Parliamentary questions

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the outbreak of sectarian violence in Belfast over the past number of weeks over flag protocols at Belfast City Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1357/13]

Use of Non-Conventional Weapons

Seán Crowe

2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support an international investigation to examine if the use of non-conventional weapons, such as chemical weapons and depleted uranium munitions, were used in Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza in November 2012; and if they were the cause of a rapid rise in the number of patients being admitted into hospitals in Gaza with grotesque injuries, that the Ministry of Health in Gaza said resembles the adverse effects of exposure to uranium or lethal chemicals. [1979/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Clare Daly

3. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise on the UN Human Rights Council, the fact that the arrest of Irish citizens including Martin Corey, have been found to be in breach of Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights but that this has been overruled by the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the basis of closed evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1603/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken in relation to requesting a full independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane since the publication of the De Silva report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1358/13]

Peace and Reconciliation Programme

Seán Crowe

5. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programmes which will benefit from the €315,000 increase in Reconciliation and Cooperation on the Island services of his Department as laid out in Budget 2013. [1675/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Sandra McLellan

6. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the fact that Ireland has received praise internationally for maintaining its overseas development co-operation programme despite the recession, he will take or encourage any measures to ensure that the EU’s larger member states live up to their commitments and obligations in terms of the quality, and the quantity, of overseas aid during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. [1665/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Sean Fleming

7. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans for the establishment of a civilian corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1576/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Timmy Dooley

8. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to review the overseas development aid paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1574/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Charlie McConalogue

9. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he and his EU counterparts have taken to address escalating ethnic tensions in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1585/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Seamus Kirk

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional steps he and his EU counterparts have taken to address the Syrian conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1581/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Micheál Martin

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU is considering additional sanctions against Iran on the basis of its nuclear development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1582/13]

EU Programmes

Brian Stanley

12. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to ensure that the EU’s development cooperation programme is a central focus of Ireland’s EU Presidency; and what he sees as the biggest successes to aim for in this area. [1664/13]

EU Presidency Agenda

Bernard Durkan

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will, during the course of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, encourage his EU colleagues to rediscover the original vision of Europe as set out by Monnet, Schuman, Adenauer and others with particular reference to the urgent need to ensure that European leaders speak with a common cause and purpose, mindful of the need for unity and solidarity on matters affecting the persons within and outside the Eurozone; if it is expected to set particular or specific targets in this regard in respect of areas that have become known to require particular attention in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1655/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Seán Crowe

14. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has been given significant increases in some administration spending, such as travel, €452,000, postal and telecoms services, €451,000 and office equipment and external IT services, €945,000, in Budget 2013. [1676/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

15. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the problems arising from the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Billy Kelleher

16. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the target of 0.7% of GNP to be given as overseas development aid for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1578/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

John Browne

17. Deputy John Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address procedures in distributing aid to Uganda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/13]

EU Battlegroups

John Halligan

18. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a new EU military mission will be launched in the coming months; if he will provide details of both the mission and Ireland's involvement in any such mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1683/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Barry Cowen

19. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the Israeli representation in Ireland and his EU counterparts regarding the Gaza conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1572/13]

Northern Ireland Issues

Derek Keating

20. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that are taking place between his Department, the Northern Ireland Office and the British Government to address the new crisis in relation to the decision taken by Belfast City Council and the flying of flags in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/13]

Nuclear Proliferation

Clare Daly

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will use his position in the EU to ensure that the US sponsored sanctions against Iran currently supported by the EU, and having an adverse impact on the Iranian economy and people, are lifted, rather than intensified. [1602/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Mary Lou McDonald

22. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will he raise the practice of tied aid, as practiced by many EU countries, during Ireland’s EU Presidency; the measures he will take to encourage other EU member states to abolish this practice which does not benefit the recipient country, and in fact imposes unnecessary costs on them. [1666/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

23. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programmes that will benefit from the €3.6 million increase in the Consular, Passport and Irish Abroad Services of his Department that are outlined in Budget 2013. [1674/13]

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

24. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the date on which the Ugandan Auditor General is expected to finish his report into the misappropriation of €4 million of aid given by Irish Aid; and if officials or those from an accounting background in his Department will be travelling to Uganda in connection with the case in the coming months. [1680/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Crowe

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the concern over the possible likelihood of an armed conflict between Israel and Iran, he shares the concerns of many of those who want to see a peaceful resolution to conflict in the Middle East, that the increased militarisation of the region is increasing the likelihood of this conflict; his views on whether the export of Dolphin Class military submarines by Germany to Israel possibly breaches Criterion Four of the EU rules governing the exports of military technology and equipment. [1657/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Michael Colreavy

26. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that in the long term interest of peace in the region, Israel should urgently place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards as required by UN Security Council resolution 487, which was adopted unanimously on 19 June 1981 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 2012 by 174 votes to 6; and if has raised this matter with the Israeli authorities. [1659/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

27. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the conflict in Syria will be a high priority in Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will invite representatives of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces to Dublin during the Presidency. [1667/13]

Departmental Expenditure

Peadar Tóibín

28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will explain the decrease in the Promote Ireland's Economic and Trade Interests in Europe and Internationally section of his Department, as outlined in Budget 2013, by more than €1.1 million; the reason it was cut while recent trade figures demonstrate this State's over reliance on trade of chemical and related products and the EU and American market. [1673/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Michael McGrath

29. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out on a country basis a breakdown of the planned distribution of Irish overseas development aid; the percentage year on year change in overseas development aid to each recipient country since 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/13]

EU Enlargement

Michael Colreavy

30. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he held talks with the Turkish Minister for Europe when he visited Dublin; the agenda that was discussed at these meetings; if Ireland’s Presidency of the EU will include any talks on the barriers to Turkey’s accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1663/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Niall Collins

31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid that he has distributed to the Gaza strip following the conflict in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1570/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Dessie Ellis

32. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Israel should fully implement the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, to give the stagnant economy of Gaza an opportunity to revive itself, and to pave the way for the creation of a viable Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza by providing and allowing transport links between the West Bank and Gaza. [1660/13]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Dara Calleary

33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff hired by his Department for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the EU Council; the total anticipated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which it is intended to use Ireland’s influence in the course of its Presidency of the EU to positively influence the situation in Syria with particular reference to the urgent need for a major humanitarian input from the EU and its member states in association with the UN and the worldwide community with the objective of bringing to an end the on-going loss of life and humanitarian violations; if he anticipates a specific role for this country and the EU; if this will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Dessie Ellis

35. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to any progress that has been made with regard to opening the crossings and facilitating the movement of people and transfer of goods in and out of Gaza as provided for in the cease-fire agreement of 21 November 2012; and if he has discussed the issue with the Israeli authorities and his colleagues in the EU. [1678/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Sandra McLellan

36. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the remarks by Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, that the goal of Israel’s recent military action against Gaza was to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages; and if he has raised the issue with the Israeli authorities and his colleagues in the European Union. [1661/13]

EU Battlegroups

Richard Boyd Barrett

37. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a new EU military mission will be launched in the coming months; if he will provide details of both the mission and Ireland's involvement in any such mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1682/13]

Foreign Conflicts

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

38. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the raid at 3 am on 11 December 2012 by Israeli military forces on the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights office in Ramallah in which the office was ransacked and valuable equipment including four laptops were confiscated; and if he shares any concerns on the matter. [1658/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Martin Ferris

39. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the right of Gaza's fishermen to fish twenty nautical miles out at sea, as provided for in the Oslo accords; and if he will raise the restriction to six nautical miles currently being imposed on them by the Israeli navy with the Israeli authorities. [1679/13]

EU Presidency Expenditure

Michael McGrath

40. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the tender contract awarded for the establishment of a website for Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1133/13]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Numbers

Niall Collins

41. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57761/12]

Exports Data

Terence Flanagan

42. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Irish export levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57794/12]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Terence Flanagan

43. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the countries to which Ireland provides financial assistance through its overseas development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57832/12]

Departmental Bodies Abolition

Patrick O'Donovan

44. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57879/12]

Election Monitoring Missions

Michael McNamara

45. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when interviews will be held to put in place a revised roster of election monitors of Irish Aid with his Department; the delay in revising this roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58030/12]

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Eric J. Byrne

46. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount it costs for Ireland to affiliate to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/13]

Middle East Peace Process

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

47. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will encourage the formation of an EU Committee for Middle East Affairs in the coming Presidency of the European Union and if he will help relieve the suffering of the people of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1240/13]

Action Plan for Jobs

Dara Calleary

48. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the 2012 targets set for his Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if he will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps he is taking within his Department to create new jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1283/13]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Terence Flanagan

49. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of overseas aid the State is required to pay under UN requirements; the amount of overseas aid the State is required to pay under EU rules; and the amount the State voluntarily gives in addition to these sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1308/13]

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Micheál Martin

50. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department have received any representations recently in relation to the Irish Embassy in the Vatican; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50914/12]