Ivana Bacik
Question:44. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of adult and child passports issued in 2023, in tabular form. [3190/24]
View answerPassport Services
Questions (44)
Written answers
The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at or well-ahead of target and there are no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days.
Over 1 million applications were received by the Passport Service in 2023, and over 950,000 passports were issued.
Passport Online was rolled out to an additional 175 countries for first time applicants in 2023, meaning that 99.9% of all first-time and renewal applicants worldwide can apply online.
Online enhancements rolled out last year have also simplified the process for first time applicants and especially children applying for their first passport.
In 2023, the Passport Service was ranked 18th out of 150 public-facing organisations in a survey conducted by the Customer Experience (CX) group. This ranking recognised the Passport Service as the best customer service brand in the public sector. In addition, the Customer Service Hub in the Passport Service was shortlisted for the “Best Customer Service Team” award at the 2023 Customer Experience Awards.
2024 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service. I would ask the Deputy to encourage her constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online, as the quickest, easiest and most cost effective way to apply for a passport.
My Department will continue to work to ensure that our services meet the needs of our citizens in 2024.
The figures requested by the Deputy are outlined in tabular form below.
Passports Issued 2023
|
Minor passports issued (online) |
309,112 |
|
Minor passport issued (paper) |
42,487 |
|
Adult passports issued (online) |
563,249 |
|
Adult passports issued (paper) |
39,779 |
European Union
Questions (45)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:45. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on work being done to prepare for Ireland’s presidency of the EU in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3206/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. It will be Ireland’s eighth EU Presidency, our most recent term in the role having been in 2013. During the six-month Presidency, Ireland will be responsible for driving the EU policy agenda and advancing work on EU legislative and policy initiatives. Irish Ministers and officials will chair most meetings in the framework of the Council of Ministers, and will represent the Council in its relations with other EU institutions, notably the European Parliament.
Delivering a successful Presidency will require extensive preparatory work across Government and significant resources. The Government discussed our approach to the preparation of the Presidency in May 2023, and tasked my Department with taking forward both policy and operational planning for the Presidency, in consultation with the Department of the Taoiseach. Two new Inter-Departmental Groups, focused on policy and operational aspects of Presidency preparations respectively, have been established and are meeting regularly with participation from all Government Departments.
As was the case with our previous EU Presidencies, our policy priorities for the 2026 Presidency will reflect the areas in which we judge that Ireland can make the most significant and effective contribution to the advancement of a positive policy agenda for the Union and its citizens. Our Presidency policy programme will be developed against the backdrop of the EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2024-29, which is expected to be adopted by the European Council in June 2024, and will reflect also the range of legislative initiatives proposed by the new European Commission which will take office later this year.
The Irish EU Presidency will form the first part of an eighteen-month Trio Presidency also involving Lithuania (January to June 2027) and Greece (July to December 2027). We will work with our Trio partners to develop a Trio Presidency Programme to guide the work of the Council through the full eighteen-month period.
My Department is currently working with Departments across Government to plan the range of meetings and events to be hosted by Ireland during the Presidency, and to establish the resource requirements, including staffing needs, arising from the Presidency role. This work is being informed by consultations with other EU Member States which have recently held the Presidency and with the EU Institutions. The work of Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels will be central to the coordination and delivery of a successful Presidency, and the Permanent Representation will begin to be reinforced with additional staff from the summer of 2024.
The 2026 EU Presidency will be a major undertaking for Ireland, and will be a key focus for the work of the Government in the three years ahead. We have a proud record of success from our previous terms in the Presidency of the Council, and I am confident that we will again be able to make a significant and positive contribution to the EU through our Presidency in 2026.
International Bodies
Questions (46)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:46. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland’s allocation for the International Criminal Court in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/24]
View answerWritten answers
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established as the first permanent international court to end impunity for the perpetrators of international crimes. The Court was established in 2002 with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. By its very existence the Court not only promotes and upholds the rule of law but also provides a means of bringing to account the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. In this way it contributes in a fundamental way to the cause of international peace and justice.
Ireland has been, and continues to be, a consistent and strong supporter of the ICC. A key pillar of this support is Ireland’s belief that the ICC should have sufficient resources to deliver its unique and important mandate. The ICC is funded mainly by means of annual assessed contributions made by the States Parties to the Rome Statute, determined every year at the Assembly of States Parties. The total annual budget of the Court for 2024 is just over €187 million, of which Ireland’s assessed contribution is approximately €1.5 million.
Ireland has consistently promoted a budget for the Court that is sufficient to meet the many demands placed upon it. The increasing expectations of states, civil society and victims for the ICC to pursue justice in numerous investigations across four continents, including the situations in Ukraine and Palestine will considerably increase the pressure on its resources over the coming years. In order to help alleviate the increased pressure precipitated by these investigations Ireland has recently committed to providing a significant amount of voluntary contributions to the ICC.
In November 2023 the Government announced that it would make a voluntary contribution of €3 million to the Court. This announcement was made shortly after the ICC Prosecutor highlighted the urgent resource needs of his Office during his visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Officials in my Department are actively engaging with officials in the ICC to determine how this voluntary contribution can best contribute to the important work of the Court, including to cyber security in the Registry following last year's cyber attack.
Last November’s announcement was in addition to a €3 million voluntary contribution made by Ireland in 2022 That voluntary contribution was made after a visit to Bucha and Kyiv by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D. The €3 million was divided amongst several voluntary trust funds established for specific purposes in support of the Court’s mandate. In addition to allocating €1 million to the Office of the Prosecutor’s Trust Fund for Advanced Technology and Specialized Capacity, €1.5 million of the voluntary contribution was disbursed to the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, €300,000 to the Special Fund for Relocations, €150,000 to the Trust Fund for the Development of Interns and Visiting Professionals and €50,000 to the Trust Fund for Family Visits for the period 2022 to 2024.
The Government is committed to supporting the vital work of the ICC and will continue to work with other countries around the world to promote and strengthen it.
Foreign Birth Registration
Questions (47)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:47. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); if there is a reason for the delay with it; when the decision is expected to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3208/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation.
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.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 8-9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents, a decrease in turnaround time of 75% from over two and a half years in 2022. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested additional documents from the applicant in May 2023. The Passport Service received these documents in early January 2024. In line with processing times for additional documents requested, these documents will be reviewed by March 2024. The Passport Service will contact the applicant with an update at that point.
Departmental Staff
Questions (48)
Ged Nash
Question:48. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in his Department who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in his Department work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if they will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3238/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has a policy on blended working for staff at HQ offices which is aligned with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service organisations. It is subject to ongoing review to ensure it is being implemented in an effective way, is meeting the needs of the people the Department serves while also meeting the needs of staff.
Staff based at offices, whose roles are deemed suitable for blended working, can apply to work at least one day a week from home. If their application is approved, they are permitted to work from home for a maximum of 50% of their regular attendance pattern over a four week period, subject to operational requirements.
As of Friday 19 January 2024, there were 701 approved applications for blended working, representing 40% of total staff working across those offices. The breakdown of those with approved blended working arrangements on that date was 402 female and 299 male.
Looking back to December 2022, there were 704 approved applications for blended working, with 399 applications from female staff members and 305 from male.
The numbers of staff based at HQ offices who are availing of blended working arrangements can vary month on month, depending on staff moves, as not all roles within the Department are deemed suitable for blended working.
It should be noted that at present, only a small cohort of officers in the Passport Service can avail of blended working, and the vast majority of staff attend offices on a fulltime basis for operational reasons. It is hoped, however, to roll-out further opportunities for blended and flexible working across the Passport Service in the course of this year.
My Department has developed a separate Blended Working Framework for Diplomatic Missions. While acknowledging that blended working may not be suitable in all cases, both from personal and organisational perspectives, the Department is committed to exploring available options while taking account of business needs.
Departmental Staff
Questions (49)
Ged Nash
Question:49. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide figures for the number of staff directly employed in agencies and bodies directly under his aegis who work from home/remotely as part of their working week; the percentage of staff on an overall basis who work from home at least one day a week; the number of working hours on average per week that staff in relevant agencies and bodies work from home; the gender breakdown of those who avail of the opportunity to work from home/remotely; if he will provide the figures for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3256/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that there are no State boards or agencies operating under the aegis of my Department.
Middle East
Questions (50)
Matt Carthy
Question:50. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the Minister for Finance in relation to Irish State investment in companies which derive income from activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/24]
View answerWritten answers
Irish State investments are a matter for the Minister for Finance.
Ireland’s overriding position on Israeli settlements is crystal clear. They are illegal under international law and are damaging to the prospects for peace. Ireland’s position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory informs our engagement with the State of Israel across a range of bilateral issues, and will continue to do so.
In accordance with international law, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the occupied territories. A whole of Government approach is applied to this policy of differentiation. The Department of Foreign Affairs also ensures that there is information available for the public and companies regarding Ireland's policy on settlements on its website.
Middle East
Questions (51)
Matt Carthy
Question:51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the undertakings secured from Israel during a meeting in October 2022 regarding the renewal of the EU-Israel Association agreement in relation to human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3272/24]
View answerWritten answers
As I have previously stated regarding the EU-Israel Association in October 2022, and as I made clear to this House at the time, Ireland’s position was that such a meeting would only go ahead once an EU position was finalised. This approach was important as it enabled the EU to speak with one voice on key issues of concern, notably in relation to human rights and international law, and to convey this position to Israel at a senior political level.
This included reaffirming its commitment to implement previous Council conclusions, UNSCR 2334 (2016), as well as the applicability of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The EU also noted that the resumption of the Association Council should pave the way for the resumption of other meetings that are essential for further developing a fruitful and comprehensive relationship, notably the Association Committee as well as the EU-Israel Political Dialogue and the informal working groups on human rights and international organisations. In this regard, the EU position placed particular emphasis on the resumption of a regular dialogue with the Israeli Government on human rights issues.
Such a dialogue had not taken place before the Hamas' attacks of 7 October 2023 and its reinstatement remains a priority for Ireland. I welcome that the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, undertook a three-day visit from to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory last June. This was a clear signal of the importance afforded by the EU to engagement on this agenda. Among the many issues he discussed with the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli authorities were the use of lethal force by Israel Defence Forces, civilian deaths, settler violence, the need for accountability, settlements, demolitions and women’s’ rights.
Ukraine War
Questions (52, 61)
Matt Carthy
Question:52. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the aid provided by Ireland to Ukraine in 2023 and that allocated under Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3273/24]
View answer
Catherine Connolly
Question:61. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 30 November 2023, the details of Ireland’s financial and in-kind assistance to Ukraine since February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3405/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 61 together.
Ireland's overall financial support to Ukraine since February 2022 amounts to €210 million, comprised of over €90 million in stabilisation and humanitarian funding and commitments of approximately €122 million in non-lethal military assistance under the European Peace Facility.
Funding for humanitarian assistance by the Department of Foreign Affairs amounted to €20 million in 2022, and €19 million in 2023 respectively.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also provided assistance for stabilisation and recovery efforts, including €20 million to the World Bank Group for the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Co-financing of the Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) in Ukraine; €6 million to the World Bank Group for the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) to fund critical infrastructure projects in health, transport and energy; €4 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Small Business Impact Fund; €1.8 million in Voluntary Contributions to organisations including UNFPA, UNOHCHR and the UN Peacebuilding Fund; and €1.5 million to UNHCR to fund the construction of as many as 75 prefabricated homes, to support communities devastated by the war.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has also provided funding to ensure accountability for Russia's actions in Ukraine. This included €1 million to the Office of the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court to support ongoing investigations, including with regard to Ukraine (this is part of an overall €3 million commitment by Ireland to the ICC over a number of years).
Further funding is being provided in support of Ukraine's reform process and efforts to improve overall governance, including €1 million to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Ukraine Solidarity Fund; €0.52 million to NGOs and Regional Organisations working in Ukraine; €0.5 million to the OECD Ukraine Country programme to deliver improved quality of reforms; and €427,505 for OSCE programmes in Ukraine.
The Department has also provided over €1 million in peace and stability funding to Ukraine across 2022 and 2023.
This makes a total of some €77 million to date from the Department of Foreign Affairs (Votes 27 and 28).
Other Government Departments have also made contributions including in-kind and monetary supports to Ukraine.
Separately, Ireland committed an additional €43 million in 2023 to address the wider consequences of the war globally, including food insecurity, increasing fragility, and acute child malnutrition. In total, Ireland provided over €75 million in support to Ukraine, its neighbours and to address the wider consequences of the war in 2023.
Ireland has committed approximately €122 million in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility in 2022 and 2023, with approximately €25.5 million having been disbursed to date, in line with the reimbursement schedule agreed by Member States in Brussels.
Ireland remains committed to continue our support for Ukraine. In 2024, Ireland has allocated €35 million to support to Ukraine and its neighbours to address ongoing humanitarian needs, and progress towards its early recovery and eventual reconstruction.
Ireland is also a strong supporter of the European Commission’s Proposal for a €50 billion Ukraine Facility, which would put our macro-financial support for Ukraine on a more stable footing over the next four years and we hope an agreement on this can be reached in the coming weeks.
Foreign Conflicts
Questions (53)
Matt Carthy
Question:53. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the efforts of the Irish Government and his engagements with his European counterparts regarding alleviating civil strife and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3274/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced periodic conflict over many decades, with increasing insecurity and violence in eastern DRC. The ongoing conflict in is driven by a number of factors, including competing attempts by armed groups to control the rich mineral resources of the region.
Elections were held in DRC in December 2023 in the context of a ceasefire that largely held. They saw the re-election of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. However, tensions between the DRC and Rwanda have remained at a high level. We and our EU partners have expressed concern at this high level of regional tension and we stress the importance of regional efforts to reduce tensions.
We worked closely with our EU partners on the development of a new EU strategy for the wider Great Lakes region that was adopted in 2023, with a particular focus on the eastern provinces of the DRC. We fully support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries in the region and condemn any support to local or foreign armed groups. Ireland has also emphasised the importance of the engagement of national and regional organisations in promoting peace and stability and note the contribution by Angola and Kenya to advancing a peaceful resolution and the recent decision by the Southern African Development Community to deploy a multinational force to eastern DRC.
Almost 27 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in DRC. There are an estimated 6.9 million people internally displaced, while over a million refugees from the DRC are in neighbouring countries. The DRC itself hosts more than half a million refugees.
Ireland directly provided over €8 million in asssitance in 2023 in response to the situation in DRC. Over €4.6 million has been allocated to long-term development and chronic humanitarian crisis programmes under Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership. Five partners (Christian Aid Ireland, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam Ireland, Trócaire and World Vision Ireland) are operating in DRC. In addition, we have provided €3.8 million to UNICEF to address child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa,, earmarked for DRC. Following recent flooding in DRC, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) provided $3.6 million in immediate assistance. Ireland provided €14.5 million to the CERF in 2023. The Start Fund, an NGO-managed pooled fund, is providing €145,000 in response to flooding in DRC. In 2023, Irish Aid provided €1,400,000 to the Start Fund. In 2023 the EU provided almost €92 million in humanitarian funding to address the needs of the most vulnerable people in the DRC.
We will continue to work with EU and other partners to promote peace and stability and address humanitarian need in DRC.
Foreign Conflicts
Questions (54)
Matt Carthy
Question:54. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagement with the Colombian Minister for Defence regarding Irelands support for the Colombian peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3275/24]
View answerWritten answers
I had the opportunity to meet with Colombia’s Minister for Defence, Ivan Velasquez, during my recent visit to Colombia on 10-11 January.
Ireland’s continued support to peacebuilding in Colombia was the key issue discussed in a rich and engaging encounter. This included hearing Minister Velasquez's perspectives on the ongoing peace dialogues in Colombia. We spoke of the current dynamics in the dialogue process with the Estado Mayor Central, in which Ireland is acting as a guarantor country, and we agreed on several peace-related issues on which Ireland and Colombia can continue to exchange lessons learned from our respective peace processes. Minister Velasquez also stressed the need to address the underlying causes of conflict in Colombia, including land reform and inclusion of marginalised communities.
I was pleased to inform the Minister of Ireland’s commitment to enhancing our support to the implementation of the 2016 Agreement and the Total Peace dialogues in Colombia, including by increasing our funding for Colombia to over €5 million in 2024, primarily in support of peace.
Minister Velasquez and I also discussed ongoing police cooperation between our jurisdictions and exchanged views as to how this can be further progressed. In this vein, we also discussed approaches to tackling organised crime and drug use, and agreed to continue to deepen cooperation in this area. This includes building on the work to date of Ireland's Garda Liaison Officer attached to the Embassy of Ireland in Bogota.
I was pleased to share information with the Minister regarding policing reform on the island of Ireland, Ireland’s consent-based policing model.
In addition, we exchanged experiences on models of citizen engagement, and on approaches to improving the inclusion of society in policy and decision-making.
I was also able to discuss many of the above-mentioned points in a meeting with the two Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, as well as in a separate meeting with the Chief of Staff and other senior officials from the Colombian High Commission for Peace.
Foreign Birth Registration
Questions (55)
Mattie McGrath
Question:55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation.
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.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 8-9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents, a decrease in turnaround time of 75% from over two and a half years in 2022. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, the online application was made in March 2023. Supporting documents were received by the Passport Service in late July 2023. In line with current processing times, this application will be processed by April 2024.
Visa Agreements
Questions (56)
Thomas Gould
Question:56. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can provide support to a person (details supplied) who cannot get an ESTA due to having previously visited Cuba. [3294/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, United States immigration regulation and operations are a matter solely for the relevant US authorities.
In January 2021, the United States designated Cuba as a 'State Sponsor of Terrorism'. My understanding is that travellers who have visited a country with this designation may no longer be eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA), and must apply for a visa to enter the United States.
Travel advice for those visiting Cuba is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs' Travel Advice website (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/advice/cuba/) and this advice includes information on the impact that travelling to Cuba may have on subsequent travel to the United States.
I understand that ineligibility for an ESTA does not automatically make an individual ineligible for a US visa, and that any applicant who is denied an ESTA may apply for a visa through the United States Embassy.
Passport Services
Questions (57)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:57. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the new passport design will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3317/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish passport is a vital document of the Irish State and is currently ranked third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides citizens with visa-free access to over 190 countries. The existing passport book is ten years old and, in order to maintain the integrity and security of the passport, frequent redesigns and enhanced security features to passport books, passport cards and other travel documents are recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Last year, my Department ran a public consultation to help inform the Department’s design considerations for the new passport book. This exercise was an opportunity for the public to contribute to the design of the next Irish passport. Response rates for this public consultation were unprecedented in terms of typical engagements of this nature with more than 10,000 responses in the first week, and a total of 15,470 surveys completed over the course of the three-week fieldwork period.
The results of this consultation have provided a rich set of data and clear guidance on the flora and fauna that citizens would like to see incorporated into the new passport design. The upcoming redesign relates to the pages inside the passport book and the burgundy cover with our national harp emblem will remain. The results are available on Ireland.ie and I would encourage all with an interest in our passport to access and read the detailed report.
The Department is now bringing forward these insights in order to integrate them, to the greatest extent possible, into a viable passport design. The Department is currently undertaking a procurement exercise to secure a manufacturer for the production of new passport books, passport cards and other related travel documents. This procurement is a highly complex and technical undertaking, which will take a number of months to complete. Upon completion of a successful procurement exercise, the Department expects to be in a position to provide a provisional timeline for the release of the new passport.
Irish Sign Language
Questions (58)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:58. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of social media videos posted on his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit, that included closed captioning/subtitling and Irish sign language translations between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, inclusive. [3364/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department complies with the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The Department endeavours to maximise accessibility of its video content published on social media, and to date has prioritised provision of video content with accompanying closed captions/subtitles rather than Irish sign language, in order to achieve this wherever practical. The percentage of videos published on the primary social media channels of the Department that included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, inclusive, is as follows:
|
Platform |
% |
|
|
92.8% |
|
|
95.8% |
|
|
83.9% |
|
|
100% |
Middle East
Questions (59)
Catherine Connolly
Question:59. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to advocate at EU level for the suspension of trade with Israel, in light of its ongoing actions in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3403/24]
View answerWritten answers
Trade policy, including with regard to EU engagement, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
On the broader issue of EU leverage, as I have previously stated, the most credible and effective approach is for Ireland to continue to work to influence the EU’s collective position in a realistic manner. The central pillars of the EU position remain valid, including the clear EU position that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law and the EU’s ongoing concern regarding the rising level of extreme settler violence.
All agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territory occupied by Israel in 1967. Ireland is consistently vocal in ensuring the application of this policy across all sectors of cooperation.
Furthermore, I welcome that discussions underway at EU level on potential sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank who are attacking and displacing Palestinian communities. The US has already taken such action and I urged EU partners to rapidly advance these proposals at the Foreign Affairs Council last Monday.
Middle East
Questions (60)
Catherine Connolly
Question:60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on his engagement at EU level with a view to securing a ceasefire in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3404/24]
View answerWritten answers
I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I have conveyed the urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and a significant increase in humanitarian access and supplies into Gaza. Ireland’s diplomatic efforts are focused on these two core objectives.
I attended several meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council since the Hamas attacks on 7th October. I have consistently emphasised that a purely military approach was unworkable and called on my EU counterparts to push for a humanitarian ceasefire.
On Monday, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels, which was attended by the Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian and Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministers and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. I stated Ireland’s key priorities and reiterated that the EU must be robust in underlining that international law applies in all conflicts, to all parties; state actors and non-state actors alike.
Additionally, I raised my concern with the Israeli Foreign Minister of with the campaign of de-legitimisation and disinformation against UN bodies and international organisations. I also seperately organised a meeting of likeminded EU Foreign Ministers on 21 January to discuss current efforts to secure a ceasefire and reinvigorate the peace process.
Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 52.
Middle East
Questions (62)
Catherine Connolly
Question:62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 7 November 2023, the steps he has taken to ensure the safe passage of Irish citizens from the occupied Palestinian territories, including those family members and dependents who do not hold Irish passports; the steps he has taken to ensure safe passage for family members and dependents of Irish citizens from the occupied Palestinian territories, in cases where the Irish citizen is not physically with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3406/24]
View answerWritten answers
Since the start of this crisis 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.
The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the authorities in relation to a small number of citizens who have not yet been permitted to leave and we stand ready to assist other Irish citizens and accompanying dependents wishing to exit Gaza.
The authorities have made clear that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them.
To date, 57 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to exit Gaza. Dependents have included the spouses and minor children of Irish citizens, along with dependent parents accompanying an Irish citizen, where they met the visa eligibility requirements set by the Department of Justice. Let me assure you, Deputy, that we are giving very close consideration to these matters, given the gravity of the situation in Gaza.
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 since the crisis began.
The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave. In recent 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.
Any decision on clearance for these individuals to leave Gaza will be made by the relevant local authorities. The issuance of visas to non-nationals wishing to enter Ireland is a matter for the Department of Justice. Holders of valid Irish visas who receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities may make arrangements to travel to Ireland.
Middle East
Questions (63)
Catherine Connolly
Question:63. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of Ireland’s financial and in-kind assistance to Palestine since October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3407/24]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s support to Palestinian people, including development funding and the response to the war in Gaza amounted to €36 million in 2023. Of this, €20 million was provided in assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza. This €20 million in assistance included:
* €10 million in additional core funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides essential services to 5.7 million Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
* €4.44 million to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN OCHA) Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund, which channels resources to key humanitarian partners on the ground based on needs.
* €2.6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is a critical part of the response, addressing the basic food and nutritional needs of the population.
* €1 million to the World Health Organisation to help the organisation deliver an emergency health response to protect health needs and reduce mortality and morbidity.
* €2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for use by the Palestine Red Crescent and Egyptian Red Crescent. The IFRC Secretariat launched a Federation-wide response plan to address needs including health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter and in-kind assistance.
* 50 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, which included tents which were distributed in Gaza this month through Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative.
* Costs for an Irish Rapid Response member's deployment with UNICEF.
We continue to follow developments closely and stand ready to provide further vital assistance.