Parliamentary questions

Departmental Staff Numbers

Barry Cowen

13. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of staff in his Department's audit committee and the evaluation and audit unit in 2010, 2011, 2012 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15584/13]

Emigrant Support Services

John Browne

14. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount of spending on emigrant support programmes in 2010, 2011, 2012 and planned for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15578/13]

European Union Stability

Bernard Durkan

15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which, arising from any appraisal of developments within the EU of a political, economic, social or structural nature, measures have been taken or are ongoing with a view to addressing the nationalistic trends currently emerging in some European countries which may result in permanent damage to the European project and divergence from the concept and vision of Europe's founding fathers, with particular reference to the growth of euro-scepticism as a replacement for the European project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15506/13]

Official Engagements

Sandra McLellan

16. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an outline of what he and the Taoiseach discussed with American President Barack Obama during their meeting at the White House on 19 March. [15524/13]

Human Rights Issues

Peadar Tóibín

17. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has any plans to issue a policy response to the endorsement by the Human Rights Council of the United Nations framework and guiding principles on business and human rights; and if the response will also address the European Commission's call for EU member states to develop national plans for the implementation of the guiding principles. [15539/13]

Official Engagements

Martin Ferris

18. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed issues which are directly affecting the Irish peace process and the difficulties that have been experienced recently with loyalist protest with the American Secretary of State John Kerry during their meeting on 18 March. [15526/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Michael P. Kitt

19. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further discussions he has held with his EU colleagues regarding negotiations with Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15593/13]

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Sandra McLellan

20. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received a report from Ireland’s participants in the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women; and if he will provide details of what was discussed. [15521/13]

Cross-Border Projects

Billy Kelleher

21. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of money spent on cross-Border peace initiatives in 2010, 2011, 2012 and planned for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15591/13]

Passport Applications

Thomas P. Broughan

22. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is reviewing the issuing of passports to persons who already hold a passport of another state; if he has statistics on the number of dual passport holders with an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15419/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

23. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his recent initiatives with both the British and Northern Ireland authorities to end the imprisonment without trial of a number of persons in Northern Ireland, particularly Marian Price and Martin Corry. [15625/13]

Ministerial Travel

Pearse Doherty

24. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of his recent official visit to South Africa; and if any of his meetings with South African business groups were successful in creating trade and investment for Ireland. [15528/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

25. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the ongoing detainment and conditions of confinement of Martin Corry and Marian Price; and if he has raised concerns with the British Government over the revoking of licences based on unseen, unheard and incontestable intelligence reports. [15538/13]

Ministerial Travel

Peadar Tóibín

26. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide information on the Invest in Ireland business forum, for IDA clients and target companies, that he hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, during his recent visit to America. [15523/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Willie O'Dea

27. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with his EU counterparts regarding the ongoing conflict in the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15607/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Pearse Doherty

28. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the World Bank report on the Palestinian economy, which states that Israel's system of checkpoints and restrictions in the occupied West Bank has inflicted long-term damage on Palestinians' ability to compete in the global market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15533/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Michael Moynihan

29. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the issue of the proposed bill of rights in Northern Ireland as specified under the Good Friday Agreement with the Northern Secretary of State and Northern Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15602/13]

EU Treaties

Niall Collins

30. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the additional steps that have been taken to reform the institutional architecture of the EU since the outbreak of the sovereign debt crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15582/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

31. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support Ireland sending any non-lethal military equipment to the Syrian opposition, the Syrian National Coalition, as part of the EU agreement that was reached on 28 February, which allows EU members to send this non-lethal military equipment to the Syrian National Coalition. [15516/13]

EU Conventions

Robert Troy

32. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised concerns regarding the series of constitutional changes initiated by Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban with his Hungarian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15576/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Mary Lou McDonald

33. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the fact that we are a year on from the joint statement from An Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, he will detail the outstanding issues yet to be implemented in the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements; and the actions taken by the Government to ensure its full implementation. [15536/13]

International Criminal Court

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

34. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it would be a positive step for Palestine to become a party to the Rome Statute and accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. [15531/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Dessie Ellis

35. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail which UN agencies and NGOs will benefit from the recently announced €3.8 million aid and assistance package for the Democratic Republic of Congo. [15522/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

John McGuinness

36. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further talks he has held with the Northern Executive regarding the flag protests in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15601/13]

Diplomatic Representation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

37. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the reported position of the French Government, in relation to the reform of the European External Action Service that consular divisions should be created in EEAS delegations; and if this was discussed at the informal meeting of the EU’s Foreign Ministers in Dublin on 22 and 23 of March. [15514/13]

North-South Ministerial Council

Éamon Ó Cuív

38. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next North-South Ministerial Council will be held and the issues that are on the agenda. [15605/13]

Consular Services Provision

Micheál Martin

39. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the services his Department offers Irish citizens and their families who are victims of crime abroad; if these services have been reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15595/13]

Human Rights Issues

Michael Colreavy

40. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent talks in Bahrain between the monarchy and the opposition; his views on the possibility of imprisoned opposition and human rights persons being freed; and if this possibility has been discussed at EU level. [15530/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

41. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his EU colleagues have made efforts to mobilise worldwide opinion with a view to bringing about an end to the hostilities in Syria, with particular reference to the urgent need for the protection of civilians, the provision of international aid, the setting up of bodies such as international courts of inquiry into human rights violations and genocide; if the EU has made overtures to the UN in this regard; if all of the major players in the international community are positively focused on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Mick Wallace

42. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing economic sanctions against Iran; if he has seen any evidence to indicate that Iran is currently developing nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15512/13]

Food Labelling

Martin Ferris

43. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the Dutch government to ask retail chains in the Netherlands to state the origin of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights; and if he will consider following the Dutch Government’s example. [15532/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

44. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the reason the DRC situation was not on the work agenda of the UN Human Rights Council, of which Ireland is a member; and if he will agree to work towards placing the DRC situation on the work agenda of the UN Human Rights Council. [15529/13]

Fiscal Policy

Jonathan O'Brien

45. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the joint statement issued by An Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister regarding the promotion of prosperity and rebalancing the economy in Northern Ireland, he has promoted with the British Government, the matter of the transfer of fiscal powers from London to Stormont including the ability to vary corporation tax. [15537/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Sean Fleming

46. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further talks he has held with the Northern Secretary of State regarding the flag protests in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15589/13]

Prison Committals

Joe Higgins

47. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with his Spanish counterpart the situation facing Basque prisoners in the Spanish State as has been raised by the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee, specifically the denial of parole, inhumane treatment of terminally ill prisoners, the cancellation of visits, excessive use of solitary confinement and the harassment of prisoners and relatives by the prison authorities (details supplied). [15417/13]

Ministerial Travel

Jerry Buttimer

48. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his visit to Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15420/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Dessie Ellis

49. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the discussion at the EU Development Ministers meeting in Brussels on 26 February, which aimed to create detailed plans for the provision of long-term development aid to Mali; the plans, if any, that were created to deliver assistance and aid specifically to internally and externally displaced Malian citizens; and if any plans were discussed to deliver assistance and aid specifically to the minority Tuareg population. [15518/13]

European External Action Service

Seán Crowe

50. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the reported position of the German Government, in relation to the reform of the European External Action Service, that the EEAS should take control of the European Commission's neighbourhood policy and development aid budget; and if this was discussed at the informal meeting of the EU’s Foreign Ministers in Dublin on 22 and 23 of March. [15515/13]

North-South Ministerial Council

Brendan Smith

51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the proposals, if any, there are to discuss the Narrow Water bridge proposal at North-South Ministerial Council level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15575/13]

Prison Committals

Joe Higgins

52. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with his Spanish counterpart the situation facing Basque prisoners in the Spanish State as has been raised by the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee, specifically the policy of dispersal and the resultant hardships on prisoners and relatives and the retroactive extension of sentences contrary to a ruling in the European Court of Human Rights (details supplied). [15416/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Charlie McConalogue

53. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the EU will take to re-launch the Israel-Palestine peace process in view of President Obama's visit to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15596/13]

Ministerial Travel

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

54. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the meeting he had with the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, on 18 March; and if American immigration reform was discussed. [15525/13]

Human Rights Issues

John Halligan

55. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the limits being imposed on the fishermen of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15571/13]

Human Rights Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

56. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Israelis are only allowing fishermen from Gaza to fish three miles from the coast; if he will consider making a statement of protest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15569/13]

EU Programmes

Gerry Adams

57. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if enterprises based in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are currently receiving financial support from EU programmes; and his views on whether Irish companies and persons should be discouraged from investing in enterprises in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. [15534/13]

EU Presidency Issues

Mary Lou McDonald

59. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide further information on his visit to the Northern Ireland Assembly to discuss Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union; and if any decisions were made to ensure the Presidency has a strong North-South dimension. [15520/13]

Ministerial Travel

Michael Colreavy

60. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of his recent official visit to Tanzania and Mozambique; the Irish Aid programmes he visited in Mozambique and Tanzania; and if he will provide a report of what was discussed and decided at the EU-Southern African Development Community Political Dialogue which he chaired. [15527/13]

North-South Ministerial Council

Seamus Kirk

61. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions, if any, he has had at North-South Ministerial Council level in relation to the need to progress, without further delay, the Narrow Water bridge proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Brian Stanley

62. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the reported use of chemical weapons near the Syrian northern city of Aleppo on 19 March; if he has any further information on the reported use of these chemical weapons; if this was discussed at the informal meeting of the EU’s Foreign Ministers in Dublin on 22 and 23 of March. [15517/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Mick Wallace

63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the need for Israel to open its nuclear programme for inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency and join the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15511/13]