimates of 345 million people facing acute food insecurity my department will continue to support both humanitarian food assistance and the longer term transformation of food systems through a variety of global initiatives in 2024.
My Department will support and promote Irish culture, business and investment opportunities through the implementation of the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy and the Global Ireland Strategy.
2024 will see the further expansion of our diplomatic network, as we will open an Embassy in Islamabad and Consulates General in Munich and Milan. This will be a significant milestone in the ongoing implementation of the Global Ireland strategy, and will bring our total number of missions to over 100.
Middle East
Questions (108)
Holly Cairns
Question:108. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has reached out to his counterpart in the United States, or other representatives of the United States government on the situation in Gaza; and if so, to provide details on these engagements. [55228/23]
View answerWritten answers
The United States is an important player in the region and has a key role to play in the context of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Both President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have visited Israel and the region as part of their diplomatic efforts. The situation was also discussed at the highest level by EU and US leaders at the EU-US Summit in Washington on 20 October.
I welcome the role played by the US, alongside Qatar and Egypt, in securing the temporary truce and release of hostages including Emily Hand. I am, however, deeply disappointed that the US exercised its veto against a UN Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire on Friday 8 December.
I have not had the opportunity to speak directly with Secretary of State Blinken since 7 October but frequent contacts are maintained at senior official level and the US is fully aware of Ireland's position.
The US has also exercised a convening role with regard to the humanitarian situation. Ireland was represented by Minister of State MacNeill at a Donor Governments Roundtable on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza hosted by USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Friday 20 October. Minister of State Fleming attended a follow-up meeting of the Roundtable on 24 November. These were timely discussions in view of the starkly deteriorating situation in Gaza.
Consular Services
Questions (109)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:109. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of courses funded by his Department for Irish embassy and or Irish consulate staff to lean to speak and write fluent in Arabic in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [55366/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs supports staff with foreign language classes prior to and over the course of their postings to Embassies and Consulates overseas. Below is a table outlining the number of Arabic language courses undertaken by staff of the Department in 2022 and 2023. These courses covered a range of levels, and some staff undertook more than one course over the two-year period. Each course comprised on average 15 hours of language learning spread over 10 weeks.
The Department is committed to supporting ongoing language learning for staff to ensure we can deliver on our high level priorities.
|
Arabic |
2022 No of Courses |
2023 No of Courses |
Total No. of Courses |
Total No. officers supported |
|
38 |
26 |
64 |
34 |
Foreign Conflicts
Questions (110)
Thomas Pringle
Question:110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what engagement his Department has had at bilateral and multilateral level regarding the forced displacement of over six million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55417/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced periodic conflict over many decades, with an increase in violence in the East of the country in recent months.
The conflict is driven by a number of factors, including competing attempts by armed groups to control the rich mineral resources of the region. Ireland has stressed the importance of regional efforts to address a situation that, according to the International Organisation for Migration, has resulted in 6.9 million internally displaced persons.
We worked closely with our EU partners on the development of a new EU strategy for the wider Great Lakes region that was adopted earlier this year, with a particular focus on the eastern provinces of the DRC. Ireland continues to work closely with EU partners on implementing a common approach. We have also contributed to agreement on the sanctions regime in respect of DRC with EU restrictive measures on individuals for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses and for sustaining the armed conflict. The listings include individuals in non-state armed groups in the Eastern and North Eastern part of the country, the Congolese Armed Forces and the Rwanda Defence Force.
Ireland fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region and condemns any support to local or external armed groups. Ireland has also emphasised the importance of the engagement of national and regional organisations in promoting peace and stability. We welcome the efforts of the East African Community Heads of State Conclave, including the Nairobi peace process, as well as the contribution by Angola and Kenya to advancing a peaceful resolution. We will continue to highlight the ongoing implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region, and encourage implementation of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Roadmap. We welcome the renewed calls in the region for a ceasefire, including this month by the leaders of the Southern African Development Community.
Almost 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC. In addition to the internally displaced, over a million refugees from the DRC are in neighbouring countries. Given the instability in the region, the DRC itself hosts more than half a million refugees.
Ireland is providing over €8 million this year in response to the situation in DRC, including over €4.6 million for programmes by Irish NGO. In addition, some €3.8 million of Irish Aid funding to UNICEF to address child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is earmarked for DRC.
This year, the EU will provide almost €92 million in humanitarian funding to address the needs of the most vulnerable people in the DRC.
Middle East
Questions (111)
Marian Harkin
Question:111. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use his best efforts to evacuate persons from Gaza (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55432/23]
View answerWritten answers
Clearance to exit from Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities. These authorities have made clear to all countries with citizens in Gaza that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them.
In line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, the remit of my Department is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. This has been our focus over the last seven weeks.
The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave. Over the last number of weeks, my Department has received many enquiries regarding the situation of individuals, including people with ties to Ireland or already holding a visa for Ireland. This includes the persons whose situation your have raised. Any decision on clearance for these individuals to leave Gaza will be made by the relevant local authorities. For Irish visa holders who do receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities, they may make arrangements to travel to Ireland.
Since the start of the current crisis in Gaza my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. To date, 56 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to leave Gaza.
A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We will continue to work consistently with the relevant authorities on additional cases of Irish citizens where these arise and to assist in instances where other Irish citizens and accompanying dependants wish to exit Gaza.
Energy Conservation
Questions (112, 113, 143, 144)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:112. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to include HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54980/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any assessment to estimate the cost and feasibility of including HAP tenancies as part of the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54981/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:143. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are plans to include HAP tenancies in the SEAI warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54978/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any assessment to estimate the cost and feasibility of including HAP tenancies as part of the SEAI warmer homes scheme. [54979/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113, 143 and 144 together.
The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is available to owner-occupied homes built before 2006 where the household meets the Department of Social Protection (DSP) payment related eligibility criteria. The average value of the upgrades provided in 2023 was €24,000 which represents a significant investment in these properties.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is provided by all Local Authorities. Under HAP, Local Authorities can provide housing assistance to households with a long-term housing need, who are renting in the private rental market. There are no plans to include HAP tenancies under the Warmer Homes Scheme.
Rental properties can present a specific challenge for energy efficiency improvements. This is an issue found in most countries where the incentives to invest in energy upgrades can be misaligned between landlords and tenants.
The Government’s Housing for All Plan commits to the introduction of a minimum BER for private rental properties, where feasible, from 2025, and to develop a roadmap to implement these standards.
Additionally, as part of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme, last year the Government approved a new package of supports targeting homes that were built and occupied pre-2011. These supports have been made available to non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to undertake home energy upgrades, with lower energy bills and to improve the efficiency of their rental properties including:
• The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (One Stop Shop Service) provides grant support for private landlords (with higher supports available for AHBs) seeking to upgrade their property to a B2 level.
• The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides support to landlords for step-by-step retrofits.
• Landlords can also avail of generous grant support for attic and cavity wall insulation, which are low-cost measures that can be installed quickly and cost effectively.
In addition to these supports, a new tax incentive to encourage small-scale landlords to undertake retrofitting works while the tenant remains in situ was announced last year. This measure provides for a tax deduction of up to €10,000 per property, against Case V rental income, for certain retrofitting expenses incurred by the landlord on rented residential properties, for a maximum of two rental properties. Full details are set out in Section 32 of the Finance Act 2022.
Landlords will also be able to apply for loans under the forthcoming Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme.
It should also be noted that the Housing for All plan commits to the retrofitting of 36,500 local authority homes by 2030 as part of the achievement of the Climate Action Plan retrofit targets.
Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 112.
Departmental Data
Questions (114)
Catherine Murphy
Question:114. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of doubling the funding available for heating control grants. [54464/23]
View answerWritten answers
The installation of fully integrated heating controls is one of the energy efficiency measures supported under the SEAI administered grant schemes. Heating controls are an excellent way to control a household's energy usage and improve comfort. A fixed grant of €700 is available towards the cost of installing heating controls. This is available under all of the part-funded residential retrofit schemes. Heating controls can also be installed as part of a wider retrofit under the fully funded Warmer Homes scheme.
The majority of grants for heating controls are paid out under the Better Energy Homes (BEH) scheme. The BEH scheme provides individual grants for a range of measures, allowing homeowners to take a step-by-step approach to their retrofit. That scheme has a budget of €48.5 million this year.
There is no ring-fenced budget allocation for heating control measures and, with the exception of the Better Energy Homes Scheme, details on the number of installations of heating controls is not routinely collated by SEAI.
Under the Better Energy Homes scheme to end November 2023, 1,037 grants for heating controls were paid out at a cost of just over €726,000. On the basis of this level of grant payments, a doubling of the fixed grant from €700 to €1,400 would have brought to €1,452,000 the amount paid out of the Better Energy Homes scheme to end November 2023 based on the same level of demand.
Environmental Policy
Questions (115)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Question:115. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the Local Future: Connecting Communities Report of February 2023, particularly its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54491/23]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to start by acknowledging the incredible work carried out by community groups across Ireland in taking climate action. It is vital that we engage with communities to ensure a just and sustainable transition towards carbon neutrality.
The National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) was established within the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to facilitate public participation in the development of the Climate Action Plan, by engaging people in climate-related dialogue in an annual programme of events.
Social and behavioural science provides vital insights and evidence to support communications and policy. In 2021, the Advisory Group on Social and Behavioural Research for Climate Action, comprised of leading social scientists, was established under my Department to provide a forum for the provision of insights into climate policy.
In 2023, the NDCA programme delivered the Climate Change in the Irish Minds survey, the Climate Conversations, the National Youth Assembly on Climate, two National Climate Stakeholder Forum events, a series of deliberative workshops proactively engaging populations vulnerable to the transition to carbon neutrality, and interviews with many of the groups taking climate action who authored the report referred to by the Deputy. Cumulatively, this has provided us with the nationally representative data and deep insights to guide our engagement programme into the future.
In 2024, my Department will, through the NDCA, expand its work to further engage communities across Ireland, to identify how these can be best resourced, and to provide appropriate supports empowering them to deliver climate action on the ground.
Departmental Funding
Questions (116)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Question:116. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding options made available by his Department for community and voluntary organisations to lead on climate action, including for training and awareness campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54532/23]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
Renewable Energy Generation
Questions (117)
Michael Ring
Question:117. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the incentives for communities to progress solar energy or wind energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54621/23]
View answerWritten answers
Through the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund for all RESS projects.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (REC), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other and other barriers to project delivery.
As a result, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS,) where support will be though a feed in tariff without a competitive bidding process.
A set of technical and financial supports for community projects are currently available to communities in a Community Enabling Framework under RESS. Similar supports will be available to community projects under the SRESS.
The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched in the coming months. This is expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.
This scheme will align more closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and support a more sustainable delivery pathway to the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030.
Electricity Grid
Questions (118)
Michael Ring
Question:118. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current position in relation to the national grid infrastructure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54624/23]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (ERA) and subsequent legislation.
The CRU is responsible, inter alia, for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators. Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network. The Transmission and Distribution Networks make up the national electricity grid. EirGrid and ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions.
In July 2023, EirGrid published an update to Shaping our Electricity Future, their roadmap for the transmission grid out to 2030 in order to deliver on the renewable energy targets. In January 2023, ESB Networks launched its Networks for Net Zero Strategy, for the distribution grid, which outlines its commitment to future-proofing Ireland’s electricity network and meeting our climate targets.
The CRU is also responsible for electricity grid connection policy. System Operators issue connection offers to generators and storage projects in accordance with CRU policy. EirGrid and ESB Networks are independent of the Minister in the exercise of their functions as System Operators.
In 2023, batch connection offers will take place in accordance with the published CRU decision known as ECP 2.4. ECP 2.4 saw a window for applications of 2 months opening in October 2023.
The matters raised in this question are operational matters for the CRU, in the first instance, and then EirGrid and ESB Networks.The CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks have respective contact email addresses for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern such as that raised in the question.
Electricity Grid
Questions (119)
Michael Ring
Question:119. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans to upgrade the national grid infrastructure to accommodate greater levels of renewable generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54626/23]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.
The CRU is responsible for oversight of the costs associated with the operation and development of the national grid by the System Operators. Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Distribution Network. The Transmission and Distribution Networks make up the national electricity grid. EirGrid and ESB Networks are independent of myself as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions.
In July 2023, EirGrid published an update to Shaping our Electricity Future, their roadmap for the transmission grid out to 2030 in order to deliver on the renewable energy targets. Separately, EirGrid annually publish a 10-year Transmission Development Plan, which presents EirGrid’s view of the future electricity transmission network needs. All of this is done under the supervision of the independent regulator, CRU. The network development plan provides CRU with accurate data that allows them to deliver their monitoring obligations for electricity. Furthermore, every year CRU holds a public consultation on EirGrid's Transmission Development Plan. CRU's public consultation gives stakeholders the opportunity to express their views on the Transmission Development Plan. In January 2023, ESB Networks launched its Networks for Net Zero Strategy, which outlines its commitment to future-proofing Ireland’s electricity network and meeting our climate targets.
The CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks have respective contact email address for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern or seek updates on developments to the national electricity grid such as that raised in the question.