Parliamentary questions

Passport Services

Darragh O'Brien

354. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total peak number of staff employed by the passport service per annum from 2010 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19665/16]

Passport Applications Data

Darragh O'Brien

355. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the average turnaround time of passports in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19666/16]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his European Union colleagues have attempted to examine the consequences of an erosion of the founding principles of the European Union; if he can use his influence on the European Council with a view to a restoration of a vision for the European Union in line with that set out by the founding fathers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19763/16]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

357. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which to which he and his European Union colleagues recognise the need to reaffirm a commitment to the European Union ideal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19764/16]

UN Guiding Principles

Bernard Durkan

358. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, through the European Union or directly in the context of wider global consultations, can influence a review of the strength, the role and respect for the United Nations with particular reference to the need to meet ongoing challenges caused by war, strife and genocide and the need to establish safe havens for refugees and an orderly method of processing their respective situations; if any study has been done to identify the restoration of an increased role for the United Nations in the Middle East and other trouble spots globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19765/16]

Humanitarian Aid Provision

Bernard Durkan

359. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which access to humanitarian aid remains available to those affected by war, persecution or starvation throughout the known trouble spots globally; if he sees requirements for improvements to ensure victims' safety and that aid goes unimpeded to those for whom it was intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19766/16]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

360. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is time for the European Union to set up a particular structure to address the issue of euroscepticism with particular reference to the urgent need to address the sometimes exaggerated claims which if allowed to go unanswered will undermine and destroy the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19767/16]

EU Issues

Bernard Durkan

361. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the concept of each member state within the Union expecting to increasingly impose its national agenda on the European Union's institutions can be addressed; if any steps are being taken to identify and re-affirm an agenda that applies to all in an inclusive and supportive format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19768/16]

EU Enlargement

Bernard Durkan

362. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the western Balkans continue to observe the acquis communautaire in line with movement towards European Union membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/16]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

363. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community can improve support for the victims of the war in Syria; if new initiatives are required to protect civilians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/16]

EU Migration Crisis

Bernard Durkan

364. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the refugee crisis continues to be monitored at European Union and United Nations level with a view to identifying a reliable means of ensuring the safety of the victims of war and strife at all trouble spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/16]

Human Rights Cases

Bernard Durkan

365. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he continues to liaise with the Egyptian authorities with a view to achieving the release of a person (details supplied) an Irish citizen who is still awaiting a trial which has been postponed on numerous occasions; if he expects any developments in the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19772/16]

Humanitarian Aid Provision

Bernard Durkan

366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of locations globally to which Irish Aid has been in a position to deliver humanitarian assistance in the course of the past five years; the extent to which difficulties have been experienced in specific locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19773/16]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

367. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, in conjunction with his European Union colleagues, can continue to combat the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19774/16]

Trade Relations

Bernard Durkan

368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading links can be established globally; the extent to which he expects that this country can benefit from such developments in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19775/16]

Ukrainian Conflict

Bernard Durkan

369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in the Ukraine continues to feature in discussions at European Union level with particular reference to the need to maximise efforts for a lasting ceasefire and peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/16]

Departmental Staff Data

David Cullinane

370. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional public sector staff hired in his Department over and above those who had retired or left the service, that is, new positions only as and from 31 December 2010, broken down for each of the years 2011 to 2016, to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20144/16]

Departmental Staff Data

David Cullinane

371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of new public sector workers in his Department hired to replace retiring staff and those who left the Department in each of the years 2013 to 2015; the overall percentage of staff turnover this represents; the cost or savings in payroll and pensions accrued, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20151/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Micheál Martin

372. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his Department's assessment of the impact Brexit will have on PEACE funds to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/16]

UK Referendum on EU Membership

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

373. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected situation that will apply following the Brexit decision to already approved projects under the INTERREG VA and other European-funded or part-funded programmes; and the likely situation that will apply to applications already in the pipeline. [19436/16]