Tuesday, 30 Apr 2024

Written Answers Nos. 134-151

Cabinet Committees

Questions (134)

John Lahart

Question:

134. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Migration, Integration and Ukraine will meet next. [18585/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Migration, Integration and Ukraine was established on 9th April to oversee the development and delivery of whole-of-Government responses to the system of international and temporary protection for those arriving in Ireland from abroad, including international and domestic policy options, accommodation and other supports, integration, community engagement and public communications.

The first meeting of this Cabinet Committee, which I chair, is taking place on Thursday.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (135)

Denis Naughten

Question:

135. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Taoiseach the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines [18845/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach uses the Government Networks Fibre Connection for phone and data communications and is not paying for any services using copper communication lines.

European Union

Questions (136)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

136. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Taoiseach to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19174/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The CSO is an independent Office under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. The Statistics Act 1993 specifies a number of non-statistical roles and responsibilities which are assigned to me as Taoiseach. These include the signing of Statutory Instruments in relation to statistical requirements.

The following table lists all of the Statistical Statutory Instruments which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level.

No Statistical Acts became law during this period.

No.	Year	SI No:	SI Title
1	2020	S.I. No. 91/2020	Statistics (Balance of Payments Survey) Order 2020
2	2020	S.I. No. 281/2020	Statistics (Census of Agriculture) Order 2020
3	2020	S.I. No. 581/2020	Statistics (Monthly Balance of Payments Survey) Order 2020
4	2020	S.I. No. 582/2020	Statistics (Aircraft Transaction Register Survey) Order 2020
5	2020	S.I. No. 637/2020	Statistics (Census of Population) Order 2020
6	2021	S.I. No. 55/2021	Statistics (Quarterly Survey of Construction) Order 2021
7	2021	S.I. No. 85/2021	Statistics (Community Innovation Survey) Order 2021
8	2021	S.I. No. 86/2021	Statistics (Continuing Vocational Training Survey) Order 2021
9	2021	S.I. No. 94/2021	Statistics (Information and Communication Technologies Survey) Order 2021
10	2021	S.I. No. 163/2021	Statistics (National Survey of Transport of Goods by Road) Order 2021
11	2021	S.I. No. 314/2021	Statistics (Quarterly Survey of Construction) (No. 2) Order 2021
12	2021	S.I. No. 661/2021	Statistics (Waste Generation and Treatment Survey) Order 2021
13	2021	S.I. No. 705/2021	Statistics (Income of Private Hospitals Survey) Order 2021
14	2021	S.I. No. 706/2021	Statistics (Trading Day and Product Profile Survey) Order 2021
15	2022	S.I. No. 87/2022	Statistics (Industrial Commodities Production Survey) Order 2022
16	2022	S.I. No. 141/2022	Statistics (Quarterly Survey of Construction) Order 2022
17	2022	S.I. No. 268/2022	Statistics (Structural Business Inquiry) Order 2022
18	2022	S.I. No. 349/2022	Statistics (Business Expenditure on Research and Development Survey) Order 2022
19	2022	S.I. No. 566/2022	Statistics (Outward Foreign Affiliates) Order 2022
20	2022	S.I. No. 658/2022	Statistics (Consumer Price Survey) Order 2022
21	2023	S.I. No. 2/2023	Statistics (Producer Prices Survey) Order 2023
22	2023	S.I. No. 113/2023	Statistics (Labour Costs Survey) Order 2023
23	2023	S.I. No. 223/2023	Statistics (Community Innovation Survey) Order 2023
24	2023	S.I. No. 394/2023	Statistics (Waste Generation and Treatment Survey) Order 2023
25	2023	S.I. No. 446/2023	Statistics (Monthly Survey of Construction) Order 2023
26	2023	S.I. No. 509/2023	Statistics (Monthly Services Inquiry) Order 2023
27	2023	S.I. No. 510/2023	Statistics (Retail Sales Inquiry) Order 2023
28	2023	S.I. No. 511/2023	Statistics (Retail Sales Inquiry) (No. 2) Order 2023
29	2023	S.I. No. 580/2023	Statistics (Monthly Services Inquiry) (No. 2) Order 2023
30	2024	S.I. No. 15/2024	Statistics (Business Energy Use Survey) Order 2024
31	2024	S.I. No. 84/2024	Statistics (Industrial Production and Turnover) Order 2024
32	2024	S.I. No. 85/2024	Statistics (Income of Private Hospitals Survey) Order 2024
33	2024	S.I. No. 93/2024	Statistics (Environmental Expenditure Survey) Order 2024

Ministerial Responsibilities

Questions (137)

Paul Murphy

Question:

137. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he agrees with the need to appoint a dedicated Minister for Special Education (details supplied) who can fully commit their time and efforts to addressing the complex challenges and pressing needs within this vital area of education policy; if he will ensure that a person is available to dedicate all of their time appointed to this position. [19276/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

On 10 April I appointed Hildegarde Naughton T.D. as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion.

Minister Naughton attends at Cabinet and also attends the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability which I established.

Local Authorities

Questions (138)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

138. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19369/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach does not provide grant-aid funding to local authorities.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (139)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

139. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay; when a decision will issue, given that a review was expected in March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18759/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

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, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is [phone]. This number is also available on the Department's website.

With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant. Further documents were subsequently received and have been processed. However, the application remains incomplete. A member of the FBR team has contacted the applicant in this regard. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received by the Passport Service.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (140)

Denis Naughten

Question:

140. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18837/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department uses a variety of telecommunications channels to deliver its services. Of the channels mentioned, it uses:

- 6 ISDN lines for public facing telephone communications

- 1 'fractional' ISDN line and 28 PSTN lines for building utilities.

My Department no longer uses copper leased lines.

Diaspora Issues

Questions (141)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

141. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the 30 recommendations of a report (details supplied) provided to the Government on the plight and problems of returning Irish citizen immigrants to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18868/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

The Government is very much aware of the challenges which people can face when returning to live in Ireland. The current Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 undertakes to monitor barriers to  returning emigrants and to remove them, where possible. It also undertakes to improve the provision of information to diaspora communities about returning home. These undertakings reflect the findings of the report to which the Deputy refers, the 2018 Indecon Economic  Report Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants, which was commissioned by my Department.

My Department has engaged with other Government Departments and agencies on the issues facing returnees and raised in that report, and will continue to do so, including through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair. While some progress has been made on specific issues, such as car insurance, the Deputy will appreciated that other issues, such as housing, childcare and healthcare, are being addressed by Government in a much broader context  

The Interdepartmental Committee has identified the provision of information, advice and assistance  as an area where more could be done and in that regard, we have engaged with a range of organisations in Ireland to support returning Irish citizens and their families. My Department provides annual funding to Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which assist returning emigrants, and my Department also provides annual funding to the Citizens Information Bureau for its dedicated “Returning to Ireland” portal which provides practical, comprehensive information to those intending to return.

By way of more direct support, my Department also funds the Back for Business initiative, which provides peer guidance to Irish entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland. The seventh cycle of the Back for Business programme is currently underway and the initiative has been a very successful one, helping new businesses find their feet and create employment in different parts of the country.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to making the process of moving home as straightforward as possible for returning emigrants and their families and to having all of the information they need available to them.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (142)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to open an Irish Embassy in Qatar. [18907/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence.

The Global Ireland strategy commits to opening at least 26 new diplomatic Missions by 2025.  Since its launch, 27 missions have been opened or announced for opening.  These comprise a total of 14 embassies in: Amman, Belgrade, Bogotá, Chisinau, Dakar, Islamabad, Kyiv, Manila, Monrovia, Rabat, Santiago de Chile, Sarajevo, Tehran and Wellington, and 13 consulates general in: Cardiff, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Lyon, Malaga, Manchester, Melbourne, Miami, Milan, Mumbai, Munich, Toronto, and Vancouver. 

The addition of Missions has been complemented by a significant expansion in the presence of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in key markets and by the strengthening of strategically important Missions (including Brussels, London, Paris, Berlin, PMUN New York, Tokyo and Beijing) with the assignment of additional staff from several Government Departments. 

In considering locations for new Missions, a range of factors are taken into account including the needs of Irish citizens overseas, our national, political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources.  Staff at missions work as part of Team Ireland, in close collaboration with State Agencies and other Government Departments to strengthen our international reputation, drive the development of our bilateral relationship with the country or countries to which they are accredited, and to promote our culture and values.

Ireland enjoys good relations with Qatar. My Department maintains regular diplomatic contacts with Qatar, primarily though our Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, who presented her credentials to the Emir of Qatar in March 2023, and who travels there frequently for contacts with government, business and Irish community contacts. We also engage with Qatar through its Embassy to Ireland, based in London, and in UN fora.

The Government has no plans to open an Embassy in Qatar at present.

Official Engagements

Questions (143)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

143. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to invite his Finnish counterpart to Dublin for a bilateral meeting. [18908/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland and Finland share very cordial ties. We are like-minded EU partners and our bilateral relations are warm and constructive.

Our countries have well-developed and long-standing cultural and people-to-people connections, trade relations and partnerships on the international stage, including proud records of peacekeeping. Finland also played an important role in the Northern Ireland peace process for which we remain deeply grateful.

In 2022, we celebrated 60 years of diplomatic ties, which I was pleased to have been able to acknowledge during my visit to Helsinki in April of that year as Taoiseach.

At the time of her election last year, I congratulated Minister Valtonen on her appointment as Foreign Minister, and I have met her on numerous occasions since at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers.

A standing invitation for Minister Valtonen to visit Dublin has been extended through my officials and I hope an opportunity can present itself for her to visit Ireland.

Passport Services

Questions (144)

James Lawless

Question:

144. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine a passport issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18932/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 22 April 2024. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days.

Human Rights

Questions (145, 155)

Bríd Smith

Question:

145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the recent report that Irish protesters were told at a pro-Palestine protest camp in Berlin that they were not allowed to speak Irish by German police; if he agrees that this is an unacceptable development and infringes a person's right to speak a language of their choice and is a dangerous precedent to set; if he will clarify if this violates any article of the European Convention on Human Rights or any other legislation; if he intends to raise this matter with his German counterpart with a view to expressing his concerns that Irish citizens were instructed not to speak their national language and under which legislation was this ordered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18937/24]

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

155. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of Irish protesters in Berlin being reprimanded for speaking Irish by German police; if he will contact the German Ambassador regarding this failure uphold EU citizens language rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19449/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 155 together.

I am aware of reports regarding the incident in question.

The incident described took place in the context of a protest within Berlin’s government district. I understand that the rules surrounding this protest related to all languages other than English and German, and not to Irish in particular. There are domestic German administrative and legal avenues open to the group to raise this matter with the relevant authorities and the group may wish to consider this.

The Embassy has strong and regular outreach to the Irish community in Germany. I was pleased to meet with members of the community, including those that speak and promote the learning of the Irish language during some of my recent visits to Germany.

Passport Services

Questions (146)

Ged Nash

Question:

146. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to clarify a policy matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18940/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended ("the 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person.  In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement when making a first time passport application.

Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended ("the 1956 Act"). A person born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005 or born abroad to a parent who was born on the island of Ireland before 2005 is automatically an Irish citizen.

The citizenship of persons born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is determined by the citizenship or residency status of one of their parents at the time of the person’s birth.

From the information provided, the Passport Service cannot advise on the citizenship entitlement of the applicant in question. 

Information on what is required for all first time passport applications, including details on documentary requirements, guardianship and consent, are available at my Department’s recently updated website (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements).

Passport Services

Questions (147)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

147. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue to applicants who are siblings from County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has approved the applications.

Trade Sanctions

Questions (148)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

148. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what engagement his Department has had with the United States government regarding the need to lift the embargo on Cuba, in line with the recent United Nations General Assembly Resolution 12552; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18997/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department engages extensively with the United States on a wide range of foreign policy issues. Recent high level political engagements with the United States Government, including my visit in February to Washington DC and then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington in March, were opportunities to discuss a number of priority foreign policy issues, notably the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the war in Ukraine. 

Ireland considers that the longstanding economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba serves no constructive purpose and that its lifting would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. 

Ireland has expressed this view consistently on various occasions in recent years. Ireland, along with our European Union partners, consistently votes in favour of the resolution calling for an end to the US embargo on Cuba. I can confirm that Ireland voted again in favour of this resolution when it was last brought before the United Nations General Assembly in November 2023.

Ireland fully supported the comprehensive EU statement on this matter in November, which made clear that the embargo has a damaging impact on the economic situation of the country and negatively effects the living standards of the Cuban people.

The damaging impact of the embargo is further exacerbated by US sanctions and the inclusion of Cuba on the unilateral list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. I regret that the inclusion of Cuba on this list has a negative impact on foreign direct investment in Cuba and further aggravates the already difficult situation of the Cuban people. In addition, these measures damage EU economic interests and the EU has firmly and continuously voiced its opposition to these measures due to their extraterritorial application and impact on the EU. The EU has stated clearly that these measures are in violation of commonly accepted rules of international trade. 

Ireland will continue to raise these issues, including through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and through our EU partners, whenever appropriate. Ireland will also continue to engage with Cuba through our engagement with the Embassy of Cuba in Dublin, through our Embassy in Mexico, to which Cuba is accredited, and through our EU partners, including via the various dialogue mechanisms that are provided under the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement in place between the EU and Cuba.

Passport Services

Questions (149)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

149. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19046/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date.

Passport Services

Questions (150)

James Lawless

Question:

150. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 23 April 2024. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Middle East

Questions (151)

Matt Carthy

Question:

151. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he sought access to Gaza ahead of his recent visit to Egypt and Jordan; the reason his itinerary did not include engaging with Palestinian officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I travelled to Egypt and Jordan from 23 – 25 April 2024 as part of this Government’s continued efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Egypt and Jordan are at the forefront of regional and international efforts to halt the conflict in Gaza, address the dire humanitarian situation and resume a meaningful political pathway. 

My meetings with the Egyptian and Jordanian Foreign Ministers, as well as with King Abdullah of Jordan, focused on our collective efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. We discussed how Ireland can support regional efforts to return to a political pathway towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of this conflict and a two-state solution, including through building support for the Arab Peace Plan with European partners, advocating for full membership of the United Nations for Palestine, and a collective decision by a number of European partners on the recognition of a Palestinian State.

I travelled to the Rafah crossing at the border of Egypt and the Gaza Strip, where I met with representatives of humanitarian partners, including UN OCHA, UNRWA and the Egyptian Red Crescent, and witnessed first-hand the unacceptable restrictions Israel continues to impose, which impede a comprehensive humanitarian response in Gaza. I did not seek access into the Gaza Strip on this occasion. My focus was on hearing from those working inside Gaza - and witnessing at first hand - the impediments to humanitarian access into and within Gaza.

While I did not meet with Palestinian Authority officials during this visit to the region, I spoke with the new Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa on 27 March. I also proposed at the meeting in Luxembourg of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 22 April that PM Mustafa be invited to the next FAC in Brussels in May, which was accepted by HR/VP Borrell. Irish and Palestinian senior officials are in ongoing contact in Ramallah and in Dublin.