John Gormley
Ceist:10 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider enshrining the promised target of 0.7% of GNP in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27050/05]
Written Answers.
The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies received from the Departments. [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, answered orally.
Overseas Development Aid.
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:12 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will bring forward legislation in order that Ireland meets the UN target for aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26884/05]
Eamon Ryan
Ceist:107 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the economic and financial parameters that will determine whether Ireland will be able to meet the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27057/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:166 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that Ireland will deliver on its second UN declaration in respect of overseas developments with reference to increasing such aid to 0.7% of GDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27268/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 12, 107 and 166 together.
The Taoiseach announced at the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York on 14 September that the Government will reach the target of spending 0.7% of GNP on official development assistance by 2012. This is three years earlier than the agreed EU target date of 2015. It places Ireland in the front rank of donors worldwide, in terms of both the quality and the volume of assistance we provide to the world's poorest countries. I am pleased that this decision has received a broad welcome from the development community. It is worth noting that the 2012 timeframe was my stated and public preference at the launch of the White paper consultation process.
The increases involved are very significant. They are the largest ever increases made by any Government. On the basis of current anticipated growth rates, spending on ODA would be of the order of €1.5 billion in 2012. From 2005 to 2012 we will spend as much as €8 billion on overseas aid.
We have agreed a number of steps along the way to reaching the target. First, we have an interim target of 0.5% of GNP in 2007. The aid budget will reach €773 million in that year. Second, aid spending is expected to reach 0.6% of GNP in 2010. We have, then, a clear pathway to achieving the UN target in 2012.
The commitment of this Government to overseas development cannot be doubted. Spending on overseas aid this year, at €545 million, is the highest level in the history of the programme. Ireland's aid budget has tripled since this Government came into office. With this announcement, it will triple again by 2012.
In addition to the increased resources, we have ensured that the programme is of the highest quality. The high quality of Ireland's aid programme is recognised by both NGOs and donors. The most recent peer review of the programme by the OECD said that Ireland is "at the cutting edge of international development policy". I am determined that these high standards will be maintained as the programme continues to expand.
My view about legislating on the 0.7% target is on record. I am not convinced that legislation is the answer. This would create a precedent which could be invoked for many areas of Government expenditure. Moreover, we have clearly charted the way forward, including interim targets for 2007 and 2010. Our commitment is achievable, and it will emphatically be achieved.
Overseas Missions.
John Gormley
Ceist:11 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has been consulted by the Department of Defence for changes in the Defence Acts to permit Irish troops to serve abroad in European battlegroups; the present position of his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27049/05]
Richard Bruton
Ceist:106 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he discussed Irish participation in EU battlegroups with the United Nations during the recent World Summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26882/05]
John Gormley
Ceist:159 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has been consulted by the Department of Defence for changes in the Defence Acts to permit Irish troops to serve abroad in European battlegroups; the position of his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27234/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 106 and 159 together.
At last November's European Union Military Capabilities Commitment Conference, Ireland indicated that we were prepared to enter into consultations with partners with a view to potential participation in the battlegroups initiative. As reported previously to the House, I have subsequently undertaken consultations with my counterparts from Sweden, Finland and Austria on the role that battlegroups, or rapid response elements as they are also known, can play in enhancing the EU's crisis management capabilities.
At the domestic level, an interdepartmental group, which includes representatives of my Department, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Attorney General's office, is currently examining the policy, legislative and operational issues arising from Ireland's possible participation in rapid response elements, or battlegroups. The work of the group is ongoing. A subgroup dealing with legal and legislative issues is to report shortly and I expect that, once the legal issues have been clarified, it will be possible for the group to complete its deliberations on the other issues quite quickly. The group will report, in the first instance, to the Minister for Defence.
I hope that the report of the interdepartmental group will enable the Government, in due course, to make a fully informed decision on Ireland's participation in rapid response elements, or battlegroups.
I did not discuss Irish participation in EU rapid response elements, or battlegroups, with the United Nations during the recent World Summit, as the discussions in New York focused on the main themes of the summit itself. However, the House will be aware that the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, in his address to the National Forum on Europe during his visit to Ireland in November 2004, welcomed the development of the battlegroups concept. He noted the important role that regional organisations such as the EU can play in supporting the UN in crisis management and peacekeeping operations. Earlier this year, the Secretary General emphasised this point again in his major report on UN reform entitled "In Larger Freedom". In this report, he called on the international community to support the efforts by the European Union, the African Union and others to establish standby capacities as part of an interlocking system of peacekeeping capacities.
The outcome document of the World Summit includes a paragraph recognising the important contribution to peace and security by regional organisations. It is significant that this paragraph contains an endorsement of the efforts of the EU in this regard, as follows: "We support the efforts of the European Union and other regional entities to develop capacities such as for rapid deployment, standby and bridging arrangements"— Para 93 (b).
The outcome document forms part of the context in which the Government will consider possible Irish participation in EU battlegroups. As the Deputy will also be aware, any Irish participation in an actual operation would remain a sovereign national decision, subject to the usual triple lock requirements of Government decision, Dáil approval and UN authorisation.
Question No. 12 answered with QuestionNo. 10.
European Council Meetings.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:13 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the outcome of the most recent European Council discussions which he has held with Ministers in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26854/05]
Dan Boyle
Ceist:74 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 3 October 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27052/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 74 together.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council met in Luxembourg on 2 and 3 October. In advance of the Council, I appeared before the Joint Committee on European Affairs on Wednesday, 28 September to review the agenda. Following the Council, my Department forwarded the relevant Council conclusions prepared by the secretariat to the joint committee for information.
The focus of the general affairs agenda was EU enlargement, with Council approving a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, as mandated by the European Council last December. A ministerial meeting to open the negotiations took place immediately following the Council meeting.
Ministers also approved the opening of accession negotiations with Croatia, on the basis of a positive assessment of Croatia's co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY. These negotiations were also formally opened following the conclusion of the Council meeting.
I welcome the agreement to open accession talks with both of these countries. In making its historic decision, the EU has kept faith with the commitments made to Turkey at the December 2004 European Council, and those made to Croatia last March. The accession negotiations that now follow may be protracted and difficult. If progress is to be made, it will be essential that both Turkey and Croatia deliver fully on the commitments which they in turn have made to the EU.
In a lunchtime discussion, the Presidency outlined its plans for the informal meeting of Heads of Government in London on 26-27 October next. The subjects for informal exchanges will include: achieving social justice and competitiveness in the face of globalisation and changing demographics; how Europe can strengthen its international role; and how it can provide security against cross-border threats.
Under the external relations agenda, the Council adopted conclusions in relation to Uzbekistan, Iran, the Middle East peace process, the western Balkans, Colombia, EU support for international peace and security, an international treaty on the arms trade, and preparations for the EU-Russia Summit.
The Council decided to impose a series of measures including an embargo on exports to Uzbekistan of arms, military equipment and other equipment that might be used for internal repression and restrictions on admission to the European Union aimed at those individuals directly responsible for the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force in Andijan on 11 May. I strongly support these steps, which have been taken against the background of the Uzbek authorities' refusal to allow an independent international inquiry into the events which took place in Andijan on that day.
The Council welcomed the resolution adopted by the IAEA board of governors on 4 September and urged Iran to implement all the measures requested by the IAEA board, including reinstating a full suspension of all fuel cycle activities. I hope that Iran will heed the calls by the IAEA and use the breathing space offered to implement all of the necessary measures called for by the IAEA board. We must continue to do all we can on our part to maximise the chances of constructive re-engagement and of a diplomatic solution to this issue.
Ministers agreed to authorise the Commission to open negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro for an association and stabilisation agreement. This marks the first important step towards the establishment of contractual relations between the EU and Serbia and Montenegro.
Finally, I suggested to colleagues that it would make sense for the EU to review the action which it had taken in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, in view of the anniversary which falls on 26 December. The suggestion was supported and the UK Presidency asked the Commission and Council secretariat to prepare a report for circulation to member states in December.
Dialogue of Cultures.
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:14 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support pledged by the Government towards the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26920/05]
At their sixth formal meeting in Naples on 2-3 December 2003, the Foreign Ministers of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, also referred to as the Barcelona process, formally agreed to the establishment of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures. This foundation is designed to promote cultural, educational and people to people exchanges between the countries of the European Union and the partner countries of the Mediterranean basin. Ireland was among the first of the Euro-Med partners to pledge support for the foundation, with a contribution of €100,000. This pledge was made as a demonstration of our commitment to, and interest in, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
During our EU Presidency, Ireland strove to secure the necessary agreement for the launch of the foundation. It was agreed at the mid-term Euro-Med Foreign Ministers meeting, held in Dublin on 5-6 May 2004, to locate the foundation in Alexandria in Egypt, where it will be housed jointly in the Alexandria Library and the Swedish Institute.
Ireland's special ambassador for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership during our EU Presidency, Ambassador John Campbell, assisted in the selection of the executive director of the EuroMed Foundation, Dr. Traugott Schoefter of Germany. More recently, the statutes of the foundation have been agreed between all partners and it was formally launched at a ceremony in Alexandria on 20 April 2005.
It is intended that the foundation will have links to national networks in each of the partner countries. My Department is now consulting a number of academic institutions with the aim of securing agreement on a national co-ordinator for the foundation and hopes that a decision will be taken shortly.
EU Constitution.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:15 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in relation to the holding of a referendum on the EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26877/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:97 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in regard to the ratification of the treaty on the EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27080/05]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:158 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the holding of a referendum on the EU constitution in view of President Barroso’s recent comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27217/05]
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:161 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the implications for the proposed EU constitution of the results of the referenda in France and Holland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19101/05]
Joe Higgins
Ceist:165 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role he envisions the Referendum Commission playing in regard to the proposed new EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18934/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 97, 158, 161 and 165 together.
The position is that 13 member states have ratified the European constitution to date, two by referendum and 11 by parliamentary procedure. Parliamentary ratification procedures are far-advanced in one other member state. The constitution has been rejected by referendum in two member states. The Government very much regretted the referendum results in France and the Netherlands, while respecting the decisions of the people of those countries, just as we respect the decisions of those who have already ratified the constitution.
It is now accepted that the European constitution will not enter into force by the target date of 1 November 2006. Beyond this, the implications of the no votes in France and the Netherlands remain unclear. Following the referendum results, the June European Council decided to initiate a period of reflection with regard to the European constitution. The intention is that member states should avail of this opportunity to hold national debates on European issues, including the European constitution. Next week, as part of this process, the Government will publish the White Paper on the European Constitution which gives a factual description of the constitution and Ireland's approach to its negotiation. The White Paper will help raise public awareness of the constitution and the issues it addresses.
The Heads of State and the Government will review the position with regard to the European Constitution during the Austrian Presidency in 2006. We need to let this process take its course. President Barroso has suggested that the constitution will not enter into force for the next two or three years. This reflects a widely-held view of the constitution's ratification prospects. President Barroso's main point, however, was that the EU should give priority to dealing with such pressing issues as job creation, security, and protecting the environment. I agree that success in tackling these problems will reinforce the EU's credibility with the European public. The Government remains committed to the European constitution because we believe it to be good for Europe and good for Ireland. The constitution is the product of a debate which was unprecedented in its openness and scope, first at the European convention and then at the intergovernmental conference. It represents a carefully balanced compromise between the member states. We continue to look forward to the constitution's ratification and entry into force. Until the position is clarified at the European level, it is not intended to set a date for a referendum in Ireland. A similar approach has been adopted in those other member states which intend to ratify the constitution by referendum. As no date will be set in the short-term, the issue of the establishment of the Referendum Commission does not arise at this time.
European Council Meetings.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:16 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made in deciding the next seven year budget for the European Union; the outcome of the most recent European Council with regard to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26853/05]
The European Council last met on 16 and 17 June of this year and the Taoiseach reported to the House in detail on 21 June on the meeting's outcome with regard to the European Union's financial framework for the period 2007-13.
I would recall briefly that the June European Council failed to reach agreement on the future financial perspectives. While the great majority of member states could accept the Luxembourg Presidency's final compromise package of 17 June, a small number of countries remained opposed for a variety of reasons, including the UK's budgetary rebate, the level of net contributions and funding for cohesion.
The Taoiseach indicated at the European Council that, in the interests of solidarity, Ireland could accept the Luxembourg Presidency's final proposal. Throughout the negotiations, Ireland's fundamental objective has been to ensure that the enlarged Union is equipped with the necessary financial resources to enable it to meet the challenges of the years ahead and the rightful expectations of our citizens. We had particular priorities in these negotiations. These were to safeguard the October 2002 agreement on the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy, ensure adequate cohesion arrangements for our regions in transition, put in place equitable financing arrangements for the Union, secure continued EU support for the peace process and to achieve increased funding for competitiveness, especially in the area of research and development.
As we enter into the next phase of negotiations under the UK Presidency, I want to assure the Deputy and the House that Ireland's priorities are unchanged. In bilateral consultations with the Presidency, we have insisted that the basis for agreement in December must be the package that was on the table in June. My understanding is that this is also the position of a clear majority of member states.
As part of Ireland's ongoing engagement in these negotiations, we have availed of our bilateral contacts with EU partners, both at ministerial and official level, in order to ensure a full understanding of, and support for, our position. In addition, Ireland's participation as an observer in a friends of cohesion group is intended, and is seen by members of this group, particularly the ten new member states, as evidence of our commitment to solidarity with the poorer regions of the Union. The Minister of State, Deputy Noel Treacy, will travel to Budapest for the group's next meeting tomorrow.
At the Foreign Ministers' meeting I attended this week in Luxembourg, the Presidency informed us of its intention to circulate new proposals in November with the aim of securing political agreement at the European Council on 15-16 December. For our part, we will do everything possible, consistent with our stated priorities, to secure early agreement in the interests of the enlarged Union and its citizens. I will keep the House updated on the progress of these vital negotiations.
EU-Russia Summit.
Michael Ring
Ceist:17 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the matters which will be discussed during the upcoming EU-Russia summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26904/05]
The EU-Russia Summit which took place in London on 4 October reviewed progress in implementation of what are known as the four "Common Spaces", which relate to economic issues, freedom, security and justice, external security and research and education. By focusing summit preparations on a small number of specific areas and pressing these strongly, the Union was able to achieve some good results.
On the eve of the summit, a first permanent partnership council involving Energy Ministers on both sides was held. In view of Russia's growing role in assuring security of energy supplies to the EU, the raising of the energy dialogue to ministerial level is a significant development. Issues in this energy dialogue include energy efficiency, trade, investment and infrastructure, as well as climate change and co-operation in respect of the Kyoto Protocol which Russia ratified last year.
The summit welcomed two linked agreements between the EU and Russia on visa facilitation and readmission. Russia's agreement to take back Russian nationals illegally in the EU, under conditions set out in the readmission agreement, breaks new ground. Despite some limitations, these agreements significantly advance the common space on freedom, security and justice between the EU and Russia and constitute a real achievement. As a non-Schengen country, Ireland is not covered by either agreement but would intend to negotiate bilateral agreements with Russia on the matters they cover.
A €20 million programme of EU assistance for socio-economic recovery in the north Caucasus was also announced at the summit. Pursuant to the commitment to work together in the regions adjacent to the EU and to Russia in building the common space of external security, the summit discussed a number of regional issues including Moldova, Belarus and Uzbekistan. While full agreement between the EU and Russia on these issues is not to be expected, consultation is important in building mutual trust.
President Putin raised the question of institutional arrangements to follow the EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2007. Internal EU discussion on this subject will be stepped up in the period ahead.
US Refugees Policy.
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:18 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, further to a parliamentary question of 2 June 2005, the response he has had to any efforts made in relation to the 242 families who were accorded temporary residence in the United States following the eruption of the volcano in Montserrat; the present circumstance of these persons following the summer of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26852/05]
I refer the House to the replies I made to previous questions on this matter on 8 March 2005, 28 April 2005 and 2 June 2005, respectively. In my reply of 8 March 2005, I said that Senator Edward Kennedy, joined by Senators John Kerry and Charles Schumer, had written to President Bush to urge a reversal of the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security to terminate the "temporary protected status" granted to 292 refugees from Montserrat allowing them to reside in the US. This status was granted following the major volcanic eruption in 1997 which destroyed much of the island of Montserrat, and its revocation came into effect on 27 February 2005. Senator Schumer had also sponsored a Senate bill to provide relief for the Montserrat group, and a similar measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
The last action in respect of the Bill in the Senate was a referral to the Committee on the Judiciary on 7 February 2005, while the last action in the House of Representatives was a referral to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims on 2 March 2005.
I understand that no concerted action has been taken to deport the Montserratians and, in the meantime, efforts to secure a deferral of any enforced departures amongst the Montserrat group continue to be made by its friends in the US Congress. Any decision on this matter is a matter for the US authorities but, as I have previously said, we very much appreciate the humanitarian impulse underlying the initiative taken in this case by Senator Kennedy and his colleagues.
UN Reform.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:19 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any proposals for reform of the UN Security Council; and if so, the details of same. [26940/05]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:33 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the statement on Security Council reform agreed at the UN 2005 World Summit. [26941/05]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:35 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the reform of the United Nations Security Council; if he has adopted a position regarding the number of countries to be represented and on the geographic mix of a reformed Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/05]
Arthur Morgan
Ceist:58 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his position during discussions on Security Council reform at the UN 2005 World Summit. [26938/05]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:69 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the matter of UN Security Council reform following the outcome of the UN 2005 World Summit. [26934/05]
Martin Ferris
Ceist:108 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the proceedings in which he was involved at the UN 2005 World Summit on the area of Security Council reform. [26939/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 33, 35, 58, 69 and 108 together.
The members of the United Nations are agreed that the composition of the Security Council established under the UN Charter is not in accord with the realities of the 21st century. This is particularly the case as regards the permanent seats on the council, which are still occupied by the five major victorious powers in the Second World War, who hold the power of veto over its decisions.
The question of reform of the Security Council has been under discussion in the UN General Assembly since 1993, but agreement has failed to emerge.
In the course of these discussions, Ireland and a number of like-minded partners supported a regionally balanced increase in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of member. We supported the abolition of the veto, but opposed in any event its extension to new permanent members. We have also been firm in our view that any reform of the Security Council should not result in any diminution of the opportunity for small and medium-sized countries to serve regularly on the Security Council.
A high level panel was established by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in 2003 to examine how current threats and challenges might be best addressed by the international community. He asked it to address, among other things, the question of reform of the Security Council. The panel, which reported in December 2004, failed to agree on any one model of reform, offering instead two different models. One model would establish six new permanent and three new non-permanent seats, while the other would provide for no new permanent seats but would create a new category of eight seats to which states could be elected, and re-elected, for four years, along with one new normal non-permanent seat.
In his own recommendations to the UN Summit, Secretary General Annan said that while reform of the Security Council was a matter for the UN member states rather than for himself, he believed that that "no reform of the United Nations would be complete without reform of the Security Council". He did not express a view on either of the models put forward by the high level panel, urging UN members to consider both models as well as "any other viable options".
In May of this year a group of four countries, Germany, Japan, India and Brazil, which base their claim to permanent membership on their strong contributions to the UN system, circulated a draft framework resolution on Security Council reform. This draft provides for six new permanent members, including two from the African continent, along with four additional non-permanent members. A provision that would extend the veto to the new permanent members was later removed, in favour of a review in 2020. A vote on this draft resolution was delayed pending the conclusion of negotiations with other members of the General Assembly, and particularly with the members of African Union, whose votes were regarded as crucial to securing the two-thirds majority necessary for adoption. These negotiations were not concluded in advance of the recent UN Summit. It remains to be seen whether the group of four will put forward their draft resolution again in the new session of the General Assembly.
Some members of the General Assembly do not regard it as sufficient to adopt a reform of the Security Council by means of the two-thirds majority required under the UN Charter. They maintain that the legitimacy of, and universal respect for, any reform measure requires a much broader degree of consensus. They put forward a rival draft resolution based on the second model proposed by the high level panel but did not submit it to a vote in the General Assembly. Our European Union partners include strong supporters of both approaches, which has prevented the emergence of a common EU position.
At the recent UN 2005 World Summit, world leaders reaffirmed the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. They also unanimously supported early reform of the Security Council and asked the General Assembly to review progress by the end of this year. In my own address to the General Assembly on 19 September, I drew attention to the wide acknowledgement of the need to align the Security Council with today's realities, and aid that this remained an important piece of unfinished business.
Foreign Conflicts.
Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:20 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding peace negotiations in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26885/05]
In February 2002 a formal ceasefire agreement was signed, with Norwegian facilitation, between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE. However, little progress has been made in talks between the parties since then. Following the tsunami in December 2004, which particularly affected Tamil regions in the north and east of Sri Lanka, renewed efforts were made to resume negotiations to settle the conflict. Despite the absence of progress in the negotiations and escalating violence, both sides continue to reaffirm their commitment to the peace process.
The Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, met with a delegation from the LTTE on 14 April last and expressed Ireland's dissatisfaction with the slow pace of progress in the peace process. The Minister of State also discussed Irish humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including to the Tamil regions, and urged the LTTE to cooperate with the Government of Sri Lanka in the reconstruction of affected areas.
Despite improved co-operation in areas affected by the tsunami, the incidence of violence in recent months has increased. On 12 August, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was murdered. At the time I issued a statement condemning this appalling act. I had met Minister Kadirgamar last January when I visited Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster. Mr. Kadirgamar, a Tamil, is believed by the SriLankan Government to have been assassinated by the LTTE. The Taoiseach wrote to the President of Sri Lanka conveying the condolences of the Government and the people of Ireland on the assassination.
Following the murder of Mr. Kadirgamar and other recent outbreaks of violence, the Norwegian Government sought, at the request of the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE, to convene a meeting between them. Agreement could not be reached on a location for the meeting as the LTTE did not accept the venue proposed byNorway and it was decided to postpone attempts to bring the two sides together until immediately after the forthcoming Presidential elections due to be held on 17 November. In the meantime, the Norwegian Government has sent retired Major General Trond Furuhovde, former Head of Mission of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, to Sri Lanka as its Special Representative. Major General Furuhovde will consult with both parties on the security situation and underline the importance of respect for the ceasefire agreement.
On 19 September the co-chairs of the Tokyo donor conference, the EU, US, Norway and Japan, following a meeting in New York at Norway's request to discuss the situation following the assassination of Foreign Minister Kadirgamar, called on the LTTE to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change. They also called on the LTTE to end political assassinations and the recruitment of child soldiers.
The European Union issued a statement on 26 September condemning the continued use of violence and terrorism by the LTTE. The statement said that the pursuit of political goals by such totally unacceptable methods only served to damage the LTTE's standing and credibility as a negotiating partner and gravely endangered the peace process so much desired by the people of Sri Lanka. The EU is actively considering the formal listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and in the meantime has agreed that delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU member states until further notice. I hope that following the presidential elections renewed efforts will be made by all sides to work towards a lasting peace.
Irish Language.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:21 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent decision by European Union Foreign Ministers to grant official and working status for the Irish language in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26831/05]
On 13 June 2005, European Union Foreign Ministers unanimously approved our proposal, first tabled in November 2004, to accord official and working status to the Irish language. This was a major achievement for the Government from which I derive considerable satisfaction.
The decision represents a significant advance for the Irish language. Irish becomes the 21st official and working language of the Union. It will mean that important European Union legislation will be translated into Irish and that Irish can be used in the European Parliament and at meetings of the Council.
The new status of Irish within the EU will take effect on 1 January 2007. In the meantime, the EU institutions will put in place the necessary staff and budgetary resources to give effect to this new policy. The Government will co-operate closely with the institutions in this regard.
Táimse féin thar a bheith sásta le cinneadh seo an Chomhairle, agus tá súil agam go gcuideoidh an staideas nua le forbairt na teangan.
EU Enlargement.
Gerard Murphy
Ceist:22 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding possibleCroatian membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26879/05]
EU accession negotiations with Croatia opened early on 4 October in Luxembourg.
Croatia applied for membership of the European Union in 2003. Under the Irish Presidency, the June 2004 European Council agreed that Croatia fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and the specific conditions established for the countries of the western Balkans. The European Council decided that Croatia was a candidate country for membership, and that accession negotiations should open early in 2005. This decision was confirmed by the December 2004 European Council, which decided that negotiations should open on 17 March 2005, provided there was full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY.
When the General Affairs and External Relations Council met in Brussels in March, it was clear that it would not be possible to achieve the unanimous decision of member states required for the opening of accession negotiations. Given concerns on the extent of Croatia's co-operation with the ICTY, the Council postponed the opening of accession negotiations until it was established that Croatia was indeed co-operating fully. At the same time, the Council reaffirmed the commitment of the EU to Croatia's membership, and adopted the necessary negotiating framework.
Meeting in Luxembourg earlier this week, the Council welcomed the report to the Croatia task force by the ICTY chief prosecutor that the country was now co-operating fully with the ICTY, as well as the clear commitment by the Croatian Prime Minister that full co-operation would be maintained until the last remaining indictee was in The Hague, and as long as required by the ICTY. The Council concluded that Croatia had met the outstanding condition for the start of accession negotiations and that negotiations should begin as soon as possible, which they did directly thereafter. The Council also confirmed that sustaining full co-operation with the ICTY would remain a requirement for progress throughout the accession process.
Foreign Conflicts.
Kathleen Lynch
Ceist:23 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing tensions in Ethiopia which have arisen following concerns that a parliamentary election in the country on 15 May 2005 was fraudulent. [26848/05]
Ethiopia's third general election, held on 15 May 2005, was the most genuinely competitive in the country's history. International observers were present, including an EU election observation mission, EOM, with Irish participation. The organisation and execution of the ballot exceeded the expectations of most election observers, although some shortcomings were identified. Irish observers of the voting process, including Deputy Charlie O'Connor, Senator Fergal Browne and Mrs. Mary Banotti, reported positively on both its transparency and completeness.
However, the post-election period was marred by the slowness of the counting process, a ban on public demonstrations in Addis Ababa and complaints of irregularities by both the opposition and the governing Ethiopian People's Democratic Front, EPRDF, party. This led to increased tensions in Addis Ababa and serious violence on 8 June 2005, in which up to 40 people were killed. Over 4,000 people were detained at that time, all but 58 of whom were later released.
In response to some 380 complaints of irregularities, the National Election Board of Ethiopia, NEBE, and the main political parties also agreed a complaints investigations process. This review took over two months and led to election re-runs in 31 constituencies, all of which were won by the governing EPRDF. Both the EOM and the Carter Centre have said that the complaints investigation process did not provide an effective remedy.
The official results announced by the NEBE on 5 September 2005 declared the governing EPRDF the winner, with 327 out of 546 seats filled. Parties affiliated to the EPRDF won a further 45 seats. Opposition parties and an independent candidate won a total of 174 seats, a major increase on the 19 seats which they held in the last parliament.
The final report and recommendations of the EOM are due to be issued in the coming days. In its interim statements, it commended the open and competitive nature of pre-election campaigning, while drawing attention to some deficiencies and irregularities.
The main opposition parties rejected the results of the election as flawed and alleged that intimidation and human rights abuses of their leaders and supporters were continuing. Initially, they threatened to boycott the new Parliament, which is due to convene on 10 October 2005, and planned to hold major demonstrations in Addis Ababa and other urban centres on 2 October 2005. When these demonstrations were not authorised, they called instead for three days of general strike and peaceful disobedience, beginning on 3 October 2005. The Ethiopian Government indicated that it would not hold any dialogue with opposition parties unless they accepted the official election results and pursued disputes through the courts.
This difficult political impasse was broken following an intervention by representatives of the EU Troika, the US and the United Nations with both Government and opposition on 1 October 2005. The opposition parties signed a statement committing themselves to constitutional, peaceful and legal mechanisms to resolve political conflict and seeking talks with the Government. In return, the Prime Minister gave a commitment to engage immediately in dialogue with the opposition if the protests planned for 3 October were called off and the opposition undertook to pursue its objectives via parliamentary means. The Government would also expedite the release of an estimated 1,000 people detained in recent days. Following opposition agreement to these terms, a preliminary round of talks between the Government and opposition took place on 2 October. Further talks were held on 4 October 2005.
I welcome these recent positive developments, which are the latest in a series of active efforts by the EU and the international community to help Ethiopia resolve the current political crisis. The EU condemned the violence which occurred on 8 June, called for an independent investigation into the deaths and urged the Ethiopian Government to exercise the utmost restraint and to act in accordance with the principles of international law and respect for human rights. It has also urged the Government and opposition parties to implement faithfully their joint agreement on the elections complaints procedure and their common commitment to non-violence.
Northern Ireland Issues.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent pickets by IRA members of the home of one of the McCartney sisters in the Short Strand in Belfast; if he has met with the McCartney family to discuss these pickets, further attacks on the family and their friends, and the progress made in their campaign for justice for the murder of their brother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26841/05]
My Department continues to monitor closely all developments in relation to the McCartney case. I was shocked to hear the recent reports of continuing intimidation and attacks on members and supporters of the McCartney family. I would like to take this opportunity to repeat my condemnation of this type of intimidation, which is totally unacceptable.
Officials of my Department are in ongoing contact with members of the McCartney family, including in relation to the pickets the Deputy mentioned and we have followed up on matters they have raised with us in that regard. I understand that the PSNI is pursuing lines of inquiry in relation to the intimidation and I urge anyone who has information to share it with the police.
I should add that the Government's engagement with this issue goes beyond my own Department. The Taoiseach has met with the family on a number of occasions, most recently on 11 July last, and is very active in raising it with appropriate contacts. We discussed the case in our most recent meeting with the Sinn Féin leadership, and signalled that the Government still has real concerns about the situation on the ground, including the ongoing intimidation of the McCartney family, which must be brought to an end.
With regard to the progress in the murder investigation itself, as the Deputy is aware, two men have been charged in relation to the attacks on Mr. McCartney and Mr. Devine and are now on bail as the preparation of files continues by the PSNI. As the Deputy will also be aware, two further arrests were made on 4 October as part of the ongoing investigation. Naturally, our main concern at this stage is that justice will prevail and that all of those responsible for Mr. McCartney's murder, and the other related offences, will be brought to account for their actions in a court of law.
EU Enlargement.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:25 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made by Romania towards membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26886/05]
Damien English
Ceist:42 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress being made by Bulgaria towards membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26887/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 42 together.
Following the signing of the accession treaty in April 2005, Bulgaria and Romania participate in almost all EU meetings as active observers. Both countries ratified the accession treaty in May 2005 and are scheduled to join the Union in January 2007, if they are ready.
In accordance with the December 2004 European Council conclusions, the Union continues to monitor the progress of Bulgaria and Romania towards meeting the obligations of membership. We look forward to the publication by the Commission of its annual monitoring report on 25 October 2005, which will provide a comprehensive assessment as part of this ongoing process.
We believe it is essential that both Bulgaria and Romania make full use of the period between now and their accession to ensure full implementation of their commitments so that they can join the Union, as envisaged, in 2007. This is in the best interests of the Union and of the acceding countries themselves. To this end, Ireland continues to provide assistance and advice to Bulgaria and Romania as part of the bilateral assistance programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is designed to help new and acceding member states prepare for the challenges of EU membership.
Overseas Development Aid.
Gerard Murphy
Ceist:26 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific Government programmes aimed at lowering the incidence of HIV and AIDS in the developing world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26911/05]
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:47 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland’s efforts to address the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the context of the review of the eight millennium development goals; the efforts he has made to develop a well resourced long-term comprehensive plan on a global scale on HIV and AIDS prevention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26829/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:167 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the international community's efforts to combat HIV and AIDS in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27269/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:169 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which financial and medical assistance is reaching persons most severely affected by AIDS and HIV in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27271/05]
I proposed to take Questions Nos. 26, 47, 167 and 169 together.
HIV-AIDS continues to be the single biggest obstacle to reducing poverty and to attaining the millennium development goals, MDGs. Current statistics from the United Nations joint programme on AIDS, UNAIDS, indicate that in 2004 almost 40 million people were living with the HIV virus. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the worst affected region and is now home to more than 25 million adults and children living with HIV. Approximately 3 million new infections occurred there in 2004, the majority in women, and more than 2 million Africans died in that year.
Ireland has a strong commitment to addressing HIV-AIDS. It is a key priority for Development Co-operation Ireland's policies andprogrammes. We were one of the first donors to develop a HIV-AIDS strategy which has served us well in guiding our response to this crisis. We have continually worked to ensure the issue is high on the agenda of EU and UN funds and programmes. Our financial allocation to the fight against AIDS now constitutes 10% of our total overseas development budget. Expenditure this year is expected to reach €50 million.
These resources are directed at a number of HIV-AIDS activities at global, regional, national and community levels and are implemented through international and regional organisations and in our programme countries. The latter include six highly affected countries in southern and eastern Africa. Ireland has and will continue to advocate for a strong response to HIV-AIDS through representation on the executive boards of UN agencies such as UNDP and UNICEF. In addition, we will continue to provide funding to UNAIDS, which is the main advocate for global action on the epidemic.
UNAIDS brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organisations to help prevent new HIV infections to provide care for those already infected and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. It is widely recognised that UNAIDS is providing global leadership and is an example of UN reform in action. We are in the process of finalising a multiannual partnership agreement with UNAIDS which will see an increase in the level of resources allocated to it.
Ireland has been a strong advocate of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, GFATM, since it was established in 2001. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the global fund represents a new approach to international health financing. With more than $5.9 billion pledged through to 2008, the fund is a major contributor to the overall increase in resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.
The first replenishment conference of the GFATM was held in September last. Ireland was one of a few donor countries to announce a 50% increase in its funding to the fund. This commitment will bring our contribution to the fund to a total of €30 million in 2006 and 2007. We will continue to use our membership of the board of the GFATM to contribute to strategic policy orientation and ensure that experience from recipient countries feeds into policy dialogue.
The high level meeting to review the millennium development goals, MDGs, in September renewed international focus on tackling major diseases as priorities for development. The review acknowledged that the world has made significant progress in achieving many of the goals but that this progress has been far from uniform. Progress was noted in the increasing access to HIV treatment, particularly in developing countries, from a low 400,000 people on treatment in 2003 to more than 1 million people on HIV treatment today. However, this falls far short of the World Health Organisation's target to reach 3 million by the end of this year. Considerable additional effort is therefore required.
At the high level meeting, the Taoiseach reaffirmed Ireland's focus on HIV prevention as the mainstay of our overall response to HIV-AIDS. In his address, the Taoiseach announced a doubling of funding to tackle the major diseases affecting developing countries including HIV-AIDS. We will continue to work with the international community in advocating a sustained and resourced global response to HIV-AIDS, strengthened leadership at all levels, and improved coordination of resources and planning for HIV-AIDS prevention and control.
Nuclear Disarmament.
Seán Ryan
Ceist:27 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position in regard to compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in view of recent events. [26860/05]
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, came into force in 1970. The treaty has been reviewed at five-year intervals to assess progress under its three pillars of disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
The seventh NPT review conference took place on 2 to 27 May 2005 at the United Nations in New York. In my statement during the general debate, which can be found on my Department's website, I recalled Ireland's close association with the treaty, which was negotiated following an initiative in 1958 taken by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Frank Aiken. I re-affirmed the importance the Government attaches to a rules-based international order and strong international institutions. I emphasised that, for Ireland, upholding the integrity of the treaty means respect for all its provisions, but noted the particular importance attached by Ireland to fulfilment of the nuclear disarmament obligations set out in Article VI and reaffirmed and developed at previous NPT review conferences.
The review conference regrettably ended without agreement on substantive conclusions and recommendations on how to strengthen the non-proliferation regime. This was a missed opportunity for the international community to tackle some key threats to global peace and security and to agree an effective collective response. We continue to believe that global challenges are best tackled together, through such a response. That is why efforts to strengthen the treaty and ensure full respect for all its provisions remain our highest priority in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.
Last month, at the summit meeting in New York, the international community again failed to bridge what the United Nations Secretary General has called "the deep rifts over how to confront the challenges we face" in regard to these issues. The agreement reached by Heads of State and Government on a programme of UN reform has many important and positive elements. As the Taoiseach and I both made clear in our addresses to the General Assembly at that time, however, it is deeply disappointing that the agreement contains nothing on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, or on the need to strengthen the NPT.
We cannot permit these setbacks to give rise to discouragement or despair. The challenges of which the Secretary General has spoken will not vanish by simply being ignored. I am firmly of the view that the NPT is now more than ever of tremendous importance to the achievement of international peace and security and Ireland will continue to work with like-minded partners to promote progress under it. Moreover, it is essential that all parties to the NPT behave in a manner which is fully and demonstrably in accordance with all its provisions, and this is the objective of the European Union in the approach it has taken in regard to Iran.
Undocumented Irish Emigrants.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:28 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with the United States authorities regarding the present difficult situation being experienced by undocumented Irish persons living there; if his attention has been drawn to the present status of the McCain-Kennedy Bill; and his advice to young Irish persons who find themselves in this difficult situation. [27048/05]
Tom Hayes
Ceist:77 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent contact with his US counterpart with regard to new proposals for the regularisation of citizenship for persons resident illegally in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26898/05]
Emmet Stagg
Ceist:115 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made regarding the Kennedy-McCain initiative in the United States to deal with the status of Irish emigrants to the USA over recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26861/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 77, and 115 together.
The Deputies can be assured that the welfare of undocumented Irish is a matter of the highest priority for the Government. In all of our contacts with US political leaders, including when the Taoiseach and I met with President Bush in March, we emphasise the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way. In doing so, we appreciate that immigration is a highly sensitive and divisive issue in the United States, in particular since the tragic events of 11 September 2001.
In line with this approach, the Government warmly welcomed the very significant and positive contribution made to the debate on immigration with the introduction last May of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act by Senator Kennedy and Senator McCain, and by Members of the House of Representatives. Its provisions, if passed into law, would significantly improve the situation of the undocumented Irish in the United States. The Government strongly endorses this bill, and the embassy in Washington is actively seeking support for it on Capitol Hill.
In order to most clearly and effectively reflect the concern shared by members of the Oireachtas on this issue, I also proposed today's debate and all-party motion of support for the Kennedy-McCain Bill. My proposal followed from helpful and positive meetings which an Oireachtas delegation led by the Ceann Comhairle had on Capitol Hill recently, including with Senator McCain.
The current situation with the Kennedy-McCain Bill is that it had its first reading in the Senate and was then referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. A preliminary committee hearing of the Kennedy-McCain Bill, and of also another immigration Bill known as the Kyl-Cornyn Bill, took place on 26 July. We understand that a further committee hearing is likely to take place soon.
In addition to my commitment to advance the interests of the undocumented through legislative reform, I recently announced grants to Irish immigration centres in the US totalling US$915,000. This represented an increase of 40% on last year. I would suggest that any Irish person in need of guidance at this complex time of change should approach one of these centres. They provide a range of invaluable information and advisory services to our community across the US. We are warmly appreciative of their effective and caring support for the more vulnerable members of our community. I myself met recently in New York with representatives of the centres from various parts of the US and heard at first hand of their concerns and priorities. They also expressed deep appreciation of the substantially increased funding of their activities by the Government.
Foreign Conflicts.
Kathleen Lynch
Ceist:29 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing concerns stated by the International Crisis Group that the weakness of the Iraqi draft constitution is likely to fuel rather than to quell insurgency in the country; the dangers that the Sunni minority, despite opposing the proposed constitution, will be unable to block it; and the potentially disastrous consequences that this may have for Iraq. [26847/05]
The draft constitution of Iraq was drawn up in a lengthy negotiation between the parties represented in the Transitional National Assembly. This process included additional representatives of the Sunni community, who were co-opted onto the constitutional committee to compensate for their under-representation in the Assembly. The draft constitution was approved by the committee at the end of August, and will be put to the Iraqi people in a referendum on 15 October.
The UN has reported that preparations for the referendum, which are being overseen by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, are now largely complete. The Deputy will be aware of the concerns which were expressed by the UN following the adoption by the Transitional National Assembly, on 2 October, of a resolution regarding the referendum law. I welcome the decision by the assembly yesterday to withdraw the resolution. While the constitutional referendum is a sovereign Iraqi process, it is important for its credibility that it is based on an electoral framework which meets international standards.
I am also aware of the concerns expressed by the International Crisis Group and others on the draft constitution itself. Clearly, complete consensus among the negotiators would have been desirable, and this was not achieved. It has been widely reported that in the final negotiations an overall compromise between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish priorities proved impossible, and that the draft constitution represents, on some points, the majority view of the Shia and Kurdish representatives. Shia and Kurdish leaders have asserted that they agreed to numerous amendments to reflect Sunni concerns. On some points, however, it appears that the basic vision of the Sunni parties was incompatible with that of the Shia and Kurdish communities, which make up some three-quarters of Iraq's population. These, however, are issues for the Iraqi people and their representatives to decide, as part of the democratic process.
A central priority of the political process in Iraq is to create the conditions in which the current campaign of lethal violence can be brought to an end. Disagreements on communal lines over the draft constitution should not be allowed to exacerbate that violence. There have been reports that some Sunni parties may be ready to accept the draft constitution in return for some specified concessions, possibly in the form of agreed amendments. I would hope that all avenues capable of achieving greater consensus would continue to be explored by all concerned.
Finally, it is my hope that all Iraqi citizens will be able to engage fully in the political debate and to exercise their democratic rights in the referendum on 15 October.
Decentralisation Programme.
Dan Neville
Ceist:30 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timescale for the decentralisation of divisions within his Department; the number of civil servants who have signalled their intention to decentralise; the units in which they are currently employed; the units to which they wish to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26890/05]
Denis Naughten
Ceist:41 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a risk analysis has been undertaken regarding decentralisation in order that expertise achieved in the area of overseas aid will not be lost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26891/05]
Joan Burton
Ceist:70 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the advisory board of Development Co-operation Ireland that the decentralisation of DCI to Limerick will undermine the State’s aid programme; the progress that has been made to date in the decentralisation of DCI; when the process will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26833/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 41 and 70 together.
Under the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in December 2003, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. This will involve the relocation to Limerick of 123 posts and is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2007. The Office of Public Works is currently assessing a number of accommodation proposals in Limerick.
The following table sets out details by grade of the applications for posts in Limerick received through the central applications facility, CAF, from staff serving in the directorate, from those serving elsewhere within the Department and from officers of other Departments and offices.
I am aware of the concern expressed by the advisory board for Development Co-operation Ireland about the decentralisation of the directorate to Limerick. Every effort will be made to ensure that the transfer of the directorate to its new location will be as smooth as possible.
A detailed implementation plan has been completed by departmental officials, addressing areas such as risk management, business continuity, human resources, training, knowledge management, premises and information and communications technology facilities. The plan, together with regular updates can be accessed on the Department's website. Already, a total of 26, 21%, posts in the directorate are filled by staff who have expressed an interest in decentralising to Limerick, including seven officers recruited from other Departments via the central applications facility, CAF, and five staff recruited from interdepartmental promotion panels. The process of transferring to the directorate, staff currently serving elsewhere in the Department and of recruiting staff via the central applications facility, will be accelerated in the new year. The aim is that by the second half of 2006 most posts in the directorate will be filled by staff who will decentralise to Limerick.
|
Number of posts advertised on the CAF |
Number of applications from within the Directorate by 07-09-04 |
Applications from elsewhere in the Department by 07-09-04 |
Total applications received via the CAF by 07-09-04 |
Applications received via the CAF since 07-09-04 |
Total CAF applications received to date |
|
|
Principal Development Specialist |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Senior Development Specialist |
12 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Development Specialist |
9 |
(Note 1) 9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
Financial Controller |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Counsellor/Principal Officer |
7 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
First Secretary/Assistant Principal Officer |
19 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
21 |
|
Higher Executive Officer/ Administrative Officer |
14 |
1 |
1 |
25 |
1 |
28 |
|
Third Secretary |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Executive Officer |
16 |
3 |
3 |
23 |
8 |
37 |
|
Staff Officer |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
|
Clerical Officer |
33 |
1 |
4 |
19 |
3 |
27 |
|
Services Officer |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
123 |
21 |
12 |
86 |
20 |
139 |
Note 1
Figure for applications from within DCD includes development specialists employed since the announcement of decentralisation and whose contracts specify that the posts are being relocated to Limerick
Note 2
It should be noted that the above table only includes details of first preference applications. In the case of undersubscribed grades, applicants who gave Limerick a lower than first preference will be given an opportunity to amend their first preferences
Note 3
The table excludes, inter alia, applications from Public Service employees whose grade equivalency remains to be clarified
Note 4
The table also excludes applications from staff already serving with other Departments-offices in Limerick
Question No. 31 answered with QuestionNo. 7.
Overseas Development Aid.
Mary Upton
Ceist:32 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the final report written by a person (details supplied) on foot of their most recent visits to the region affected by the Asian tsunami; the situation which pertains in that area; the help which Ireland continues to offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26857/05]
John Deasy
Ceist:113 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of assistance being given to the countries affected by the December 2004 tsunami; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26899/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 113 together.
The combined contributions from official and private source s in responding to the tsunami catastrophe have placed Ireland among the most generous per capita donor nations worldwide.
Within a few hours of the onset of the tsunami, the Government pledged €1 million in emergency assistance and this amount was quickly doubled as the death toll rose. When the full scale of the disaster became evident, the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and I jointly announced that our funding would rise to €10 million. This pledge was doubled to €20 million when my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, visited the region with personnel from Concern, Goal, the Irish Red Cross and Trócaire in January. The additional funding was designed to address the longer-term recovery and reconstruction challenges.
Within a few months of the tsunami tragedy, over 90% of our pledge had been allocated to relief and recovery efforts. I believe that this achievement can be matched by very few donors and demonstrates the speed and flexibility of our response.
Assistance has been made available to non-governmental organisations, NGOs, UN agencies and the Red Cross. The programmes are in line with the national strategies for recovery that have been developed by the Governments of the affected countries. We have also assisted the Thailand tsunami victim identification process. A list of organisations and programmes supported by official Irish assistance is attached for information.
A special envoy was appointed for the tsunami-affected region with a mandate to report on the effectiveness of the aid effort. The envoy, former Minister of State and current chairman of the Advisory Board for Development Co-operation Ireland, Mr. Chris Flood, has made three visits to the region over a six-month period. During his visits, the envoy met with a wide range of organisations and individuals, including disaster-affected communities, NGOs, UN agencies and senior Government representatives. The envoy made his final trip to the region in July. His overall report is being prepared at the moment.
The process of recovery for such an extensively devastated area will take several years. Crucially, the international humanitarian community recognises that a key feature of that recovery process is that the affected communities will need to be more resistant to and better prepared for, any future crises. Ireland, through its overseas humanitarian and recovery programmes, remains closely engaged with ongoing developments in relation to the recovery process. We are in constant liaison with all stakeholders including our partners in the NGOs, UN and international agencies and are actively monitoring those programmes and initiatives that have been supported with Government funding. This engagement will be actively maintained, including through monitoring visits to the region.
|
Country |
Agency |
Description |
Amount approved |
|
$ |
|||
|
Burma |
International Committee of the Red Cross |
Emergency Assistance |
500,000 |
|
Total Burma |
500,000 |
||
|
India |
Christian Aid |
Emergency Humanitarian/Basic Needs Assistance |
250,000 |
|
India |
Concern Worldwide |
Emergency Relief for Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry |
435,993 |
|
India |
Goal |
Emergency Relief for Tsunami affected populations of Tamil Nadu |
485,000 |
|
India |
Oxfam Ireland |
Non-Food Items for Tsunami Victims |
250,000 |
|
India |
Gorta |
Emergency Relief Programme |
100,000 |
|
India |
Hope Foundation |
Tsunami Disaster Relief |
200,000 |
|
Total India |
1,720,993 |
||
|
Indonesia |
Christian Childrens Fund |
Care & Protection of Children in IDP Camps |
165,500 |
|
Indonesia |
Oxfam Ireland |
Non food items for Earthquake affected populations in Aceh |
250,000 |
|
Indonesia |
Trócaire |
Tsunami Emergency Relief |
300,000 |
|
Indonesia |
Mercy Corps |
Midwives Livelihoods Recovery Programme |
278,784 |
|
Indonesia |
Concern Worldwide |
Integrated recovery |
1,979,000 |
|
Indonesia |
Trócaire |
Integrated recovery |
750,000 |
|
Indonesia |
Mercy Corps |
Livelihoods recovery |
350,000 |
|
Indonesia |
UNDP |
Capacity Buidling for Reconstruction |
1,000,000 |
|
Indonesia |
ILO |
Women’s livelihood |
250,000 |
|
Indonesia |
IDLO |
Legal Aid programme |
150,000 |
|
Indonesia |
World Bank MDTF |
Trust Fund |
1,000,000 |
|
Total Indonesia |
6,473,284 |
||
|
South Asia Region |
International Organisation for Migration |
Health Care Assistance |
100,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
OCHA* |
Immediate Relief Assistance |
1,000,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
UN High Commission for Refugees |
Programmes in Indonesia & Sri Lanka as per 2005 UN Flash Appeal |
500,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
UNICEF |
Basic Needs & Caring/Protecting Children Separated from their families |
1,000,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
World Food Programme (WFP) |
Food Assistance |
2,000,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
World Health Programme (WHO) |
Health Care Assistance |
500,000 |
|
South Asia Region |
UNESCO |
Early Warning |
500,000 |
|
Total Aouth Asia Region |
5,600,000 |
||
|
Sri Lanka |
Goal |
Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for IDPs |
400,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
International Federation of the Red Cross |
Bay of Bengal: Earthquake & Tsunami Appeal |
750,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Plan Ireland |
Rehabilitation of Basic Infrastructure in Hambantota District |
200,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Trócaire |
Short to Mid Term Response to the South Asia Crisis |
200,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
World Vision Ireland |
Food, Non-Food and Dry Rations |
200,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Habitat for Humanity |
Housing Programme |
249,500 |
|
Sri Lanka |
Concern Worldwide (March) |
Emergency Rehabilitation and Livelihood Dev. Project |
500,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
CCF |
Livelihood Recovery |
200,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
VSO |
Capacity Buidling for Reconstruction |
305,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
WHO |
Mental health care |
398,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
FAO |
Ag recovery |
150,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
IDLO |
Legal Aid programme |
150,000 |
|
Sri Lanka |
World Bank MDTF |
Trust Fund |
1,000,000 |
|
Total Sri Lanka |
4,702,500 |
||
|
Thailand |
Home Life Foundation |
Aids care programme |
100,000 |
|
Thailand |
Human Development Foundation |
Village support |
100,000 |
|
Thailand |
Embassy Malaysia |
Micro Projects Fund |
50,000 |
|
Thailand |
TTVI |
identification process |
50,000 |
|
Thailand |
TTVI financial officer |
identification process |
16,426 |
|
Thailand |
UNDP |
Livelihoods recovery |
150,750 |
|
Thailand |
Trócaire |
Integrated village recovery |
250,000 |
|
Total Thailand |
717,176 |
||
|
Maldives |
VSO |
Reconstruction of health and education facilities |
220,000.00 |
|
Total Maldives |
220,000.00 |
||
|
Totals |
19,933,953.21 |
Question No. 33 answered with QuestionNo. 19.
Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Shane McEntee
Ceist:34 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the ongoing developments at European level with regard to the agreement of a common EU security and defence arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26867/05]
Billy Timmins
Ceist:90 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the ongoing developments at European Union level with regard to the formation of a common EU defence and security arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25954/05]
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:121 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will give support to an EU wide common security and defence mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26915/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 90 and 121 together.
The European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP, is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, and serves the Union's general objectives of peace and stability. These objectives and the provisions governing the ESDP are set out in the treaties of Amsterdam and of Nice, which were approved by referendum. In this context, the European Union is increasing its ability to contribute to both the civilian and military dimensions of crisis management.
Over the past year, the ESDP has become increasingly operational. Following significant preparatory work undertaken by the Irish Presidency, the EU launched Operation Althea in December last year, a follow-on military crisis management mission to the previous NATO-led SFOR mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is the largest ESDP mission to date. A total of 7,000 personnel from 33 countries are participating, including 54 members of the Irish Defence Forces. The mission is authorised by a Chapter VII UN mandate, as was the case for SFOR.
On 15 September 2005, the EU, together with five members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, ASEAN, as well as Norway and Switzerland, deployed a monitoring mission in Aceh, Indonesia. This civilian mission within the ESDP framework is designed to monitor the implementation of various aspects of the peace agreement set out in the memorandum of understanding signed by the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on 15 August 2005. Three members of the Defence Forces are currently serving with this mission.
In addition, the work of the EU police missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, is continuing, with the former headed by Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty of the Garda Síochána. A European Union Police Mission in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, EUPOL Kinshasa, was launched in April 2005; this is the first civilian mission for crisis management in Africa within the ESDP framework.
The EU is continuing to develop its capabilities for crisis management, both military and civilian. The European Defence Agency, established last year, is intended to play a central role in addressing shortfalls in European capabilities. It has functions in the areas of defence capabilities development, armaments co-operation, the defence industry and research and technology. The agency aims to ensure that the defence forces of EU member states are properly equipped to carry out crisis management missions.
The development of the battlegroups-rapid response elements concept has been an important focal point for ESDP. Member states have committed up to 13 battlegroup formations which will be available on a rotational basis to deploy to crisis situations within a five to ten day period, to carry out the Petersberg Tasks of humanitarian, rescue, peacekeeping and crisis management operations, including peacemaking. As I have stated in my reply to a separate question by Deputy Gormley, an interdepartmental group, which includes representatives of my Department, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Attorney General's office is currently considering the policy, legislative and operational issues surrounding Ireland's possible participation.
The European Union is also examining how existing civilian capabilities can be further developed to ensure a more rapid and flexible EU response to crisis situations. The aftermath of the tsunami has demonstrated the importance of developing such a capability. The Government is following this exercise closely, and will seek to identify how Ireland can best contribute to overall international efforts to assist in large-scale rapid onset emergency situations.
It is important to distinguish between the European Security and Defence Policy, which continues to develop, and the possibility of a common defence. Any move to a common defence would be for decision by the European Council acting unanimously and in accordance with member states' constitutional requirements. At present it is important to distinguish between the European Security and Defence Policy, which continues to develop, and the possibility of a common defence. Any move to a common defence would be for decision by the European Council acting unanimously and in accordance with member states' constitutional requirements. At present, there are no proposals for such a move. In any event, Ireland's position is clear. The amendment to Bunreacht na hÉireann in October 2002 precludes Ireland from participating in a common defence. As a consequence, the Irish people would have to amend Bunreacht na hÉireann before Ireland could take part in a common defence.
Question No. 35 answered with QuestionNo. 19.
Official Engagements.
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:36 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is Government policy to inform the Irish Roman Catholic hierarchy in advance of visits by members of the Cabinet to the Vatican; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27056/05]
There is no formal Government policy of informing the Catholic hierarchy here in advance of visits to the Vatican by members of the Government. However, if considered helpful and-or courteous, and as part of the preparation of such visits, contact might of course on occasion be appropriate and desirable.
Human Rights Issues.
Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:37 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, since making his speech to the UN which addressed human rights abuses in Burma, he has approached authorities in China, Thailand or others of Burma’s neighbours to raise the issue; their responses to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27054/05]
David Stanton
Ceist:44 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the situation in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26947/05]
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:66 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made recent representations to the Burmese authorities regarding the continued detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26881/05]
Willie Penrose
Ceist:104 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the deteriorating situation in relation to human rights in Burma and the action he proposes to take. [26856/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 44, 66 and 104 together.
The Government has consistently highlighted the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and condemned the lack of progress towards democracy. The continuing house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other opposition activists and a number of MPs elected in 1990 remains of grave concern to Ireland and our EU partners.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, representing Ireland at the opening session of the Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM, of foreign ministers on 6 May 2005 in Kyoto, Japan, expressed Ireland's grave disappointment and concern that the Burmese authorities had failed to create the conditions for political parties to participate in the national convention, now in recess. He also urged the Burmese authorities to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. European and Asian foreign ministers participating in the meeting collectively expressed to the Burmese Foreign Minister their concern at the situation in Burma and expressed the hope that all restrictions on the democratisation process would be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity.
On 7 May 2005, the EU Troika of foreign ministers met the Burmese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. U Nyan Win, in the margins of the ASEM meeting and expressed similar concerns about the situation in Burma. The EU Troika called on the Burmese authorities to enter into a constructive dialogue with the opposition National League for Democracy, NLD, other legitimate representative bodies and ethnic groups. The EU Troika also called for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. The Troika further appealed to the Burmese authorities to establish permanent and sincere co-operation with the UN Secretary General's special envoy in Burma, Mr. Razali Ismail, the special rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Burma, Mr. Sergio Pinheiro, and with all relevant UN agencies. The Burmese Foreign Minister undertook to consider the demands expressed by the EU, but I regret that in the period since then there has been no progress.
In my statement on behalf of Ireland at the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly on 19 September, I referred to the continuing denial of human rights and democracy in Burma. I stated that this was most acutely symbolised by the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and that her ordeal was not forgotten by the people of Ireland. I pointed out that the cumulative length of her detention is now very close to ten years.
While in the short period since then I have not had the opportunity to raise these issues again with Burma's neighbouring countries as has been suggested, I assure the Deputies that I will avail of all opportunities to raise and to repeat our long-standing concerns in the period ahead. The Government's continuing goal and that of the EU remains the release and restoration of liberty to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations there and the realisation of peace and prosperity for the long-suffering people of Burma.
Middle East Peace Process.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:38 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the Middle East peace process with his EU counterparts in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26923/05]
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:40 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26892/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 40 together.
The Middle East peace process is a constant item on the agenda for the monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. At the most recent meeting of the Council which I attended in Luxembourg on 3 October, we discussed developments in the light of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and adopted detailed conclusions setting out the priorities for progress in the period ahead.
In common with our partners in the EU, the Government firmly believes that the quartet roadmap remains the best framework for the achievement of a lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The challenge now is to build on the progress of disengagement and to renew efforts towards full implementation of the roadmap. We are all agreed that there are obligations on both sides and that parallel movement will be required. The EU will strongly support Israel and the Palestinian Authority in renewing the momentum towards a peaceful settlement. We will continue to support the quartet special envoy, Mr. James Wolfensohn, in his efforts to broker agreement on a border regime for Gaza and on measures to give Gaza the prospect of a secure and economically viable future.
The Government and its partners in the EU will continue to encourage the Palestinian Authority to strengthen security. The violence of the past week has been disappointing. We strongly condemn terrorist attacks on Israel and we have urged the Israeli authorities to demonstrate appropriate restraint in their response. As I stated in my address to the UN General Assembly on 19 September, the Government also believes it is essential that Israel takes no further steps, including settlement expansion in the West Bank, which could jeopardise the viability of a two-state solution.
Overseas Development Aid.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:39 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action being taken by Ireland to assist in meeting the millennium development goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26912/05]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:119 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent UN summit in New York to discuss proposals for general UN reform and to review progress towards the achievement of the millennium development goals; the progress that has been made to date on each of the goals; the position regarding Ireland’s priorities on both of these key areas at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26836/05]
I propose to take Question Nos. 39 and 119 together.
Ireland attaches the greatest importance to the millennium development goals and has adopted them as the overarching framework for our development co-operation programme. The goals correspond to Development Co-operation Ireland's focus on reducing poverty and supporting the provision of basic services to the poorest people. Deputies will be aware that the Taoiseach announced on 14 September in New York that our official development assistance will reach the target of 0.7% of GNP by 2012, three years earlier than the agreed EU deadline of 2015. A proportion of this increased funding will be devoted to such purposes as combating HIV-AIDS, malaria and other communicable diseases, assisting countries in emergency situations and in reconstruction following conflict. We are continuing our programme of support to education, basic health services, water and sanitation in the seven countries where we have established co-operation programmes and will be looking at the possibilities for extending such co-operation to other similar countries. We provide substantial support to the work of Irish non-governmental organisations in the development field as well as to the major UN bodies such as UNICEF, UNDP and the High Commissioner for Refugees.
The timetable we have set ourselves places Ireland in the forefront of donors worldwide. On the basis of current anticipated growth rates, spending on ODA would be of the order of €1.5 billion in 2012 and would be maintained at that level at least in subsequent years. We have interim targets of 0.5% of GNP in 2007 and 0.6% in 2010. In regard to UN reform, I refer the Deputy to the Minister's reply today to Question No 1 on this issue.
Question No. 40 answered with QuestionNo. 38.
Question No. 41 answered with QuestionNo. 30.
Question No. 42 answered with QuestionNo. 25.
Diplomatic Relations.
Joe Higgins
Ceist:43 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had the opportunity to raise the relationship between the EU and the Pakistani Government at the discussion on external affairs at the EU Council summit meeting. [21253/05]
The relationship between the EU and Pakistan did not arise either at the most recent meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 3 October, or at the European Council meeting on 16 and 17 June. An EU Troika meeting with Pakistan at foreign minister level took place in Luxembourg on 27 April 2005. Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri briefed the EU side on political developments in Pakistan and on Pakistan's dialogue with India. Other political issues discussed included Afghanistan, non-proliferation, effective multilateralism and counter-terrorism. The most recent bilateral political level contact was the visit by my predecessor, Deputy Cowen, to Pakistan in February 2004 when he led an EU ministerial Troika visit.
Question No. 44 answered with QuestionNo. 37.
Overseas Development Aid.
Michael Noonan
Ceist:45 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of personnel employed in his Department to work on overseas development aid matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26889/05]
A total of 161 officers are assigned to the development co-operation directorate at headquarters, to the bilateral aid missions in Africa and Asia and to development desks at our multilateral missions to the UN in New York and Geneva, to the OECD in Paris and to the EU in Brussels. The headquarters staffing complement comprises 99 general and diplomatic service officers and 26 specialists. There are 19 specialists and 17 general and diplomatic service officers serving abroad. Some 250 local staff are employed by our missions on the ground to deal with a variety of tasks ranging from project implementation, monitoring and accounting to security, transport and other support services.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:46 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support given by Development Co-operation Ireland towards education programmes around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26914/05]
Education is one of the most important instruments for reducing poverty and inequality and for laying the basis for sustained economic growth. The importance of every child in every country having the opportunity to complete primary school education forms the basis of the Dakar framework for action agreed in Senegal at the World Education Forum in 2000. The goals agreed in Dakar were reaffirmed as part of the UN's millennium summit in September 2000. Ireland is deeply committed to contributing to the attainment by 2015 of universal primary education for boys and girls everywhere.
Since the early 1990s basic education has been a priority area of the Government's official development co-operation programme. Over 13% of the entire programme is focused on supporting education. Most of this support is delivered at country level, with a smaller proportion of funding directed to global and regional education initiatives. Our overall aim is to assist partner countries to build sustainable education systems appropriate to the needs of the people and the country. While subscribing to the goals and targets set internationally, we support the achievement of locally set objectives which are developed in consultation with stakeholders in education in-country.
Our approach in the education sector recognises that basic education is the fundamental building block to participation in all levels of education and that the inter-linkages between the different levels of education are becoming more apparent. Expanding secondary education is now considered to be essential to motivate children to complete primary school and therefore be able to access secondary school. In addition, secondary education has been shown to be effective in preventing the spread of HIV-AIDS.
Support to education will therefore remain a priority for the development programme. Investment in education in Ireland has provided the basis of much of our recent success. In the developing world, our support to education is a reflection of our own experience and our belief that it is one of the basic pillars of social and economic development.
Question No. 47 answered with QuestionNo. 26.
Emigrant Support Services.
Billy Timmins
Ceist:48 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of recommendations of the task force on emigrants that have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26902/05]
The excellent report of the task force on policy regarding emigrants provides us with a valuable framework for action. Many of its recommendations require sustained action over time from all partners in both Government and the voluntary sector. However, considerable progress continues to be made, with action under way on more than two thirds of the report's recommendations. Most importantly, the establishment of a dedicated unit — the Irish abroad unit — in the Department of Foreign Affairs is driving progress on the areas identified by the task force.
Funding for emigrant services has also increased very substantially. This year the allocation is more than eight times greater than in 1997. In all, grants in 2005 will amount to €8.273 million, representing a 63% increase on last year. In this regard, I have recently announced significant increases to groups in Britain, the US and Ireland. A particular priority is the need to support our most vulnerable and marginalised communities abroad, such as our older community in Britain and undocumented Irish people in the United States. Agencies involved at the front line in this critical work are receiving substantial additional funding this year. These agencies are also involved in the provision of pre-departure services and in assistance to emigrants wishing to return to Ireland, both areas particularly identified by the task force.
My Department will continue to maintain close and active contact with frontline organisations to ensure the voluntary sector has an effective channel of communication with the Government and that everything possible is done to help and advance the interests of our emigrant communities, their most vulnerable members in particular.
Diplomatic Representation.
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:49 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department will be opening new diplomatic or consular ties with any state over the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26888/05]
There are no plans to change the status of our representation in Lesotho. Ireland has maintained a resident mission in Lesotho since an aid office was opened there in 1974 and is currently represented by a consul general based in the capital, Maseru. The consulate general oversees and manages the implementation of our aid programme in Lesotho and does so in a satisfactory and effective manner.
Human Rights Issues.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:50 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has proposals regarding the make-up, remit and work practices of the UN human rights council. [26935/05]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:80 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal for the establishment of a human rights council agreed at the UN 2005 world summit. [26936/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 80 together.
In the lead-up to last month's high level plenary meeting of the United Nations in New York, Ireland was a strong supporter of the proposal to establish a standing human rights council which was among the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. In this context, the decision at the summit to establish a human rights council is one which we view as positive and it was welcomed by the Taoiseach and I in our statements at the UN last month.
Negotiations on the make-up, remit and work practices of the council will soon begin under the chairmanship of the president of the General Assembly, Mr. Jan Eliasson. In my initial reaction to the decision to establish the council, I called on the General Assembly to move swiftly to flesh out the council's modalities and structure. It must be composed and operate in a way which avoids the failings of the past. However, the best features of the Commission on Human Rights, which the council will replace, must be retained.
Under the United Kingdom's Presidency, the EU is co-ordinating its input into the negotiations on the human rights council. Ireland is actively contributing to this process and has underlined certain key points in respect of the council. In our discussions with EU partners, we have stressed that it is paramount that the council should be a standing body with the ability to address serious and urgent human rights situations. It is also essential that the participation in the council by non-governmental organisations and civil society allows at least the same degree of access as they enjoy at the Commission on Human Rights.
In addition, it is crucial that the negotiated outcome should provide for a smooth transition between the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights council. This would apply in particular to issues such as the carry-over of mandates of special procedures from the commission to the council. These special procedures, such as special rapporteurs of the commission, ensure a degree of scrutiny on specific thematic or country situations of particular concern to the global community. The establishment of a robust human rights council, together with other proposed changes, should lead to a stronger and more effective United Nations and to an enhanced focus on human rights issues.
Damien English
Ceist:51 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current situation in Zimbabwe following elections in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26896/05]
Mary Upton
Ceist:117 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. [26858/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 117 together.
The Government remains gravely concerned regarding developments in Zimbabwe, particularly in the aftermath of the clearance campaign known as Operation Restore Order launched by the Zimbabwean Government last May which has resulted in more than 700,000 people being left homeless. The disastrous humanitarian consequences of this clearance operation have been well described in the report prepared by Ms Anna Tibaijuka, the special envoy appointed by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to examine the consequences of Operation Restore Order, which she presented last July. This report makes clear that Operation Restore Order was carried out in an indiscriminate and unjustified manner, with indifference to human suffering and in disregard of international law. I very much regret that the Mugabe Government has failed completely to act on Ms Tibaijuka's recommendations, including holding to account those responsible for Operation Restore Order, and would urge it to do so and to make immediate restitution to all those made homeless or left jobless as a result of its actions.
In the meantime, the political, economic and humanitarian situation within Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, with an estimated 3 million people, or 25% of the population, likely to require food aid in 2005-2006. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, will meet the executive director of the World Food Programme, WFP, on 7 October to discuss the growing humanitarian crisis in southern Africa, including in Zimbabwe. Ireland contributed €500,000 in June to the WFP for emergency feeding programmes in Zimbabwe and is considering a further contribution in response to an appeal for $30 million which the UN has recently launched to assist the victims of Operation Restore Order. The Irish Embassy in South Africa also continues to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe closely and the Irish ambassador will travel to Zimbabwe later this week to report further on the current political and humanitarian situation.
At the end of August, the Zimbabwean Parliament approved a series of constitutional amendments which represent a further serious assault on basic human rights and freedoms in Zimbabwe. These changes allow the Government to nationalise all remaining farm land without any right of legal appeal and to impose travel bans on those suspected of undermining the national interest. In light of these developments, the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe merits attention at the current General Assembly session in New York and I hope the EU will be successful in promoting acceptance of this viewpoint.
International pressure clearly needs to be maintained on the Mugabe Government to alter its current policies. The African Union and Zimbabwe's neighbours in the Southern Africa Development Community, SADC, clearly can play a potentially useful role in exerting influence on the Zimbabwe Government. I welcomed the initiative of the African Union in requesting former Mozambican President Chissano to act as a mediator in encouraging political dialogue within Zimbabwe and encourage the African Union to continue its efforts, notwithstanding the negative response to date of the Zimbabwean Government.
UN Reform.
Martin Ferris
Ceist:52 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on UN reforms that the Government intends to promote and the steps it will take to promote them in view of outcomes of the UN 2005 World Summit. [26933/05]
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:60 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN World Summit in New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26883/05]
Willie Penrose
Ceist:63 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing work being carried out on behalf of the UN General Secretary Mr. Kofi Annan; if such work has been completed; if so, the conclusions reached and if not, the priorities which are being addressed. [26855/05]
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:89 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he regrets the dilution of Secretary General Annan’s proposals for reform of the UN at the 2005 General Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27055/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 60, 63 and 89 together.
The Taoiseach and I, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, represented Ireland at the UN 2005 World Summit which took place in New York from 14 to 16 September. As Deputies are aware, I was invited by Secretary General Annan to act as one of five envoys mandated to present the case to governments for the wide-ranging recommendations contained in his report, In Larger Freedom for decision at the Summit, and to help lay the groundwork for a summit outcome that would reinforce the multilateral system and enhance the capacity of the United Nations to address the threats and challenges of the 21st century. In that role, I held discussions with 46 foreign minister colleagues and engaged with the media wherever possible on my visits. I am satisfied that my role and that of the other envoys made a positive contribution to the summit's outcome. My formal role as envoy ended at the conclusion of the summit but I will continue to take a close and active interest in the issue of UN reform and particularly in the implementation of the agreements reached at the summit.
The Secretary General's recommendations for decision were based on the premise that without development there can be no security, without security there can be no development, and without respect for human rights there can be neither. The Secretary General's recommendations for decision were based on the premise that without development there can be no security, without security there can be no development, and without respect for human rights there can be neither. While the summit did not achieve on this occasion everything Ireland and other like-minded countries would have wished, the outcome document agreed by leaders at the summit nonetheless contains important commitments and agreements on critical issues in the areas of development, security and human rights. It also sets out a programme of reform of the UN and of its secretariat to equip it better to meet today's challenges and to help enhance political and public confidence in the organisation.
The outcome unequivocally commits states to the millennium development goals and to implementing the mutual obligations on development contained in the 2002 Monterrey consensus. Donor countries agreed to step up efforts on official development assistance, financing for development and debt. Developing countries are committed to ensuring the effective use of assistance through sound policies, good governance and the rule of law, as well as through the implementation of comprehensive national development strategies and the management of their public finances in an effective and transparent manner. The potential of trade liberalisation in the promotion of development is also recognised, as is the need to meet obligations on sustainable development and on climate change.
It is a matter of particular satisfaction to the Government that the imperative to meet the special needs of Africa and to combat HIV-AIDS and other communicable diseases was acknowledged.
As Deputies will be aware, the Taoiseach in his address to the summit committed Ireland to reaching the UN ODA target of 0.7% of GNI by 2012, three years ahead of the EU target, and to reaching an interim target of 0.5% by 2007.
The summit reached important decisions in the area of security. It reaffirmed the authority of and primary responsibility of the Security Council to mandate coercive action. It supported the efforts of the EU and other regional bodies to develop peace support capacities, including for rapid deployment, stand-by and bridging arrangements.
For too long, countries in a post-conflict phase have not received the necessary help from the UN and the international community to strengthen their institutions and economies so as to avoid a return to strife. The decision to establish a peace building commission by the end of this year to mobilise resources for this purpose, and co-ordinate their application on the ground is therefore greatly to be welcomed.
The General Assembly has been mandated to complete and adopt a counter-terrorism strategy on the lines of that proposed by the Secretary General and to conclude without delay the negotiation of a comprehensive international convention on terrorism.
Leaders reaffirmed universal human rights and agreed on the need to strengthen the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations. For the first time they collectively acknowledged the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. This agreement on the responsibility to protect is an important concrete achievement of the summit. They decided to double the budget of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, to enable it better to assist states to implement their obligations to their citizens in this area.
The summit decided in principle to establish a human rights council to replace the Commission on Human Rights. Negotiations on its establishment are to be completed as soon as possible in the 60th session of the General Assembly, although some difficult issues remain outstanding. A key concern for Ireland is that the positive aspects of the CHR, in particular the involvement of civil society, should be preserved in the new body. The summit agreed to strengthen the human rights mechanisms of the UN through a doubling over five years of the budget of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The summit also supported the Secretary General in his efforts to strengthen the UN's secretariat and its management, and invited him to come forward with further proposals in this regard. Ireland and its EU partners are working together with like-minded countries to ensure that the General Assembly moves as rapidly as possible towards the implementation of these commitments and decisions. I will remain closely engaged with the UN reform process.
EU-China Relations.
Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:53 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the former EU Commissioner Mr. Chris Patten’s analysis of the EU’s recent handling of relations with China (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27053/05]
I read with interest the newspaper article by former EU Commissioner, Chris Patten, which is the subject of the Deputy's question. Mr. Patten was an excellent EU External Relations Commissioner and is a good friend of Ireland's. While I would agree with him on many issues, and while he is undoubtedly right to pose searching questions, I would not fully share his assessment of EU-China relations as set out in the article.
The year 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of EU-China relations. A broad EU-China dialogue was formally established in 1994 in recognition of China's status as an emerging power on the international scene. This dialogue has grown into a regular, structured series of meeting at several political and official levels. Annual EU-China Summits at Heads of State or Government level have contributed to upgrading the dialogue and providing a strategic vision for the fast growing relationship. The eighth EU-China Summit took place in Beijing on 5 September 2005. Both sides agreed at the summit to move towards early negotiations on an EU-China framework agreement — an initiative very much in line with Chris Patten's wish to see the EU adopting a consistent and coherent strategy in relation to China. The EU is determined to intensify the dialogue in all areas, economic and political. The EU also attaches great importance to its human rights dialogue with China.
Where economic matters are concerned, I would agree with Mr. Patten that the EU has been correct to work assiduously to bring China into the World Trade Organisation. There are benefits for all in having China play its part in the rules-based multilateral trading system. In the context of the recent difficulties which arose in trade in textile products following the ending of the multi-fibre agreement, and when a surge in imports of textile products from China into the EU created a number of difficulties, it proved possible for the EU to negotiate with China on a transitional arrangement to cope with these.
Mr. Patten rightly points out the enormous economic potential of China in general, its role as a manufacturer of consumer goods and its attraction as a market for exports from the European Union and other sources. I would agree with him wholeheartedly that a prosperous and stable China is better for all than an impoverished and divided China. The article also refers to the EU arms embargo against China. I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of today.
Arms Trade.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:54 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his position regarding the lifting of the arms embargo with China; when this matter was last discussed with his EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26900/05]
The Government's position on the lifting of the embargo on arms sales to China is clear and has not changed. We support the lifting of the embargo but we do not wish to see any increase in the quantity or quality of arms exports to China. This position was set out by the Taoiseach during his visit to Beijing in January 2005, when he also explained the importance to Ireland and the EU of continued progress in the promotion and protection of human rights in China.
The European Council meeting on 16-17 June 2005 was the most recent occasion that the arms embargo was discussed with EU counterparts. The Council recalled the conclusions of its December 2004 meeting, welcomed the progress made to date on the revision of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and the so-called "Toolbox" and invited the Council to continue its work on that basis.
At its December 2004 meeting, the European Council had reaffirmed its political will to continue to work towards lifting the arms embargo while underlining that the result of any decision should not be an increase in arms exports from EU member states to China. The Council also recalled the importance of the EU code of conduct on arms exports, which has been in operation since 1998 and contains criteria for assessing such exports, including those relating to human rights, stability and security in the relevant region and the national security of friendly countries. The Council stressed the importance of the early adoption of a revised code of conduct, on which work is continuing and which will reinforce existing EU controls, and of a new instrument on arms exports known as the "Toolbox". This instrument is being developed by the EU and comprises a set of measures which may be applied to a country when an arms embargo against it has been lifted. Essentially, it will provide for a greater level of information sharing and enhanced transparency within the EU regarding arms exports to countries previously subject to an arms embargo. Discussions on the "Toolbox" continue at official level and are progressing well.
As the EU works towards lifting the arms embargo, it has also engaged in a dialogue on the issue at senior official level with key partners, including the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia. The EU approach was conveyed to Chinese Foreign Minister Li when he met the Troika of EU Foreign Ministers at the EU-China ministerial meeting held in Beijing from 11-12 May 2005. The lifting of the arms embargo was also among the issues discussed during the eighth EU-China Summit that took place in Beijing on 5 September.
The Government continues to examine this issue with our EU partners, in the context of our overall relationship with China, our ongoing commitment to human rights and the broader regional and international context. EU Ministers will resume consideration of a decision on lifting the embargo once technical work on revising the code of conduct has been completed. A decision to lift the embargo will require unanimous approval among member states.
Middle East Peace Process.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:55 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the withdrawal from Gaza as a first step or as an alternative to the roadmap for peace proposals of the quartet. [26844/05]
In common with our partners in the EU, the Government firmly believes that the quartet roadmap remains the best framework for the achievement of a lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The EU consistently welcomed Israel's plans for disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank, on the basis that it would represent a step in the renewal of efforts towards full implementation of the roadmap. The March 2004 European Council agreed that, if this were to be the case, withdrawal should take place in the context of the roadmap; that it should be a step towards a two-state solution; that it must not involve a transfer of settlement activity to the West Bank; that there must be an organised and negotiated handover of responsibility to the Palestinian Authority; and that Israel should facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza.
I have warmly welcomed the courage and commitment shown by the Government of Israel in ensuring that the initial phase of disengagement from Gaza proceeded peacefully, and ahead of schedule. I have also welcomed the determination of the Palestinian Authority to take full advantage of the opportunity presented by the withdrawal. It is important that the parties build on this progress and renew their efforts towards full implementation of the roadmap. They must maintain their efforts to reach agreement on the steps required under the Wolfensohn action plan, concerning free the movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza. It is in the interests of all parties that Gaza now has a real prospect of stability, security and economic recovery.
Diplomatic Representation.
David Stanton
Ceist:56 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has appointed a new honorary council to Ecuador if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26948/05]
I have approved the appointment of a new honorary consul in Ecuador. However, before the appointment can be confirmed, the formal agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities must be obtained. As soon as their agreement has been received, the appointment will proceed. Ireland's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has sought the agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities to the proposed appointment as honorary consul and is actively pursuing this matter with their Ecuadorian counterparts.
Middle East Peace Process.
Joe Sherlock
Ceist:57 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he proposes to take in order to ensure implementation of the International Court of Justice decision in relation to the illegal wall built in part on Palestinian territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26845/05]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:109 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the question of the security wall with his Israeli counterparts and also the question of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank; the Irish position on these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27060/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 109 together.
The advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 9 July 2004 on the construction of the wall on occupied Palestinian territory is not binding, but it represents a clear and authoritative statement of the position in international law. The Government believes that it must be respected. The Government, and its partners in the EU, have reaffirmed this position on many occasions. Ireland supported UN General Assembly Resolution ES/10/15 which was adopted by an overwhelming majority in response to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion.
The EU has consistently affirmed its position regarding the legality of Israel's actions in constructing the separation barrier, and in particular with regard to its route. We recognise absolutely Israel's right to provide for the security of its citizens, but the construction of the separation barrier on occupied territory represents an obstacle to the implementation of the quartet roadmap and therefore to the prospects for a peaceful and lasting settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I am also very concerned at its humanitarian and economic consequences, and the infringements of recognised principles of human rights for the Palestinian population.
On the issue of settlements, the Government has consistently taken the view that the transfer by an occupying power of its own population into occupied territory constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The establishment of settlements by the Israeli authorities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is contrary to international law. The Government has conveyed its concerns on these issues directly to the Israeli Government on many occasions. I raised them when I met Foreign Minister Shalom inJerusalem on 12 July.
At its most recent meeting at ministerial level, the international quartet noted with concern the route of the Israeli separation barrier, particularly as it results in the confiscation of Palestinian land, cuts off the movement of people and goods, and undermines Palestinians' trust in the roadmap process as it appears to prejudge the final borders of a Palestinian state.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council, which I attended in Luxembourg on 3 October, reiterated the grave concern of the EU at the ongoing expansion of settlements and the continuing construction of the separation barrier in occupied Palestinian territory. The Council reiterated the clear position that these activities form an obstacle to peace and threaten to make any solution based on the co-existence of two states physically impossible. It called on Israel to stop settlement expansion and to remove unauthorised outposts.
Question No. 58 answered with QuestionNo. 19.
International Terrorism.
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:59 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland is taking to assist in tackling international terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26901/05]
International co-operation is an essential element in the campaign against international terrorism. Ireland has played, and will continue to play, its full part in international efforts to defeat this scourge of our times. Of course, given that terrorism has the potential to affect almost every aspect of our lives, it is not possible to describe in detail every action undertaken by Ireland to confront it.
Ireland participates in the efforts of multilateral organisations, in particular those of the United Nations, the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, in their engagement against international terrorism. Ireland also plays its part in the counter-terrorist work undertaken by specialist international organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Maritime Organisation and the financial action task force of the OECD. In addition, Ireland maintains regular bilateral contacts on this issue with partners in Europe, North America and further afield. These contacts cover a wide-range of areas — diplomatic, legal, financial and law enforcement. They also include specialist contacts in areas such as aviation and transport security, document security, the security of the financial sector and emergency responses.
Ireland also implements the provisions of the principal Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism. Resolution 1373 was adopted by the Council in the immediate aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. As Ireland was a member of the Council at the time, it participated in the negotiations leading up to its adoption. The resolution requires states to introduce comprehensive financial and legislative measures with a view to developing their counter-terrorist capacity. Ireland reports on a regular basis to the Security Council's counter-terrorism committee in relation to its implementation of the required measures.
Resolution 1373 also calls on states to become parties to the 12 existing international conventions against terrorism. Ireland has met that ratification target. In addition, on 16 September last, while attending the United Nations General Assembly, I signed on behalf of Ireland, subject to ratification, the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. Ireland will also work hard at this session of the General Assembly to secure agreement on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism, including an agreed definition of terrorism.
Ireland also fulfils its obligations under Security Council Resolution 1267 and related resolutions, which are specifically directed against Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. Ireland reports to the 1267 sanctions committee on the implementation of those resolutions which cover, inter alia, the freezing of economic assets, travel bans and arms embargoes.
At the European Union level, Ireland has played a significant role in shaping the Union's reaction to terrorist outrages. Ireland held the EU Presidency at the time of the Madrid bombings in March 2004. Its co-ordination of the Union response led to the adoption of two documents that still shape and direct the Union's response to terrorism, the European Union declaration on combating terrorism and the revised EU plan of action on combating terrorism. The plan of action comprises 170 individual actions covering all aspects of the Union's activities. These actions have been adjusted and their time tables tightened as the need arises, for example, in response to the London bombings. Much of this work is undertaken by the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council. Ireland is represented on the Council by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who is, of course, responsible for many of the operational aspects of the fight against terrorism.
Other Ministers have particular responsibility for aspects of Ireland's counter-terrorist effort, for example, the Minister for Finance in countering the financing of terrorism, the Minister for Transport in ensuring the safety of the transport network, including transport by air, the Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources for travel at sea and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for civil protection. The Minister for Defence heads the Government task force on emergency planning, which is charged with overseeing the national response to possible terrorist attacks.
As well as contributing to international efforts to defeat terrorist attacks and counter the spread of terrorism, Ireland acts on the basis that it is insufficient to deal with the manifestations of terrorism alone and that it is also necessary to address the factors which contribute to its development. Ireland also operates on the basis that it is necessary to respect human rights at all times in the fight against terrorism.
Question No. 60 answered with QuestionNo. 52.
EU Membership.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:61 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding talks with Turkey on possible membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26874/05]
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:102 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress made by Turkey towards meeting the Copenhagen criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26907/05]
Seán Ryan
Ceist:114 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the position in relation to the Turkish application to join the European Union. [26859/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 102 and 114 together.
On Monday last, 3 October, the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, enabling the accession negotiations to open later that night. I very much welcome this development.
Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, which agreed that it was destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to the other candidate states. The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004, decided, on the basis of the Commission's report and recommendation, that Turkey sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria to enable the opening of accession negotiations. The Council therefore requested the Commission to begin work on a proposal for a negotiating framework and to present it to the Council, with a view to the opening of the accession negotiations on 3 October.
The shared objective of the negotiations is accession. It will be an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed in advance. The negotiations will be based on Turkey's own merits and the pace will depend on the country's progress in meeting requirements for membership. Given the financial consequences of Turkish accession, the framework makes clear that negotiations can only be concluded after the establishment of the financial framework for the period from 2014, together with possible consequential financial reforms. Throughout the negotiations, the Union will expect Turkey to sustain the process of reform which it has already begun, and to work towards further improvements, including in respect of the principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Parallel to the negotiations, the Union will also engage with Turkey in an intensive political and civil society dialogue with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding. The negotiating process will undoubtedly be lengthy and challenging. The Government, with our partners in the Union, looks forward to engaging positively with Turkey on the issues involved.
Diplomatic Representation.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:62 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland has withdrawn fully from commitments made to open diplomatic relations with Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26880/05]
As I stated in my reply to parliamentary questions on this issue on 8 March 2005, any decision to proceed with an exchange of ambassadors with Burma will have to await positive and significant moves by the Burmese Government. Ireland announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with Burma on 13 February 2004. However, given that the progress which had been anticipated in 2004, most notably the meeting of an open and unhindered national convention and the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, did not materialise, the Government decided to put on hold the exchange of ambassadors. The Government's continuing goal, and that of the EU, remains the release and restoration of liberty to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and others under house arrest, the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations, and the realisation of peace and prosperity for the long suffering people of Burma.
Question No. 63 answered with QuestionNo. 52.
Overseas Development Aid.
Phil Hogan
Ceist:64 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the recommendations of the Development Co-operation Ireland report on support for education in Uganda and Zambia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26906/05]
The report to which the Deputy refers, Working Together For Better Outcomes — A Public Expenditure Review of Development Co-operation Ireland's Support to Education in Uganda and Zambia 2000-03, was commissioned to provide the Oireachtas with an analytical overview of Ireland's expenditure in the education sectors in Zambia and Uganda for the years 2000-03, in the context of the public expenditure initiative.
I welcome this review. The management response to the report noted that a number of the recommended actions had either been implemented or were under active consideration prior to the publication of the report in July 2005. I am keenly aware of the need to ensure both effectiveness and value for money in Ireland's development assistance programme. This report is a timely and worthwhile contribution towards meeting these objectives and will inform our actions in this area in the future.
Departmental Contracts.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:65 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the circumstances in which a contractor that won the bid to provide a replacement system for the issue of passports, reported on by the Comptroller and Auditor General, was a consortium headed by the firm of consultants who had been engaged to conduct the initial review for his Department and which made the recommendation for a replacement system in relation to the cost of an automated passport system; if he is satisfied that normal tendering guidelines were complied with; if he will identify the contractor; the arrangements he will make in order that commercial contracts entered into by his Department will withstand public scrutiny and are at a fully arms length basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26828/05]
By the late 1990s, the systems in the Passport Office for processing applications were in urgent need of replacement. The technology was obsolete and in some cases no longer supported by the manufacturers. The Passport Office was reliant on a single engineer who had been involved in the original installation of the system to maintain it. The volume of passport applications had grown to the point where the system was overloaded, frequently breaking down and in danger of collapse. The Department was concerned that it was not in a position to provide the high level of service that citizens had a right to expect and that, in a worst case scenario, it might even be unable to issue travel documents in a timely manner to applicants.
KPMG Consulting, which was subsequently renamed and is currently trading under the name BearingPoint, was retained by the Department to review the operation of the passport service and make recommendations for its replacement. Its initial report was provided to the Department in March 1999 and a subsequent report in October 2000 provided an update on certain technical aspects.
The Department appointed a separate consultancy company to provide assistance on procurement matters and to prepare a request for tender, RFT. In order to guarantee fair competition, it was decided to include as much information as possible about the existing system, including the substance of the KPMG reports, in the RFT. The costs in the October 2000 report were accordingly described as outline costs which would provide a general overview of the cost of developing the new system. The specification in the RFT of the functional requirements for the new system was much more detailed and it was on this basis that the different tenders were submitted.
The Department consulted the Department of Finance, CMOD, at all stages, both to obtain sanction for the project and to ensure that appropriate procurement procedures were followed for this contract. The Department of Foreign Affairs is satisfied that sufficient information and time was available to the market to ensure fair competition.
In the event, 27 companies took part in the initial tender process and bids were received from six companies. The successful bid was presented by an international consortium, headed by BearingPoint as lead consortium member, and was the less expensive of two bids which were regarded as technically acceptable. The Department is satisfied that the procedures adopted in this case were fully in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines and followed close co-ordination with that Department. However, the Department is reviewing its procedures for future contracts in the light of the questions raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General and its experience with the project.
The new Irish passport is widely regarded as one of the most advances and secure travel documents in the world. It has been acknowledged by the US authorities as superb and is accepted as fully meeting the new security standards set by the US for visa waiver countries from October 2005. As the Deputy will appreciate, the security of travel documents has taken on even more importance in the post 11 September 2001 context.
Question No. 66 answered with QuestionNo. 37.
Question No. 67 answered with QuestionNo. 6.
Humanitarian Situations.
Liam Twomey
Ceist:68 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Sudan; the humanitarian assistance that is being made available to the affected regions in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26895/05]
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:84 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to assist humanitarian efforts in Darfur; if money pledged is being used exclusively for famine relief or for human rights assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26830/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:170 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27272/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 84 and 170 together.
I remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region of western Sudan. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a recent escalation in violence in west Darfur with attacks on internally displaced persons, IDPs, humanitarian workers and members of the African Union Mission in Sudan. These attacks have been widely condemned and underline the continuing vulnerability and humanitarian needs of the affected population in this region. On 3 October 2005 EU foreign ministers condemned these attacks, reiterated their deep concern at violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed against the civilian population in Darfur, and called on all sides to rein in their fighters, respect international law and find a peaceful solution to the conflict. More than two million people have been displaced from their homes, including some 200,000 across the border into Chad, as a result of the conflict in Darfur. These highly vulnerable populations are located in IDP and refugee camps run by international non-governmental organisations, the Red Cross movement and assisted by the UN.
The political and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region of Sudan remains a matter of the deepest concern for Ireland. Sustained international pressure needs to be exerted on all the parties to honour their commitments, improve the security situation and achieve a speedy political settlement. Ireland fully supports the African Union-mediated peace talks under way in Abuja, Nigeria. Ireland welcomes the decision of 31 March 2005 by the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Darfur since mid-2002 to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. This will mean that those accused by the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur of extremely serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law can now be brought to justice by this court, of which Ireland is a strong supporter.
I visited Darfur in April of this year and witnessed at first hand the effects of the conflict on the displaced population. I also met representatives of NGOs and UN agencies working in Darfur and was deeply impressed with the quality of the assistance which they are providing to the sizeable displaced population. I was also struck by the importance of providing a secure environment so that these displaced populations will be able to return safely to their homes.
My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, met the acting Foreign Minister of Sudan, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, in New York on 19 September 2005. The Minister, Deputy Ahern, stressed the importance which Ireland attaches to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the need for improvement of the security situation there and speedy conclusion of the political negotiations under way in Abuja between the government and the rebels.
Since 2004, Ireland has provided more than €8.8 million in emergency support to Darfur. This has been allocated to NGOs, including Concern, GOAL and Trócaire, and UN agencies. This funding is being channelled primarily to address humanitarian needs, particularly food security, nutrition and medical interventions. Ireland has committed €1.5 million since 2004 in support to the human rights, humanitarian and peace-building components of the African Union Mission in Sudan, AMIS.
With regard to the humanitarian situation in the rest of Sudan, more than 20 years of civil conflict has decimated the infrastructure and services of this vast country. The comprehensive peace agreement signed in Nairobi on 9 January 2005 provides new hope for the future of Sudan. The new Sudanese Government of National Unity, GNU, was established in July, when the new constitution came into effect, with Dr. John Garang as first Vice President. In addition to the major challenges of implementing the comprehensive peace agreement and reconstructing south Sudan, the new government will also have to resolve the conflict in Darfur and a recent outbreak of violence in eastern Sudan. Equitable sharing of power and wealth among Sudan's various tribal and regional groupings is the fundamental issue underlying these various conflicts.
The first major test of the GNU came when Dr. Garang was killed in a helicopter accident in southern Sudan on 30 July. However, the parties' reaction to the death of Dr. Garang revealed a remarkable capacity to recover from this major setback and a determination to maintain the peace process. Commander Salva Kiir Mayardit, the new leader of the SPLM, has been appointed as first Vice President. Both he and President Bashir have reiterated their commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement. Formation of the GNU was completed on 21 September 2005. The interim constitution for south Sudan has also been finalised and formation of the south Sudan Government is under way.
At the international donor conference on Sudan, which was held in Oslo on 11 and 12 April 2005, I made a pledge of €15 million in support from Ireland to Sudan over the period 2005 to 2007. Already in 2005, Ireland has committed some €8 million of its pledge in support to Sudan. Programming of the remainder of Ireland's support will be consistent with the UN's recovery and reconstruction plans for Sudan. Emergency and recovery funding support of €1.7 million for the south of Sudan has been provided in 2005, inter alia, to Concern, Trócaire, Médecins Sans Frontières, the UN world food programme and UNICEF. Ireland continues to attach considerable importance to supporting emergency humanitarian and recovery needs in Sudan.
Question No. 69 answered with QuestionNo. 19.
Question No. 70 answered with QuestionNo. 30.
Northern Ireland Issues.
Jack Wall
Ceist:71 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent spate of rioting by loyalists and attacks on Catholic communities in Northern Ireland throughout the summer of 2005; if he met loyalist and Unionist representatives to persuade them to use their influence to end these attacks; if he has met SDLP and Sinn Féin representatives in the areas concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26838/05]
The Government has been consistent in condemning all sectarian attacks. In the Good Friday Agreement, the parties and the two Governments affirmed the right of everyone to be free from sectarian harassment, and it is a key priority of the Government to see that this promise becomes a reality.
Where there are disputes with regard to parades, they can only be resolved through dialogue and positive engagement with the Parades Commission. We have seen what can be achieved with the main Orange Order march on 12 July in Derry this year where, for the first time in 13 years, cross-community agreement was sought and reached for a route, including the city side of the Foyle. It has shown that it is possible, through leadership and genuine commitment to constructive negotiation, to end damaging cycles of confrontation and, in time, begin new traditions of mutual respect.
With regard to the worrying pattern of sectarian attacks witnessed in recent months, my officials have been in constant contact with representatives of both communities to discuss their concerns. In addition, I made a number of visits to west Belfast and County Antrim to meet those directly affected by the recent violence. I also met separately representatives of the SDLP and Sinn Féin from these areas to hear their views on how best we can ensure that future incidents of this kind are prevented. I have also raised the issue in my discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and will do so again at the forthcoming meeting of the BIIGC.
This is a critical issue. A day of violence can undermine months of patient work to build trust between communities. It is essential that those with influence in their communities, in particular political leaders, exercise their influence to promote calm and restraint. If the people of Northern Ireland are to be free of fear and the threat of violence, it requires that all those who claim to lead do all in their power to prevent religious or sectarian violence continuously and without exception.
Humanitarian Situations.
Joan Burton
Ceist:72 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to assist humanitarian efforts in Niger; if he will provide a report on the situation in Niger compiled by the chairman of the Irish Red Cross following its recent visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26834/05]
Since 2004, an early end to the rains and desert locust damage to crops and pasture lands adversely affected pasture availability and cereal production in the Sahel region of west Africa. These events exacerbated existing poverty and vulnerability resulting in severe food shortages across a wide region, including in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania.
In response to the food crisis, Ireland provided funding support of €3 million in August 2005. This was allocated and disbursed to Ireland's non-governmental organisations and UN partners. Approved funding proposals included key NGOs, notably Concern, GOAL, Trócaire and the Irish Red Cross. Funding was also provided to UN partners, the World Food Programme and the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA. The Irish NGOs which received support are delivering feeding programmes which range from supplementary food distributions directed at the most vulnerable women and children to targeted community therapeutic feeding of moderately and severely malnourished children.
In addition to this funding, I asked Mr. David Andrews, chairman of the Irish Red Cross, to report on the findings of his visit to the region. He travelled there in August 2005 accompanied by an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Having assessed the situation, Mr. Andrews reported that the country suffers persistent food insecurity but that extreme food shortages this year were caused by a number of converging factors, particularly the early end to the rains in 2004 which depressed agricultural yields, escalating food prices and an invasion of locusts in some areas. Mr. Andrews estimated that 3.5 million people were in need of emergency food assistance and between 1 million and 2 million people were classed as extremely vulnerable and requiring food assistance urgently.
Mr. Andrews also suggested that the international community establish a global fund to tackle food crises more effectively. I have been very supportive of this proposal and have had a number of discussions with our partner governments and the UN aimed at developing such a fund. These discussions have focused on the proposed reforms of the UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund, CERF, to provide UN agencies with access to immediate grant funds, facilitating emergency interventions before crises worsen and directing funds equitably to forgotten crises. In support of this key initiative, Ireland is willing to make a significant pledge to such a reformed and reinforced fund when it is established.
According to the latest information from the region, 5.1 million people are affected by the food crisis across the Sahel region, including Niger. Harvest prospects are now being described as favourable. However, Niger remains vulnerable to repeated crises of food insecurity and malnutrition owing to high household indebtedness and structural poverty. With regard to the particular circumstances prevailing in the region, I can assure the Deputy that the humanitarian situation will continue to be kept under close and ongoing review over the coming period.
Residency Applications.
Joe Costello
Ceist:73 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the application by a person (details supplied) to reside here in view of the further deterioration of that person’s position over the summer of 2005; his likely response to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26850/05]
I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and I share the widely held concerns about it. The person concerned was placed under a number of restrictions as a condition of his release from prison in 2004 at the end of the prison sentence which he had served. These restrictions include a prohibition on leaving Israel, and on contacting the media and foreign governments. I understand that the person concerned is still awaiting the outcome of proceedings brought against him in December 2004 relating to breaches of the conditions under which he was released. However, I also understand that the authorities have recently returned computers to him which were confiscated at that time.
The Government has consistently taken the view that the person concerned should not be subjected to the restrictions which were imposed, and the Government of Israel is aware of this position. However, the restrictions have been the subject of judicial review by the Israeli Supreme Court, which concluded that they are not incompatible with the Israeli Government's obligations in respect of its citizens. I do not believe that the Israeli Government is likely to reverse its decision in this matter. In the absence of such a development, the issue raised by the Deputy will not arise. The Government will continue to monitor the situation.
Question No. 74 answered with QuestionNo. 13.
International Summits.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:75 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the outcome of the G8 summit in Scotland; his further views on whether the decision of the G8 to double aid for Africa is sufficient in itself to eliminate poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26832/05]
The summit meeting of the G8 on 6 and 8 July addressed a number of important issues, some of which have particular relevance for international development. In particular, I warmly welcome the decision to double aid for Africa by 2010. Taken together with the decision of the European Union to devote 0.56% of its gross national income, GNI, to official development assistance by 2010 and to reach the UN target of 0.7% of GNI by 2015, this will mean a substantial increase in resources available for developing countries.
Each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and it will be recalled that the African leaders who attended the G8 summit discussions reaffirmed their commitment to drive forward plans to reduce poverty and promote economic growth; deepen transparency and good governance; strengthen democratic institutions and processes; show zero tolerance for corruption; remove all obstacles to intra-African trade; and bring about lasting peace and security across the continent.
Ireland and other donor countries, for their part, recognise that the quality of aid is an important factor, as well as its volume, in addressing the problems of poverty. The quality of Ireland's development co-operation programme has been internationally recognised and I intend to ensure that this high standard is maintained and developed. We are also working with other donor countries in the OECD to improve the standard of aid effectiveness.
The G8 has announced that all the debts owed by eligible heavily indebted poor countries, HIPC, to the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the IMF will be cancelled. This agreement represents significant progress towards solving the problem of the debt burden on poor countries, a problem which has hitherto proved intractable. The Minister for Finance has indicated that Ireland will be prepared to pay its share of the costs involved for the World Bank. Ireland's official policy calls for debt cancellation for all HIPC countries and we will continue to work towards that end.
Foreign Conflicts.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:76 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the position in Afghanistan, particularly the security situation in the nation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26864/05]
Pat Breen
Ceist:112 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political, humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26872/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 112 together.
The security situation in Afghanistan remains a matter of serious concern. Up to six people were killed on Tuesday last when a bomb exploded at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some 31 suspected Taliban militants and four government troops were reported killed last weekend during fighting near the Pakistani border. On 28 September 2005, at least 12 people were killed and 36 others injured outside an army base in Kabul in what is believed to have been a suicide bombing. This followed other recent suicide bombings.
However, the successful holding of provincial and parliamentary elections on 18 September was a very positive development that was welcomed by the EU. The EU statement noted that the Afghan people had shown once again their clear support for a democratic future. It saluted the courage of the thousands of people who had put themselves forward as candidates, despite intimidation and threats to their lives, and of the millions of Afghans who had exercised their freedom to vote. The statement added that the turnout and generally peaceful nature of the elections were a testament to the determination of the Afghan people to see their country succeed.
These elections, following on from last year's presidential elections, are a very important milestone on Afghanistan's journey towards democracy. The elections presented a significant logistical, security and political challenge and the initial indications are that the polling was generally conducted peacefully and that the elections were well organised and fair. The participation of large numbers of female candidates and voters was especially positive. Counting of ballots is in progress at the 32 counting centres and partial results are expected soon.
The joint electoral management body, JEMB, an independent body set up to administer and oversee the electoral process during Afghanistan's transition period, issued an election day report on 26 September. This indicated that while irregularities certainly occurred, as is inevitable in a post-conflict situation, there was so far nothing to suggest a systematic problem or orchestrated attempt to defraud the electoral process.
The EU provided significant support to the electoral process, including financial assistance and the contribution of the largest international election observation mission, headed by Ms Emma Bonino. Ireland funded the participation of an Irish observer in the EU mission. Seven members of the Irish Defence Forces have also been taking part in the UN mandated international security assistance force in Afghanistan.
A key element in restoring stability and security to Afghanistan is the disarmament and demobilisation of irregular militia forces. Since I last updated the Dáil on 2 June 2005 on the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process, the disarmament and demobilisation components of the process have been completed. Of the almost 63,000 former combatants who have handed in their weapons, 60,646 have entered or completed the reintegration phase in preparation for a new civilian life. Large numbers of weapons and considerable amounts of ammunition also have been collected and secured in guarded compounds.
Ireland has been providing development and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan both prior to and following the events of 11 September 2001. Since January 2000, Ireland has allocated more than €28 million in funding for programmes in Afghanistan. This aid is channelled through UN and international agencies and partner NGOs working to deliver services locally. A core focus of Ireland's support is to assist the Afghan Government and Afghan civil society to meet the priority objectives set out in the national development framework, NDF, for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan clearly still faces many challenges in the period ahead and will continue to need the support of the international community. Ireland, together with our partners in the European Union, remains committed to a democratic Afghanistan and we look forward to working with the new parliament to ensure peace and prosperity in the country.
Question No. 77 answered with QuestionNo. 28.
Phil Hogan
Ceist:78 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current political and security situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26869/05]
Developments in Iraq this year to date have been characterised by significant progress on the political front but against a background of continuing large scale violence and loss of life.
Following the democratic elections on 30 January, the new transitional Iraqi Government under Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jafaari was formed at the beginning of May. It included representatives of all the major groups in the assembly, including six Sunni ministers. A lengthy negotiating process in the assembly throughout the summer resulted in the adoption of a draft constitution at the end of August. This has been endorsed by the representatives of the Shia and Kurdish communities but has not yet been approved by any of the parties representing the Sunni community. In accordance with the political process mapped out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, the new constitution will be put to the people in a referendum on 15 October.
The UN has reported that preparations for the referendum, which are being overseen by the independent electoral commission of Iraq, are now largely complete. The Deputy will be aware of the concerns which were expressed by the UN following the adoption by the transitional national assembly on 2 October of a resolution regarding the referendum law. I welcome the decision by the assembly yesterday to withdraw the resolution. I believe it is important for the credibility of the constitutional referendum that it is based on an electoral framework which meets international standards.
If the referendum is approved, new elections will be held in December for a fully sovereign assembly and government. Winning the support or consent of the Sunni community for the new political structures in Iraq remains an important priority, not least in the interest of bringing an end to the current campaign of violence. Nonetheless, I believe it is important that we recognise that the political developments of recent months represent significant political progress. Political leaders in Iraq are to be congratulated on their courage and their commitment to a democratic future for their country. I hope that all Iraqi citizens will engage in the political process and exercise their vote in the referendum this month.
Against this background of progress, however, the security situation continues to give rise to serious concern. Large-scale violence continues across a significant area of central Iraq. In recent months there has been a sustained and lethal campaign directed at the Shia and Kurdish populations. The Government and its partners in the EU have strongly condemned these attacks, which have included a series of suicide and car bomb attacks aimed at innocent people in the vicinity of markets, mosques and police stations. The aim of the attacks seems to be to cause maximum loss of life and to create chaos by dividing the communities in Iraq.
The continuing violence is severely hampering the efforts of the Iraqi Government to rebuild its society and economy following three major conflicts, a decade of international isolation and almost three decades of brutal dictatorship. The EU will continue to support the Iraqi government in its efforts, including through significant support for reconstruction, training in Europe for police and criminal justice system officers, and expert support for the political process. The Government and its partners in the EU remain determined to help the people of Iraq as they work to build a democratic, prosperous and peaceful society, based on respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Northern Ireland Issues.
Liz McManus
Ceist:79 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if negotiations under way with political parties in Northern Ireland towards the re-establishment of the institutions created under the Good Friday Agreement are proceeding on the basis of the December 2004 comprehensive agreement; the status of the comprehensive agreement at present; if the changes it proposed, inter alia, in the functioning of the Executive and the assembly remain the basis on which negotiations are proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26840/05]
The proposals for a comprehensive agreement, published by the two Governments on 8 December 2004 covered the key issues that must be resolved to finally and definitively assure peace and political stability in Northern Ireland, as the Taoiseach said at that time. They were made public to clarify the context within which the Governments had been working with the parties in Northern Ireland with a view to facilitating the restoration of partnership government and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
As the Deputy is aware, it did not prove possible to reach agreement on the proposals in December 2004. The primary reasons for this were the fact that the IRA was unwilling to commit itself to ending criminal activity clearly and definitively and the lack of consensus on the transparency elements of the decommissioning process.
Furthermore, developments in the immediate aftermath of the publication of the proposals such as the Northern Bank robbery and the murder of Robert McCartney meant that the context within which there could be any renewed engagement with the parties on proposals to restore the institutions no longer existed. It was clear at that time that it would not be possible to make further progress until that context changed. The Government underlined this point in its meeting with Sinn Féin on 25 January.
More recently, however, there have been a number of significant positive developments, in particular the IRA statement of 28 July announcing an end to its armed campaign and the welcome report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning on 26 September confirming that the IRA had put all of its weapons beyond use. These developments clearly represent important progress toward the restoration of an appropriate context within which engagement with the political parties can take place to secure a basis for the full operation of the institutions of the agreement. We hope that the IMC reports to be submitted to both Governments later this month and in January 2006 will further enhance the prospects for productive re-engagement.
Given that agreement was not reached on the proposals for a comprehensive agreement in December, they cannot be said to have formal standing. However the package published at that time represents the outcome of the most recent negotiations on the restoration of partnership government. As such, it remains an important reference point for future consultation and engagement with all political parties in Northern Ireland once the necessary conditions are in place.
Question No. 80 answered with QuestionNo. 50.
International Agreements.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:81 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the United States will become a signatory to the charter of the International Criminal Court at any point during the period of the current US Administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26894/05]
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court entered into force on 1 July 2002 and to date has been ratified or acceded to by 99 states. An additional 44 states have signed the statute, subject to ratification.
The United States of America signed the Statute of the International Criminal Court in December 2000. However, in May 2002 the US informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that it did not intend to become party to the statute and that it accordingly had no obligations arising from its signature.
In August 2002 the US Congress adopted the American Service Members' Protection Act placing restrictions on the extent to which the United States can co-operate with the ICC. The US also has a series of bilateral non-surrender agreements with states which seek to prevent the surrender of US personnel to the Court. No EU member state is party to such an agreement. In December 2004 Congress adopted the Nethercutt amendment which authorises the loss of certain economic aid to countries which have ratified the ICC statute but have not signed a bilateral immunity agreement with the United States.
The US objects to the ICC principally on the basis that the independence of the ICC prosecutor endangers US citizens, particularly US military forces, to politically motivated prosecutions before the court. I am not aware of any change or likely change in US policy as regards the International Criminal Court.
As I have stated on previous occasions, while I recognise the concerns of the United States, I do not share them. The jurisdiction of the ICC is complementary to national jurisdictions, meaning that the court will become involved in a case only where a state with jurisdiction over a crime is unwilling or unable to carry out a genuine investigation or prosecution. The Rome Statute contains strong and carefully drafted safeguards to prevent politically motivated prosecutions.
This view is shared by our EU partners. Approaches have been made to the US on behalf of the EU, outlining the EU position on the court and urging US support for it. In addition, the EU Council conclusions on the ICC of 30 September 2002 recall the shared objective of the EU and the US of individual accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and call for a broader dialogue between the EU and US on all matters relating to the ICC.
I reiterate my hope that, in time, the International Criminal Court will come to enjoy universal support. It is in the interest of each and every state that the most heinous crimes of international concern do not go unpunished. As the United Nations Secretary General stated when the Rome Statute was adopted in July 1998, the ICC is a gift of hope to future generations and a giant step forward in the march towards universal human rights and the rule of law. The Government is committed to the effective functioning of the court and support efforts to ensure the widest possible ratification and implementation of its statute.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:82 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support a legally binding international arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26910/05]
I support the principle of having legally binding international agreements on the control of arms exports, with as wide a participation as possible. This is particularly important with respect to small arms and light weapons, which are responsible for widespread death and injury. Ireland is committed to working with others to ensure that the international community deals with the illicit trafficking of such weapons effectively. In this context, Ireland actively participated in the United Nations negotiations, which concluded last June with agreement on an international instrument to regulate the marking and tracing of small arms and light weapons.
Ireland has also taken an active interest in the initiative taken by a number of non-governmental organisations concerning a proposed international arms trade treaty, ATT. Officials from this Department participated in a number of international meetings during which the proposed ATT has been discussed. During Ireland's Presidency of the EU last year we placed this issue on the agenda of the relevant working group in Brussels for initial discussion.
EU foreign ministers discussed the issue of the ATT at an informal meeting last month. Following on from those discussions, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, at a meeting on 3 October, acknowledged the growing support throughout the world for an international treaty to establish common standards for the global trade in conventional arms. It also agreed that binding standards, consistent with the existing responsibilities of states under relevant international law, would be critical in tackling proliferation which is undesirable and irresponsible and which undermines peace, security, development, and full respect for human rights in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world. It further agreed that the United Nations was the only forum that could deliver a truly universal instrument and called for the start of a formal process at the UN at the earliest opportunity.
The Council encouraged all states, regional organisations and multilateral institutions to join the growing international consensus for action in this area. It also expressed the view that the EU should play an active role in this process, together with like-minded states and regional organisations, and that due consideration should be given to other relevant initiatives, including the 2006 review conference of the UN programme of action to prevent combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. The Government is fully supportive of this approach and looks forward to working with others within the framework of the UN to develop a comprehensive instrument based on universally accepted norms and standards.
Foreign Conflicts.
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:83 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and security situation in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26905/05]
As the Deputy will be aware, Kosovo has been under UN administration since the end of the conflict in June 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The head of the UN interim administration mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, has been working closely with the provisional institutions of self-government to encourage the implementation of a wide-ranging reform process, based on European standards, in advance of the consideration of the constitutional status of Kosovo. The EU supports the priority which UNMIK has established for early progress on these reforms which most directly affect the security and rights of minority communities.
The UN Secretary General appointed a special representative, Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, to prepare a comprehensive review of the implementation of reforms based on European standards. If the review is positive, it will be followed by the opening of a process to agree the constitutional status of Kosovo, which will be facilitated by the international community. Earlier this week, Ambassador Eide submitted his report to the UN Secretary General who is expected to forward it to the Security Council together with recommendations in the near future.
The EU has given a clear commitment that the long-term future of the western Balkans region, including Kosovo, rests within the European Union and has reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo which contributes to the stability of the region and adheres to the values and standards of the EU. In the period ahead, together with our EU partners, we will continue to work in co-operation with the United Nations, with the governments of the region and with the US and other international partners towards the achievement of this objective.
The security situation is now calm, but it remains tense. I pay tribute to the work of KFOR, the UN-mandated peacekeeping force in Kosovo, and especially to the contribution of the 210 Irish troops serving with the force, in ensuring security and stability in often difficult circumstances.
Question No. 84 answered with QuestionNo. 68.
Consultancy Contracts.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:85 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the circumstances in which a single contractor was paid an amount of €920,220 in respect of road transport services associated with the EU Presidency and reported on by the Comptroller and Auditor General, while a further sum of €45,166 was paid to the same contractor charged to press and information; the reason normal tendering guidelines were not complied with; if he will identify the contractor; the criteria in which a contractor with expertise in road transport services was adjudged to also have expertise in press and information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26827/05]
The sum of €920,220 was paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs to Murray's Chauffeur Drive Limited for transport services provided in connection with meetings and other events which took place in Ireland during the EU Presidency in 2004. A further sum of €45,166 was paid to the same company by the press section of the Department for transport services provided in connection with the attendance of the national and international media at Presidency related events.
The company in question was chosen through a negotiated tendering procedure which was launched in October 2003. A notice seeking expressions of interest was issued to six transport providers. Three proposals were received and two companies were shortlisted and invited to interview. The interview panel comprised representatives of the corporate services and protocol divisions of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Garda Síochána. After considering factors of cost, management skills, personnel, capacity, capability, experience and quality of service, the interview committee reached a unanimous decision on the award of the contract.
The decision to proceed by way of a negotiated tender was taken following the conclusion of negotiations on transport sponsorship for the Presidency, a new departure for the Department during this Presidency. Following long and complex negotiations, an offer of sponsorship for transport was confirmed and accepted in October 2003. Until this sponsorship was agreed, the Department's additional transport needs for the Presidency were not known. In view of the time constraints and the absolute need to have transport arrangements in place at the start of the Presidency, the Department felt it had no option but to proceed with a negotiated tender. Sponsorship of various aspects of the Presidency ultimately resulted in an overall saving of approximately €3.5 million. Of that amount, the value of transport sponsorship was an estimated €1.8 million.
Humanitarian Situations.
Pat Breen
Ceist:86 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the support being given to the African Union mission in the Darfur region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26908/05]
The Government fully supports the African Union's crucial role in resolving the ongoing political, security and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, including the very valuable work of its observer mission, AMIS, in addressing the security situation. Where AMIS has been deployed in Darfur a marked reduction in violence has followed. In April, the AU decided to expand AMIS from 3,200 to more than 7,700 personnel by the end of September, and approximately 5,500 are deployed. However, owing to serious logistical and management constraints, full deployment of the additional military personnel will not be completed until 22 October and deployment of two additional civilian police contingents has been postponed.
The fact that in May 2005 US$300 million was pledged at a donors' conference in Addis Ababa to assist with the planned expansion of AMIS demonstrates the international community's confidence in the African Union's efforts to try and resolve the Darfur conflict. However, despite these pledges a funding gap of €140 million exists and the AU has appealed urgently for additional support.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed on 23 May that the EU should lend all possible support to AMIS's military, police and civilian efforts to address the crisis in Darfur and a specific package of assistance, focusing on logistical and planning support, was outlined by high representative Solana at the subsequent donors' conference in Addis Ababa. Ireland was also represented at the Addis Ababa meeting and pledged to provide additional financial support as part of the overall EU package. When I met UN Secretary General Annan in New York on 2 June I informed him that Ireland would contribute an additional €1 million to support the expanded AMIS operation. This funding is additional to €500,000 for the humanitarian and human rights elements of AMIS which Ireland provided last year. The Government has also made available an officer from the Permanent Defence Forces, Lieutenant Colonel, to serve as a logistics planner in supporting the expansion of AMIS. An Army officer served as an EU observer with the AMIS mission up to June 2005.
At the June General Affairs and External Relations Council, Ministers approved a joint action by the European Union providing civilian and military support to AMIS in such areas as police, planning, logistics, strategic and tactical airlift, training and equipment. Ministers also approved the appointment of Mr. PekkaHaavisto, a former Minister from Finland, as EU special representative for Sudan. A total of €2.12 million has been allocated from the 2005 EU budget for this joint action. The EU will also provide €92 million from the Africa Peace Facility, APF, for AMIS and is considering an AU request for a further €70 million.
In addition to the EU's funding, much of the equipment and airlifting required by the AU is being provided and funded bilaterally by EU partners. NATO is also providing logistical support to AMIS. Ireland's support to AMIS is additional to the €15 million pledged for Sudan over the period 2005 to 2007, €8 million of which has already been committed. This funding is being used to meet immediate needs such as food security, return of the displaced and basic education and will also begin to address the country's long-term development needs.
I met with the acting Foreign Minister of Sudan, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, in New York on 19 September 2005. I stressed the importance which Ireland attaches to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the need for improvement of the security situation there and speedy conclusion of the political negotiations under way in Abuja between the Government and the rebels. Minister Ismail gave an optimistic assessment of the humanitarian situation in Darfur and the general political and security situation in Sudan, including the Abuja talks.
Michael Ring
Ceist:87 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Liberia; the amount of humanitarian assistance being given by the Government to this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26893/05]
While Liberia has made remarkable progress since the comprehensive peace agreement of August 2003, it still faces the major challenges of a successful return to democracy and sustaining the peace process. Parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for 11 October 2005. These elections will mark the return of a constitutional democracy to Liberia after 14 years of civil war. The EU is fielding an election observation mission, with Irish participation. More than 1.35 million voters have been registered.
Following a decision on 28 September by the Liberian Supreme Court to allow three independent presidential candidates, previously barred by the National Election Commission, to stand in the polls, there were fears that the election date may be postponed. However it has since been confirmed that the elections will go ahead as planned on 11 October following the withdrawal of the three candidates. This allows compliance with the comprehensive peace agreement which requires the holding of elections in October 2005 and transfer of power to the newly elected Government in January 2006.
The security situation in Liberia is stable. This owes much to the United Nations mission in Liberia, which was established on 19 September 2003 by UN Security Council Resolution 1509. The Irish contingent comprises a motorised infantry battalion of some 410 personnel, together with six additional personnel deployed at force headquarters. Our personnel have been widely commended for the professionalism of their work.
In addition to our peacekeeping role, earlier this year Ireland established a development co-operation office in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is also responsible for the delivery of humanitarian and development support to Liberia. At the international donor conference on Liberia in February 2004, Ireland pledged €5 million from 2004 to 2006 towards the recovery and reconstruction needs of Liberia. This pledge has already been met. Ireland has contributed €1 million to the disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme in Liberia. This is particularly important as conditions for a lasting peace remain fragile so long as the reintegration of ex-combatants and retirement of ex-soldiers has not been completed.
On 9 September 2005, Liberia's national transitional Government, NTGL, signed a far-reaching plan to combat corruption, called the governance and economic management assistance programme, GEMAP, which had been agreed with the donor community. Effective implementation of this programme would greatly contribute to Liberia's national recovery efforts and help it meet the requirements for lifting of Security Council sanctions regarding the export of timber and diamonds.
Foreign Conflicts.
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:88 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens living in Afghanistan; if records will indicate their safety and security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26851/05]
The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of 29 Irish citizens, including seven Irish troops serving with the International Security Assistance Force contingent living and working in Afghanistan. The personnel concerned, who also include 14 people with dual Irish and other citizenship, work mainly with non-governmental and international organisations.
There is a standing arrangement, provided for in the treaties on the European Union, whereby citizens of any EU country may seek consular assistance from embassies of other EU member states in countries where that country does not have a resident mission. In this regard, there is a particular arrangement in place in Kabul for Irish citizens with the British Embassy. Given the dangerous security situation there, the Department is advising strongly against non-essential travel to Kabul, and against all travel to other parts of Afghanistan.
Question No. 89 answered with QuestionNo. 52.
Question No. 90 answered with QuestionNo. 34.
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:91 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26870/05]
The major priority in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, continues to be the organisation of national elections early next year which will mark the culmination of the transition process inaugurated by the 2002 Sun City peace accords. These local, legislative and presidential elections are expected to take place between March and May 2006. Voter registration is under way, with 13.6 million people already registered out of an estimated potential electorate of 20 million. A referendum on the draft constitution approved by the transitional national assembly last May is planned before the end of this year.
The successful holding of national elections in the DRC, the first in over 40 years, will be a major undertaking. Substantial international support will be required for the elections which are likely to cost in the region of US$400 million to organise. These elections are important, not only for the future stability and democratic development of the DRC but also for ensuring peace and security throughout the Great Lakes region as a whole. The EU and its member states have made substantial contributions in support of the electoral process with the European Commission alone pledging some €150 million. I was pleased to be able to announce a national contribution of €500,000 by Ireland in support of the DRC electoral process during my recent meeting with the Foreign Minister of the DRC, Mr. Raymond Ramazani Baya, at the UN General Assembly.
During my meeting with Mr. Ramazani Baya, I urged the DRC Government to accelerate progress towards completion of the transition process, including the speedy adoption of an electoral law to govern the forthcoming elections. We also discussed the security situation in eastern DRC which remains serious and the need to complete disarmament of the remaining armed militia groups which continue to pose a serious threat there. The DRC Government and armed forces work in close conjunction with MONUC, the UN peacekeeping mission, to confront the armed militias groups and hasten their disarmament. The problem which these militia groups pose has been compounded in recent weeks by the arrival of 300 or 400 Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, rebels from northern Uganda. Both MONUC and the Congolese army deserve the support of the international community for their efforts. I hope the UN Security Council will consider favourably Mr. Annan's recent request for an additional 2,600 troops to enhance MONUC's capacity for supporting disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants.
The DRC Government also needs to hasten progress in the area of security sector reform, particularly with regard to completing the creation of a fully integrated national army and police force and effectively establishing its authority throughout the DRC. This is particularly important if a secure environment is to be created for the holding of national elections. The EU actively supports the process of security sector reform in the DRC through deployment of two EU missions. EUPOL offers advice and mentoring to the integrated police unit, IPU, in Kinshasa which the EU has helped establish. Ireland has contributed €75,000 towards the costs of establishing the IPU. A second mission, EUSEC DRC, comprises a small planning team to advise key government ministries in the DRC on all issues related to security sector reform. EUSEC DRC has made considerable progress in its work and plays a particularly important role in identifying ways to improve administration and command throughout the DRC army and ensure proper payment and rationing of troops.
It is equally important, however, that neighbouring countries, in particular, Uganda and Rwanda, do all they can to end the threat posed by the armed militia groups in eastern DRC, support completion of the transition in the DRC and improve bilateral relations throughout the region. The regional dimension to the conflict remains crucial and underlines the importance of the Great Lakes conference process, the second summit of which will take place in Nairobi in December. Ireland is an active member of the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes which supports the conference process and was represented by Minister of State Lenihan at a recent ministerial meeting in New York to discuss preparations for the second summit.
EU Membership.
Dan Neville
Ceist:92 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Turkey will recognise the Republic of Cyprus as part of the negotiations on EU membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26922/05]
On 29 July this year, as part of the preparations for the opening of Turkey EU accession negotiations and in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, Turkey signed the Ankara Agreement Protocol to take account of the accession of the new member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time however, Turkey also issued a declaration stating that its signature, ratification and implementation of the protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
In response to this declaration, on 21 September the EU agreed and issued a counter-declaration recalling the status of the Republic of Cyprus as a member state of the EU. The counter-declaration noted that recognition of all member states, including Cyprus, is a necessary component of the accession process and underlined the importance the Union attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all member states as soon as possible. The EU negotiating framework for the Turkish accession negotiations, which opened on 3 October, reiterated the importance of progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.
Humanitarian Situations.
Joe Costello
Ceist:93 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the reported ongoing failure to stem the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in South Africa; the help which Ireland offers on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26849/05]
South Africa is one of the most highly affected countries in the world with regard to HIV and AIDS and prevalence rates stand at 21.5% of the adult population. At the end of 2003, with an estimated 5.3 million people living with HIV and AIDS, South Africa had the largest number of individuals living with the virus in a single country. Women contract the virus at a much earlier age than their male counterparts and constitute more than 50% of those infected.
The Government of South Africa adopted a national comprehensive HIV-AIDS care, management and treatment plan in August 2003. This plan set ambitious targets, including a target of 53,000 people on treatment by the end of March 2005. By the end of 2004, this figure was surpassed, with 20,000 people on treatment at 50 public sector facilities and an estimated 45,000 in the private sector. Uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services has more than doubled since the launch of the programme.
It is widely acknowledged that given the scale of the problem in South Africa, the key challenge for the HIV-AIDS programme and the comprehensive plan is to accelerate the pace of implementation. Lack of human resource capacity in most provinces has been a severe constraint. The slow pace of implementation has been a source of tension between the Government and civil society.
Ireland has provided funding assistance to the struggle against HIV-AIDS in South Africa since 1995. Our funding for the period 2004 to 2006 will be more than €6 million and is directed at preventing the spread of HIV and reducing its impact. The programme is implemented by the South African Government and civil society organisations. The programme spans a number of different activities including behaviour change programmes for young people; community outreach programmes to build skills of marginalised young men and women; provision of home-based care for those terminally ill patients with AIDS; training of health workers in AIDS treatment and care; support for children orphaned by AIDS and support to provincial and district health offices for the delivery of HIV services.
We will continue to work with the Government of South Africa and civil society partners to ensure a co-ordinated, accelerated and more focused response to the HIV-AIDS pandemic which prioritises prevention, particularly among young men and women and addresses the underlying causes of the spread of the pandemic, which are poverty, gender inequality and social exclusion.
Nuclear Disarmament.
John Perry
Ceist:94 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding negotiations between the EU3 and Iran on nuclear proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26909/05]
Negotiations between the EU3 and Iran are suspended following Iran's decision of 8 August 2005 to recommence conversion of uranium at its Isfahan facility. This action was in breach of the Paris Agreement signed by Iran and the EU3, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in November 2004. Under this agreement, Iran, inter alia, reaffirmed that it did not and would not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and committed itself to full transparency and co-operation with the IAEA. Iran, moreover, decided voluntarily to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing activities and to invite the IAEA to verify and to monitor the suspension. In return the EU3 agreed to commence negotiations, with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on long-term arrangements in the areas of political and security issues, technology and co-operation and nuclear issues.
At the board of governors meeting at the IAEA last month the EU3 co-sponsored a resolution that found Iran to be non-compliant with the agency's statute and reserved the right to refer Iran to the UN Security Council at a future date. Iran has been urged, inter alia, to re-establish full and sustained suspension of uranium conversion and to implement transparency measures, including providing IAEA officials with access to documentation relating to its nuclear programme and also of access to facilities. The resolution also requested the director general of the IAEA to continue his efforts to implement the resolution and previous resolutions and to report back to the board of governors on any developments on issues raised in his September report. On the basis of this future report the board of governors will decide on what further action should be taken with regard to Iran.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council noted earlier this week that the resolution had given Iran the opportunity, through its actions, to influence the international community's next steps and urged Iran to take this opportunity by implementing all the measures requested by the IAEA board. Furthermore, the Council reaffirmed its support for a diplomatic solution and resumption of negotiations within the framework in the Paris Agreement. The Council agreed that such a solution would help create the climate for a better relationship with Europe and the international community as a whole. As I made clear in my statement to the United Nations General Assembly on 19 September, Ireland is fully supportive of the leadership of the EU3 in this matter.
Northern Ireland Issues.
Liz McManus
Ceist:95 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent decommissioning of weapons by the Provisional IRA; his further views on whether it is likely that loyalist paramilitary organisations such as the UVF, UDA, and LVF will reciprocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26839/05]
The announcement last week that the IRA had put all of its arms beyond use is a victory for the democratic process. That many of us had hoped that this positive development would have occurred sooner does not detract from its significance. We now look forward to confirmation by the Independent Monitoring Commission, in its reports scheduled for October and January, that all paramilitary and criminal activity by the IRA has finished.
We also look forward to, and emphasise the importance of, the placing of arms beyond use by loyalist paramilitaries. In this regard, the IICD report stated last week that its work will not have been completed until the issue of loyalist arms, as well as arms in the possession of other paramilitary groups is dealt with. All who are in a position to encourage this process should take every opportunity to do so.
The Deputy will be aware that representatives of the UVF and the UFF have had discussions in the past with the IICD with regard to the modalities of decommissioning. The IICD reported that the LVF decommissioned a quantity of arms in December 1998. The organisations in question have repeatedly stated that they could only fully address the issue of arms in a context of reciprocation from the IRA. Taken together, the IRA statement of 28 July and the decommissioning process completed last week now place a heavy responsibility on the various loyalist groups to put their arms beyond use.
Human Rights Issues.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:96 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent events whereby a US soldier has been found guilty of abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26843/05]
The Government strongly and repeatedly condemned the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq when they came to light. Our concerns were conveyed directly to the US authorities. The Taoiseach raised the issue with President Bush at the EU-US summit at Dromoland Castle in June 2004, during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. Once the situation became clear, the US authorities committed themselves to ending the abuse of prisoners in Iraq and to bringing the perpetrators to justice. In keeping with that commitment, a number of US service personnel have been convicted and sentenced by military courts. If any further evidence of abuse comes to light, I would expect that similar action will result. I would not wish to comment on the individual cases of persons charged in these incidents.
Question No. 97 answered with QuestionNo. 15.
Northern Ireland Issues.
Jack Wall
Ceist:98 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a copy of the 14th report of the policing oversight commissioner; his views on whether the support for policing remains the best way of achieving a peaceful and lawful society in the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26837/05]
The 14th report of the Oversight Commissioner documents the solid progress that has been made towards the full implementation of the Patten report. Some 65% of the Patten recommendations have been fully implemented. The oversight commissioner praises the efforts made by the main institutions of policing in making a new beginning.
Of crucial importance is the manner in which the reforms are making a real difference to the way policing is delivered locally. Complaints against the police have dropped by almost 20% in the past four years, with a corresponding drop in the proportion of complaints that relate to oppressive behaviour.
The oversight commissioner's overall assessment is that the PSNI is now "one of the most overseen and accountable police agencies anywhere". The bulk of his criticism is towards a political system that has failed to provide the police with the appropriate context for community policing, whether because of a lack of support for the police in the case of Sinn Féin or because of failures of leadership which saw widespread loyalist rioting in September.
The Government is conscious of widespread demand in Nationalist areas of Northern Ireland for effective, accountable policing. Support for policing is critical to ensuring an inclusive democracy in Northern Ireland in which all sections of society feel secure.
In a number of his recent reports, the oversight commissioner has made clear his belief that the major obstacle to the full implantation of the Patten report is the refusal of all parties to take a full part in the institutions of policing and to support the police as it carries out its vital social function.
Overseas Development Aid.
Shane McEntee
Ceist:99 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support given by Development Co-operation Ireland towards pro-democracy initiatives around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26913/05]
The Government's programme of assistance to developing countries reflects our long-standing commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations and the recognition that democratisation, good governance and the promotion of human rights are as important as economic policy and reform for reducing poverty and achieving development.
Support to good governance and democratisation is now a major priority area of expenditure in the development co-operation programme, accounting for more than €88 million in 2004. It includes assistance towards building democratic systems of government that are underpinned by free and fair elections; strengthening the rule of law, including legal and judicial systems, promoting access to justice by the poor; supporting the development of an objective and independent judiciary; public sector reform initiatives that help to build systems and ensure better quality of service delivery to the poor; enhancing respect for human rights by promoting the protection of fundamental rights, civil, political, social, economic and cultural; improving transparency and accountability through initiatives to enhance public financial management and audit systems; support for public watchdog institutions, parliamentary reform and the independent media; and building the capacity of civil society to influence and monitor public policy decisions.
Last year, Development Co-operation Ireland supported pro-democracy initiatives in 17 countries worldwide in the areas of: support for NGO-based pro-democracy initiatives — four countries; support for election monitoring — nine countries; and support through the country programme budget of Development Co-operation Ireland in the priority programme countries — four countries.
It is important to note that, whereas these programmes represent our main targeted expenditure in this area, the overall expenditure figure includes a proportion of the budgets allocated to our programme countries due to the cross-cutting importance of good governance and democratisation.
Development Co-operation Ireland also gives funding to a number of locally based NGOs engaged in strengthening democratic systems. Examples of the type of programme supported include the following. In Sierra Leone, funds totalling €116,000 have been disbursed this year to support democratisation through the accountability in local government initiative which seeks to encourage citizens to take an active role in local development planning, local government meetings and the preparation and monitoring of budgets. This project is being implemented by the national accountability group of Sierra Leone, a civil society coalition of individuals and groups dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing corruption in Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries.
In Peru, a total of €314,342 has been allocated over the three years from 2004 to 2006 for a democratisation and reconciliation project. Ireland has joined together with other international donors to support this project which aims to contribute to the human development, democratisation and construction of a culture of peace in indigenous communities affected by the armed conflict in Peru.
In 2004, expenditure on election monitoring amounted to €95,355 on nine missions, mobilising 43 election observers. In 2005 to date, there have been nine election monitoring missions: Albania, Afghanistan, Burundi, Ethiopia, FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia — FYROM, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia and Palestine. This has involved mobilising 32 short-term observers, STOs, and two long-term observers, LTOs, one to Ethiopia and one to Liberia. Preparations are under way for three further missions to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Haiti, mobilising in the region of 14 to 16 further short-term observers. Expenditure in 2005 has been €70,945.
Good governance is a key component in all of Development Co-operation Ireland's bilateral country programmes. For example, in Uganda, Ireland is providing support for the justice, law and order sector of €3 million in 2005, targeted at improving citizens' access to justice. In Tanzania, approximately €4 million has been allocated this year in support of governance initiatives while in Mozambique we provide €3 million to good governance and public sector reform. In Timor-Leste, East Timor, support totalling almost €450,000 in 2004 has been provided for the creation of the institutions of government and the establishment of the legislative and regulatory framework. In the case of Development Co-operation Ireland's new country programme in Vietnam, it is envisaged that support will be provided to strengthen the capacity of the national assembly in the oversight of government in the interests of increasing transparency and accountability and to facilitate democracy.
UN Meetings.
Dan Boyle
Ceist:100 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on bilateral meetings that he has attended since 1 June 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27051/05]
Following my appointment at the beginning of April 2005 as envoy of the UN Secretary General for the September summit on UN reform, I met 46 of my Foreign Minister colleagues in advance of the summit, as well as the European Commissioner for External Relations, Ms Ferrero-Waldner and the EU High Representative-Secretary General Solana. For the period referred to by the Deputy, I held meetings in that capacity with the Foreign Ministers of Belarus, Hungary, Estonia, Jordan, Malta, Iceland, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Finland, France, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus. During this time I also met the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, and with the then President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping.
In addition to my role as envoy of the UN Secretary General, I also took part in the following bilateral meetings. On 7 July I met Mr. Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Our discussion focused on the way ahead for the peace process and political and security issues, including the upcoming marching season and parades. I had a further meeting with Mr. Hain on 21 September where we reviewed developments over the summer, including the IRA statement of 28 July. We also discussed the regrettable recent upsurge in loyalist violence and other relevant political and security issues.
On 15 September, en marge of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I had a series of bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Burundi. During my meeting with Foreign Minister Gul of Turkey, we discussed issues relating to Turkey’s EU accession discussions. My meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and the Palestinian Authority included an exchange of views on matters of mutual concern, including the continuing efforts of the international community to advance the progress of a just and lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. I raised the matter of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Archbishop Michael Courtney in December 2003 and the Great Lakes conference process with my Burundian colleague, Ms Antoinette Batumubwira. In turn, the Burundian Foreign Minister requested support for her Government’s initiatives in the areas of primary and vocational education.
On 19 September, also en marge of the United Nations General Assembly, I met the Foreign Ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Sudan and Colombia. During my meeting with Mr. Raymond Ramazani Baya, Foreign Minister of the DRC, we discussed the security situation in the DRC, the preparations for next year’s elections and the current state of bilateral relations between our two countries. I also informed my DRC colleague that Ireland will contribute €500,000 to the electoral process.
Acting Foreign Minister of Sudan, Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, and I discussed the current situation in Sudan and the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Minister Ismail briefed me in detail on his Government's views, offering a positive assessment of the humanitarian situation in Darfur and the general political and security situation in Sudan, including the state of play at the Abuja talks which are aimed at achieving a political settlement in Darfur.
Discussions with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Ms Carolina Barco, focused on the new Colombian Justice and Peace Law and the issue of the Colombia Three.
Also during the period in question, I would have had informal discussions with my EU colleagues during the course of meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, the European Council and the informal Foreign Ministers' meeting, Gymnich.
Security Issues.
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:101 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed aspects of emergency planning or counter-terrorism activities with his EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26916/05]
I am conscious of the importance of addressing all aspects of the terrorist threat. My European Union colleagues and I regularly review developments in the area of emergency planning.
The EU plan of action on combating terrorism addresses all aspects of the European Union's action against terrorism, including emergency planning. The plan of action was adopted in December 2001 in the follow up to the terrorist attacks against the United States. It has been revised several times since, notably under the Irish Presidency in June 2004 in response to the Madrid bombings. One of the principal objectives of the plan of action is to enhance the capability of the European Union and of member states to deal with the consequences of terrorist attacks. The plan addresses in detail issues such as risk analysis, identification of threats, preparedness and consequence management, research and development and international co-operation.
Much of the detailed implementation of the plan of action in relation to emergency planning falls under the responsibility of other ministers, but both the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the European Council comprehensively review progress towards implementation of the plan of action every six months. I have taken part in two such reviews, conducted in December 2004 and June 2005.
Work under way in the EU on the issue of responding effectively to natural and humanitarian disasters is also relevant as the needs will often be similar. This issue has been a particular focus of European Union deliberations since last December's Asian tsunami disaster. The main challenge for the EU is to ensure that it is able to respond rapidly and flexibly. Whether this should be done through improving mechanisms that already exist, such as the mechanism for civil protection or European security and defence policy, ESDP, civilian capabilities, or through creating a new rapid response structure, is a matter under discussion among member states.
Ireland has consistently supported the development of the EU's civilian capabilities to respond to crisis situations, both in respect of natural disasters such as the Asian tsunami and in the context of conflict and post conflict scenarios. We have committed civilian resources through both the mechanism for civil protection and, more broadly, through the civilian capabilities commitment process under the ESDP. These resources range from police capabilities to rule of law experts to civil protection personnel.
Question No. 102 answered with QuestionNo. 61.
Foreign Conflicts.
Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:103 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current political situation in Haiti; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26917/05]
In the 18 months since former President Bertrand Aristide resigned and left Haiti in February 2004, the political situation in the country has remained volatile and insecure. The transitional government led by Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has had very limited success in stabilising the security situation in the country and the Haitian national police continues to struggle to maintain law and order.
With the help of the international community, the transitional Government has been working towards holding free and fair elections. The transitional Government intends to conduct the elections in two phases later this year, first holding local elections and subsequently holding parliamentary and presidential elections with a view to having a democratically elected Haitian government in place by February 2006. However, there is no confirmed date for the elections. There has, however, been good progress on election registration, with approximately 75% of possible voters now registered.
The United Nations mission in Haiti, MINUSTAH, led by Brazil, is working with local authorities to launch civic education programmes to prepare for the elections and is co-operating in demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration efforts. It is also playing an important role in combating urban armed gangs which continue to pose a major barrier to security in the slums of Haiti's cities. In June 2005, the Security Council extended the mission in Haiti until February 2006 and approved a temporary increase in its strength to provide increased security in advance of the elections. The Security Council also urged the Haitian authorities to increase and accelerate efforts to prepare for and ensure the smooth conduct of the elections and called on international donors to provide the necessary resources to support the election process.
The EU is also actively involved in efforts to restore democracy to Haiti. At an EU-Latin American ministerial meeting which I attended in Luxembourg on 27 May 2005, the importance of comprehensive long-term aid to enable the Haitian people to work towards the establishment of a violence-free inclusive democratic system was acknowledged. The EU pledged €294 million for comprehensive development projects in the country at the Washington donor conference for Haiti which took place in July 2004. Furthermore, the European Commission recently undertook an exploratory mission to Haiti to examine whether an EU election observation mission would be possible. The EuropeAid Co-operation Office is seeking nominations for long and short-term observers.
Question No. 104 answered with QuestionNo. 37.
Overseas Development Aid.
John Deasy
Ceist:105 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the work being undertaken by Development Co-operation Ireland in reducing maternal mortality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26919/05]
Each year more than 500,000 women die as a result of complications associated with pregnancy or giving birth, 95% of which deaths occur in Africa and Asia with less than 1% occurring in more developed countries. Many millions of women who survive childbirth suffer illness and disability afterwards.
The reduction of maternal mortality is one of the key targets of the millennium declaration. While progress towards this goal has been very slow in low income countries, there is a growing recognition that improvements in maternal health will only be brought about if there is progress also in other goals relating to the health of women, such as better access to education, addressing gender inequalities and preventing the spread of HIV-AIDS.
At the international conference on population and development, ICPD, in 1994, and its five year follow up, ICPD+5, governments committed themselves to provide universal access to reproductive health services to all individuals no later than 2015. The conference was ground breaking in placing population issues, including reproductive health and rights at the centre of human development.
Ireland is fully committed to upholding the principles agreed at Cairo. We firmly believe that the ICPD programme of action is essential to achieving the millennium declaration development goals and to improving the health of mothers in poorer countries. We have translated this commitment into concrete actions by the financial support we provide for improving maternal health in developing countries.
Ireland is playing a major role in supporting the strengthening of health systems in countries such as Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania. In doing so, Ireland is helping to improve the quality of health services to enable women to access antenatal care and to receive emergency treatment in the event of a complication during pregnancy. In addition, in countries such as Zambia and Ethiopia, Ireland has provided specific funding for the improvement of maternity services at district and provincial level.
The control of HIV-AIDS is closely linked to improvements in maternal health. Ireland provides substantial funding for programmes that prevent new infections among women, provide treatment for women infected by the disease and prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child during pregnancy. Total funding for HIV-AIDS programmes in 2005 amounts to €50 million. At the millennium summit high level event in New York last month, the Taoiseach announced that funding for HIV-AIDS activities would be substantially increased in the years ahead.
In the context of a rapidly expanding aid programme and recognising the importance of the life and health of women to development progress, Ireland will continue to play a very active role in supporting these programmes and in ensuring the reduction of maternal mortality in developing countries remains an important policy objective.
Question No. 106 answered with QuestionNo. 11.
Question No. 107 answered with QuestionNo. 10.
Question No. 108 answered with QuestionNo. 19.
Question No. 109 answered with QuestionNo. 57.
Departmental Reviews.
John Perry
Ceist:110 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any review has been undertaken with regard to use of the diplomatic bag; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26897/05]
A thorough review of departmental practice with regard to the use of the diplomatic bag for the transmission of correspondence to officers serving abroad was carried out by officials in my Department in late 2004 and early 2005. This included consideration of the practices in other countries. The review arose from the distribution on one occasion of generic election material to a number of overseas officers of the Department. Under the terms of the Electoral Acts, and subject to registration in the appropriate manner, civil servants serving at Irish diplomatic and consular missions overseas, together with qualifying members of their families resident with them, are entitled to cast their ballots by post.
It is the Department's practice to allow officers serving abroad and members of their families residing with them to use the diplomatic bag facility to send and receive items of private correspondence. At election time, it has also been the practice to forward to officers abroad, who are registered voters, personally addressed election literature received in the Department. Concern was expressed in May 2004, prior to the local and European elections, about the transmission of certain generic election material in the diplomatic bag which was not specifically addressed to individuals. Neither the then Minister, his private office, nor any senior official were aware of the request to circulate this material. In the light of the understandable concerns arising from this, the then Minister informed the Dáil that the Department's arrangements now needed to be put on a more structured basis and that a review would be conducted for that purpose. The Minister assured the Dáil that the new arrangements would ensure that the process was fully transparent and would be known to interested parties at election time.
Arising from the review, the Department has now drawn up a set of draft procedures to govern the distribution of election material through the diplomatic bag and to ensure that there is no repetition of the type of transmission mentioned above. These would require political parties that wished to send election material to registered postal voters in embassies or consulates to make specific arrangements for the delivery of such literature in separate individually addressed envelopes to a named official in the Department's registry. I will ensure that the new structured arrangements are made known to all concerned well in advance of the next election.
Middle East Peace Process.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:111 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on the G8-EU initiative in Palestine and Israel to rebuild the economy and infrastructure of areas controlled by Palestinians. [26863/05]
The EU strongly supports the work of the quartet's special envoy for disengagement, the former chairman of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn. He is working with the parties to finalise an action plan for the economic revitalisation of Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli settlers and troops. He is also working to broker agreement on a border regime for Gaza and to ensure effective arrangements for the movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza.
The special envoy hopes to present a three-year plan for the revitalisation of Gaza to the G8 in the coming weeks with a view to raising international support for implementation starting in 2006. The Government will play its part in this important work in co-operation with our partners in the EU. Ireland is already committed to a wide range of development projects in co-operation with the Palestinian Authority. I have made it clear, including at my meetings in recent months with President Abbas and others of the Palestinian Authority, that the Government is ready to increase its assistance in the light of the special envoy's plan and the identification of needs and priorities for the period ahead.
Question No. 112 answered with QuestionNo. 76.
Question No. 113 answered with QuestionNo. 32.
Question No. 114 answered with QuestionNo. 61.
Question No. 115 answered with QuestionNo. 28
Human Rights Issues.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:116 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contact with the UN Commission on Human Rights regarding its investigation into the Government’s policy of allowing US military and CIA aircraft to use Irish airports and the possible connection of these flights with human rights abuses of prisoners detailed as part of the war on terror; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27059/05]
As I set out in my replies to Questions Nos. 603 of 28 September 2005 and 616 of 28 September 2005, I am aware of a recent media report that Martin Scheinin, the UN Commission on Human Rights special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, has been contacted by Irish citizens regarding allegations about the use of Irish airports by the US to transit prisoners who are suspected of terrorist activity. I repeat that two weeks ago my Department was contacted by Professor Scheinin's office to confirm that neither he, nor any other special rapporteur, is investigating or inquiring into this matter. As regards the wider issue raised by the Deputy, I refer him to my reply today to Question No. 3 from Deputy Gormley.
Question No. 117 answered with QuestionNo. 51.
EU Diplomatic Relations.
Michael Noonan
Ceist:118 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if revisions of the EU neighbourhood policy are completed; if discussions with Egypt and Lebanon have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26921/05]
To date, action plans under the European neighbourhood policy, ENP, have been agreed with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine. Discussions on action plans with Egypt and Lebanon are continuing. It is hoped that it may be possible to conclude these before the end of 2005 but this depends on progress. The General Affairs and External Relations Council in April authorised the Commission to work jointly with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to prepare action plans. This work is also in hand.
In October 2004, the Commission presented a proposal for a dedicated financial instrument, the European neighbourhood and partnership instrument, ENPI, to replace existing European Community assistance programmes for the countries and regions covered by the ENP. The ENPI is part of a series of proposals for financial instruments to support the EU's external relations for the budgetary period 2007 to 2013 which the Commission has submitted to Council and Parliament. The aim of the Commission's proposals is to simplify the delivery of assistance, facilitate coherence and consistency of external actions and achieve better and more with the resources available. These proposals remain under discussion and have yet to be fully agreed.
The ENPI should provide increased and more targeted financial assistance in the future. It will have a specific focus on cross-border and intra-regional co-operation. All countries covered by the ENP, as well as Russia, will be eligible for support under this instrument.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner has described 2005 as the "year of delivery" for the European neighbourhood policy, the challenge being to turn the commitments and aspirations contained in the action plans into reality, through measurable reforms bringing concrete benefits for the countries involved. Deputies will be aware that the ENP is designed to strengthen relations between the EU and those neighbouring countries that do not have the prospect of EU membership. The prospect of an increasingly close relationship with the EU, involving a significant degree of economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation, is offered to these countries in return for concrete progress in the implementation of political, economic and institutional reforms reflecting shared values.
Question No. 119 answered with QuestionNo. 39.
Foreign Conflicts.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:120 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current political situation in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26918/05]
Sierra Leone has made major progress in the restoration of peace since the end of the civil war in 2002. The overall security situation is generally calm and stable. Presidential and parliamentary elections are planned for 2007. However, serious challenges remain, not least because of limited progress towards addressing the root causes of conflict such as corruption, weaknesses in governance, and poverty. Sierra Leone is also affected by the fragile political situation in the sub-region, especially in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia.
The Government of Sierra Leone, with the support of the UN mission in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL, is gradually assuming full responsibility for the maintenance of security through the build-up of the national armed forces and police. This process is due to be completed by end December 2005 when the residual UNAMSIL presence will be withdrawn. However, the security forces face considerable logistical constraints and Sierra Leone will require continued international support for the security sector in the future.
UNAMSIL will be replaced in January 2006 by the United Nations integrated office in Sierra Leone, UNIOSIL, which will assist the Government to develop and implement a strategy for addressing the root causes of the conflict and accelerating progress towards the millennium development goals; to build the capacity of the National Electoral Commission to conduct a free, fair and credible electoral process in 2007; and to strengthen the security sector. Sierra Leone's long-term development needs will also be addressed at a major donors' meeting to be held in London in November 2005.
The human rights situation in Sierra Leone is improving. Work is under way on the establishment of a human rights commission to which the UN Commissioner on Human Rights has offered technical assistance. The final report of the truth and reconciliation commission has been published and UNAMSIL distributed its findings throughout the country in August 2005. The Government subsequently published a White Paper which reflected most of the Commission's recommendations, but implementation has not yet begun. Both the judicial sector and civil society remain weak.
Poverty is a major problem in Sierra Leone and more than 70% of the population live on less than US$1 per day. GDP grew by 7.4% in 2004, supported by improvements in agriculture, mining, construction, manufacture and services. However, the business environment is still fragile, which hampers private sector growth. Major progress has been made in the diamond mining sector, particularly in the area of licensing, which has resulted in a substantial increase in official exports of diamonds. These totalled US$127 million in 2004 and US$82 million in the first half of 2005. Earlier this year, Ireland established a development co-operation office in Freetown. Funding of more than €1.75 million has already been allocated to Sierra Leone in 2005 and further support is under active consideration.
The Sierra Leone Special Court was established in 2002 to bring to trial "those who bear greatest responsibility" for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996. Currently, 11 persons associated with all three of the country's former warring factions stand indicted by the special court. Ireland has been a strong supporter of the court since its establishment in 2002 and has contributed more than €1 million to it. This includes €300,000 for 2005 to 2006 pledged on 30 September 2005.
Question No. 121 answered with QuestionNo. 34.
Health Services.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:122 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the benefits available to schoolchildren attending second level schools under the school dentist scheme; and if such benefits will be available to children attending all second level schools. [27180/05]
The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for dental services. The HSE provides free dental examinations and limited treatment to children up to 16 years of age who attend or have attended a national primary school. Treatment is provided within the resources available to the HSE.
Services for People with Disabilities.
Finian McGrath
Ceist:123 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide the maximum educational speech therapy and occupational therapy services to a pre-school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27260/05]
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Health Service Allowances.
Finian McGrath
Ceist:124 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if all money will be awarded to persons (details supplied) in domiciliary care allowance; and if she will improve the level of speech therapy and occupational therapy to this person. [27282/05]
Finian McGrath
Ceist:144 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if money will be awarded to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in domiciliary care allowance; and if she will improve the level of speech therapy and occupational therapy to this person. [27278/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 144 together.
The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
EU Directives.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:125 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Question No. 155 of 14 June 2005, when the recommendation was referred to the Committee of Experts on Family Law; if so, when the report was made and where it can be viewed; the steps she is taking to legislate or regulate for those affected by these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27163/05]
I am informed that Recommendation No. 1117 (1989) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was referred to the Committee of Experts on Family Law in February 1994. I am informed also that the committee failed to reach a consensus on the recommendation and that no report was made.
The Deputy may be aware that there is a case listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on 8 November 2005. In the circumstances, it is not appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.
Services for People with Disabilities.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:126 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons here who have a diagnosis of Rett syndrome; the range and nature of the support services in place for those persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27165/05]
The national intellectual disability database was established in 1995 to ensure that information would be available to enable the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the voluntary agencies in Ireland to provide appropriate services designed to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disability and those with autism and their families. The database incorporates three basic elements of information: demographic details, current service provision and future service requirements. Information pertaining to diagnosis is specifically excluded as the database is not designed as a medical epidemiological tool.
The national intellectual disability database enables those involved with the planning and delivery of services to people with an intellectual disability and those with autism to identify not only the level of need among those awaiting placement in services but also the service changes required by those already in receipt of services. With regard to the range and nature of support services in place for persons with a diagnosis of Rett syndrome this is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, my Department has referred this part of the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services.
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:127 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the supports which are available to women who suffer from osteitis pubis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27167/05]
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Health Insurance.
John Cregan
Ceist:128 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position on arrangements that holiday makers should make to protect themselves against medical expenses in the island of Jersey; if the normal E111 form suffices; if there is some other arrangement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27168/05]
The European health insurance card, EHIC, which replaced the form E111 on 1 June 2004, is for use within the EU member states, the remaining EEA member states — Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway — and Switzerland. The EHIC entitles the holder to necessary health care in the public system of any of these countries, if he or she becomes ill or injured during a temporary stay in that country. It does not cover the cost of planned treatment or treatment in a private setting. As public health care systems vary from country to country, with few countries providing treatment completely free of charge to cardholders, and as the EHIC does not cover the cost of repatriation, and as illness or an accident abroad may mean extra travel and accommodation costs, those travelling abroad may wish to consider taking out private health insurance in addition. The EHIC arrangements apply only in those countries mentioned above and do not apply in Jersey.
Hospitals Building Programme.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:129 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the continuing delay regarding the long proposed extension to Bandon Community Hospital; and when work will be under way. [27169/05]
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. This includes responsibility for considering new capital proposals or progressing those in the health capital programme. Accordingly, my Department is requesting the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Accommodation.
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:130 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, has not been admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire in view of the fact that the person has been hospitalised in Ballinasloe since December 2004; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this person has been recommended for referral to the National Rehabilitation Hospital by consultants in both the Portiuncula and Beaumont hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27205/05]
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Departmental Correspondence.
Michael Ring
Ceist:131 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason incorrect information was supplied to her by the Health Service Executive for the reply to a previous question (details supplied) in view of the fact that at the time of the answer the information sought had not been received; and if she will get this information. [27209/05]
I have had further inquiries made of the Health Service Executive and I understand that the issuing to the Deputy of the information requested was subject to final clearance within the executive. I apologise to the Deputy that my reply of 28 September was not fully accurate. My Department has received confirmation from the executive that the information sought has now been forwarded to the Deputy.
Registration of Nurses.
Michael Ring
Ceist:132 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will intervene with An Bord Altranais in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Louth in view of the fact that a letter issued to them on 5 September and 30 September 2005; the reason no reply has been forthcoming in this case; and if she will instruct An Bord Altranais to issue a response. [27211/05]
Under the Nurses Act 1985, An Bord Altranais is the statutory body which provides for the registration, control and education of nurses and midwives and for other matters relating to the practice of nursing and midwifery. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that An Bord Altranais must be rigorous in processing each application thoroughly and in a secure manner, ensuring that all those entered on the register of nurses are deemed professionally qualified and competent for such registration. The protection of the public underpins this process. I am satisfied that the board is most professional in its discharge of these functions. In 2004, over 3,500 newly registered qualifications were entered on the register.
With regard to individual applications, decisions are normally issued to applicants within six weeks. However, errors or omissions in information supplied by the applicant, or by any other relevant agency or training college, will cause delays. It may be that reasons such as these will have contributed to any delay in the processing of the application.
Given the statutory functions of the board, it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in individual applications for registration.
Departmental Offices.
Dan Neville
Ceist:133 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the role, functions, duties and budget of the National Office for Suicide Prevention. [27224/05]
The National Office for Suicide Prevention was established by the Health Service Executive following the publication of the national strategy for action on suicide prevention, Reach Out, on 8 September 2005. This office will oversee the implementation of the strategy and will co-ordinate suicide prevention activities across the State, consult widely on the planning of future initiatives and ensure best practice in suicide prevention.
On the role, functions, duties and budget of this office, as referred to by the Deputy, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the Health Service Executive to arrange to have this information issued directly to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:134 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a speech and language therapy service will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27225/05]
The Deputy's question refers to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Violence Against Women.
John McGuinness
Ceist:135 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason Government funding for violence against women services has been held at 2003 levels; if the underfunding of these services will be addressed in the context of budget 2005; if funding for a full-time counsellor will be made available as a special measure to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if funding of this project will be examined to determine the amount of further financial assistance that will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27226/05]
My Department does not directly fund or co-ordinate health and personal social services to victims of abuse. Moneys are made available each year formerly through the health boards and now through the Health Service Executive for the provision of services to women victims of violence. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in funding so that now over €12 million is provided annually for the provision of such services. The distribution of this funding is a matter for the Health Service Executive.
The Tánaiste asked the HSE to carry out an analysis of the current level of service provision in this area and to report back to her. I have been informed by the HSE that the final draft report is complete. The publication of the report into the examination of the service requirements of rape victims is imminent. The Tánaiste awaits this report with interest and will be further informed by its findings.
Health Service Property.
Seamus Kirk
Ceist:136 Mr. Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the north eastern area of the Health Service Executive retain lands at Curraghbeg, Ardee, County Louth earmarked for industrial purposes and now zoned for industrial development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27227/05]
The Deputy's question refers to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Cancer Screening Programme.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:137 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 328 of 28 September 2005, if BreastCheck will reconsider the proposal from Barrington’s Hospital, Limerick in order that screening is provided for as many non-symptomatic patients as possible from the Waterford constituency pending the roll out of BreastCheck; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27228/05]
BreastCheck has considered a proposal from Barrington's Hospital in Limerick and has advised my Department that the implementation of the national breast screening programme is the best approach to ensuring that a quality assured service is available to all women in the target age group. BreastCheck has further advised my Department that, based on expert medical assessment, it will not be utilising the mammography services at Barrington's Hospital.
Proposed Legislation.
Michael Ring
Ceist:138 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if hospitals will be included in the legislation promised to be brought before Dáil Éireann concerning redress boards in order that persons will have recourse to redress against hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27247/05]
Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 states that additional institutions can be included in the Schedule to that Act only if a public body had a regulatory or inspection function. However, as stated in the Act, this is a matter for the Minister for Education and Science.
Community Care.
Martin Ferris
Ceist:139 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to proceed with the provision of a new community nursing unit in Tralee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27248/05]
The Deputy's question refers to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Health Services.
John Gormley
Ceist:140 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the recent developments there have been regarding the self-testing of patients on anti-coagulation therapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27249/05]
The current treatment available to patients on anti-coagulation therapy is normally provided in a hospital setting under the supervision of a specialist or in certain GP clinics with specialist agreement. Under the recent framework agreement agreed by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive with the Irish Medical Organisation at the Labour Relations Commission, a review of general practice is being undertaken. One of the items to be considered is the establishment of warfarin clinics in general practice. There are no plans to introduce anti-coagulation self testing for patients. Current arrangements will continue pending the outcome of the review mentioned above.
Violence Against Women.
John Gormley
Ceist:141 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take and when she will take them to ensure the increased and adequate funding of frontline service providers for women who are victims of violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27257/05]
My Department does not directly fund or co-ordinate health and personal social services to victims of abuse. Moneys are made available each year, formerly through the health boards, and now through the Health Service Executive, for the provision of services to women victims of violence. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in funding so that now over €12 million is provided annually for the provision of such services. The distribution of this funding is now a matter for the Health Service Executive.
The Tánaiste asked the HSE to carry out an analysis of the current level of service provision in this area and to report back to her. I have been informed by the HSE that the final draft report is complete. The publication of the report into the examination of the service requirements of rape victims is imminent. The Tánaiste awaits this report with interest and will be further informed by its findings.
Health Service Staff.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:142 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of posts at the grade of area medical officer in the Health Service Executive northern area; the number currently vacant; and the way in which services are being delivered where vacancies exist. [27264/05]
The Deputy's question refers to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:143 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioners registered in the health service executive northern area for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27265/05]
It is assumed that the Deputy's question relates to contracts held by the Health Service Executive with general practitioners providing services under the general medical services scheme. As this area relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Question No. 144 answered with QuestionNo. 124.
Hospital Services.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:145 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if persons aged 70 years and over are entitled to free care in a public hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27279/05]
All persons aged 70 years and over who are ordinarily resident in the State have full eligibility, and are therefore entitled to free care in a public hospital while they require medically acute care and treatment for any ailment in the public hospital. However, a person aged 70 years and over may be charged for inpatient services, after the acute phase is completed up to a maximum of 80% of a weekly non-contributory old age pension depending on the individual circumstances under SI 76 of 2005 Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005 subject to the provisions of section 53 of the Health Act 1970 as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005.
The Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 allows for the payment of a subvention towards the cost of private nursing home care based on a dependency and means assessment. The criteria used in determining a person's eligibility for subvention is set out in the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993. The subvention scheme was introduced to assist with the cost of private nursing home care and it was never intended that a subvention payment would meet the full costs of private nursing home care.
Nursing Home Charges.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:146 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to an application by persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27280/05]
The Government has agreed the key elements of a scheme for the repayment of long stay charges for publicly funded residential care. All those who were charged and are alive and the estates of all those who were charged and died in the six years prior to 9 December 2004 will have the charges repaid in full. The scheme will not allow for repayments to the estates of those who died more than six years prior to that date. The repayments will include both the actual charge paid and an amount to take account of inflation, using the consumer price index, since the time the person involved was charged.
Legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas as soon as possible to provide a clear legal framework for the scheme. In the case of those who were charged and are still alive, the repayments will be exempt from tax and will not be taken into account in assessing means for health and social welfare benefits. The normal tax and means assessment arrangements will apply to those who benefit from repayments to estates.
The legislation will include appropriate safeguards to prevent exploitation of those who receive repayments and are not in a position to manage their own financial affairs. The scheme will include a provision to allow those eligible for a repayment to waive their right to a repayment and have the money assigned to fund one-off service improvements in elderly, mental health and disability services.
A national oversight committee has been appointed by the Tánaiste and has already begun its work. It will provide an independent input into the design of the scheme and to monitor the operation of the scheme in order to ensure that it is being implemented quickly and in the most equitable and effective way possible.
The scheme will be designed and managed with the aim of ensuring that those who are eligible for repayments receive them as soon as possible and with the minimum possible imposition in terms of bureaucracy. Priority will be given to those who are still alive. Many of those eligible for repayments have already been identified under the ex gratia payments process. The scheme will include a transparent and thorough appeals process.
An outside organisation with experience in handling mass claims will be engaged by the Health Service Executive, HSE, to design and manage the scheme within the parameters of the key principles approved by Government. The organisation selected will work closely with the HSE to ensure that the necessary co-operation is forthcoming on records held by the health agencies. The HSE has received expressions of interest from a number of organisations and these have been shortlisted. It is anticipated that the successful organisation will be selected in November and will begin work on the design of the scheme.
The national helpline set up by the HSE to allow people to register if they believe they are due a repayment will continue to operate but there is no need for anyone who has already registered using this facility to make contact with the HSE again to register for the scheme.
The Deputy's question relates to a specific case that involves the management and delivery of health and personal social services and which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. My Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy in relation to the application concerned.
Health Services.
Arthur Morgan
Ceist:147 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Louth has been waiting in excess of three months for an appointment with a dermatologist in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and has received no contact whatsoever from the hospital even indicating if and when she will get an appointment; and if she will ensure that this person will get an appointment with a dermatologist at this hospital. [27281/05]
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Disabled Drivers.
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:148 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance if sufferers of osteitis pubis are entitled to a primary medical certificate under the Disabled Drivers, Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27167/05]
The medical eligibility criteria for the purposes of the tax concession under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994. In order to qualify under the scheme, a person must be "severely and permanently disabled" and satisfy one of the following criteria: "a) persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; b) persons who are wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to movement of their lower limbs; c) persons without both hands or without both arms; d) persons without one or both legs; e) persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg; f) persons having the medical condition of dwarfism and who have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs."
Where the required certificate is refused, the applicant can appeal to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, an independent statutory body, for a complete medical re-assessment. The decision of the board is final.
Tax Code.
Pat Carey
Ceist:149 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Finance when a tax rebate will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27229/05]
The taxpayer's application in respect of bin charges, dental work and union subscriptions has been processed and there is no rebate due. The following is the position. Bin charges are allowable in the year following the year to which they relate and only if they are paid on time and in full. The bin charges paid by the person in 2005 were made up of €590.26 arrears and €40 for 2005. Only the €40 paid for 2005 is, therefore, allowable. This will be included in the person's tax credit certificate for 2006. In April 2004 a review was carried out in respect of the taxpayer's claim for dental expenses for the year 2003, however an underpayment of €155.26 arose. This underpayment mainly arose due to an insufficient amount coded through the person's tax credits to collect the tax due in respect of their income from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. An amended balancing statement for 2003 will issue shortly which will incorporate the relief due in respect of union subscriptions. The revised underpayment is now €111.62, and collection of this underpayment has been deferred for the moment. Relief for union subscriptions for the years 2004 and 2005 has already been granted in the person's tax credits for 2004 and 2005.
The person also included a form TRS1, application for tax relief at source on mortgage interest, with her claim. She is already receiving tax relief at source in respect of her mortgage with the lending institution. The form TRS1 has been forwarded to the collector general's division to ensure that she is receiving the correct relief.
National Parks.
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:150 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce by-laws for a park (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [27185/05]
This is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which holds the policy function for heritage properties.
Financial Services Regulation.
John Curran
Ceist:151 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce regulations to prevent credit card companies from issuing unsolicited cheques to be used as loans incurring very high interest charges and charges commence immediately from when the loan cheque is cashed. [27186/05]
The financial regulator is responsible for monitoring the provision of financial services to consumers. In providing consumer protection, the financial regulator can impose and enforce rules on financial services firms regarding how they deal with consumers, including how they sell financial products.
The financial regulator has informed my Department that the financial regulator is only aware of one credit card provider that issues cheques drawing on individuals' credit card accounts. The credit card provider in question has advised the financial regulator that some customers have found this facility an effective means of making a payment where credit card facilities are not available for transferring a balance from another credit card or making a payment by post.
The cheques in question are treated as a cash advance and as such may incur the higher rate of interest normally associated with cash transactions on credit cards. The interest is applied from the date that the cheque is presented for payment. This information is included in the letter accompanying the credit card cheques. The credit card provider has also informed the financial regulator that credit card cheques are not sent to customers who are over their credit limit or delinquent. The financial regulator is aware that if consumers apply for these types of credit card, the chequebook is a feature of the product.
The financial regulator is continuing to monitor the provision of credit card cheques. My Department has been advised by the financial regulator that only a small number of consumer complaints have been received in relation to the service.
The Deputy may wish to note that the financial regulator's draft consumer protection code has included the following provision "A regulated entity must give customers details of all charges and fees including third party charges which the regulated entity will pass on to the customer, prior to providing a service to the customer." There is also a provision that credit card limits may only be increased following a request from the customer. These issues are being considered in the context of the consultation process on the code.
Flood Relief.
Emmet Stagg
Ceist:152 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a report on the Ardclough, County Kildare flood alleviation scheme and a request from Kildare County Council for funding for the implementation of the scheme; if he has made a decision on the request for funding to date; his views on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27242/05]
Kildare County Council submitted a report in January 2003 to the Office of Public Works, OPW, in relation to flooding at Ardclough. In subsequent discussions, my officials in the OPW advised the council that the report required more technical detail as well as cost-benefit analysis and an environmental assessment before the matter could be fully assessed further. The submission of the information is awaited.
Tax Code.
Dan Boyle
Ceist:153 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Finance the number of individuals and qualifying companies who have been granted tax relief under the seaside resort scheme since the inception of the scheme in 1995; the amounts of relief granted and the locations where such relief was applied. [27296/05]
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not in a position to provide the information required in relation to the seaside resort scheme. This is because the normal self-assessment tax return forms do not distinguish between capital allowances claimed in respect of seaside resort schemes from those claimed in respect of other buildings entitled to capital allowances.
As part of ongoing commitments to improve the quality of information available on the costs of tax expenditures generally, the Revenue Commissioners have introduced a number of changes to certain tax forms which will yield additional information regarding the cost of various reliefs and the number of taxpayers availing of them. Provisions were included in the Finance Act 2004 to underpin these changes. This will provide better data in this area and enable fuller estimates of the tax foregone to be made over time. However, on the basis of indicative information it is tentatively estimated by Revenue, on the basis of certain assumptions, that the amount of qualifying expenditure and tax cost broken down by resort could be as follows.
|
Resort |
Qualifying Expenditure |
Estimated Tax Cost |
|
€m |
€m |
|
|
Clogherhead |
5 |
2.5 |
|
Laytown/Bettystown/Mosney |
22 |
8.9 |
|
Courtown |
141 |
52.0 |
|
Arklow (UDC area) |
19 |
7.6 |
|
Kilkee |
67 |
25.0 |
|
Lahinch |
35 |
13.0 |
|
Youghal |
123 |
46.0 |
|
Clonakilty |
28 |
10.0 |
|
Ballybunion |
16 |
6.4 |
|
Tramore |
58 |
22.0 |
|
Westport |
65 |
24.0 |
|
Achill |
43 |
16.5 |
|
Enniscrone |
60 |
23.0 |
|
Bundoran |
103 |
38.4 |
|
Salthill |
65 |
24.0 |
|
Total |
851 |
319.0 |
Any apparent discrepancies in totals are due to rounding of constituent figures.
Decentralisation Programme.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:154 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his views on the serious issues raised in correspondence attached (details supplied) in relation to the severely restricted options for civil servants on the northside of Dublin who will have no Department to relocate to on the north side of the Liffey should decentralisation proceed with as planned; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of staff in relation to commuting times and caring for dependants; and if he will revisit this proposal. [27303/05]
The Office of Public Works is responsible for both property procurement and disposal. The overall objective is to ensure that property being acquired at a regional level is matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by the disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise.
No decisions have been made yet on the disposal, retention or re-allocation of office buildings in Dublin post-decentralisation. The Office of Public Works will bear in mind the particular requirements of Departments remaining in Dublin and the need to ensure that all office space remaining in Dublin is utilised in the most cost effective manner possible.
Civil and public servants who do not wish to transfer to a decentralised location will be assigned to an alternative public service post in Dublin. Each individual will be able to indicate via his or her personnel section the organisations remaining in Dublin which would interest him or her.
As information becomes available from the central applications facility it will be possible to identify vacancies which will arise in organisations remaining in Dublin as a result of individuals in those organisations applying to transfer to decentralised posts. Consultations will be held with the public service unions on an ongoing basis to address the concerns of all staff affected by the programme.
Sustainable Energy.
John Curran
Ceist:155 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will introduce a scheme of grants to householders who will install renewable energy systems to their houses similar to the clean skies system of grants operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. [27191/05]
Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established as a statutory agency in May 2002, implements a wide variety of programmes on energy efficiency and renewable energy on behalf of my Department.
Under SEI's House of Tomorrow Research, HOT, development and demonstration programme, financial support is directed at encouraging developers of housing, both new-built and refurbishment, to incorporate design and technology features, which deliver significantly superior energy and CO2 performance. By targeting developers of schemes of houses, from the private or social housing sectors, the aim has been to establish over a number of years a nationwide network of accessible examples of more sustainable energy design and technology practices. Together with other promotional measures by SEI, this is intended to encourage a sufficient degree of market replication, without subsidy, to elevate energy performance standards across the wider housing stock. This targeted approach is also designed to be an administratively efficient method for deployment of public monies. To date, the programme has committed over €9 million funding to 48 projects comprising a total 2,269 housing units. All feature an integrated approach to design, orientation, building fabric and energy supply and use, that achieves performance at least 20% better than current building regulations and in the majority of projects, 40% better. The sustainable energy features across the range of projects funded include: solar hot water systems, ground source heat pumps, condensing boilers, group heating schemes and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery along with higher levels of insulation.
The programme has been directed at suppliers and developers of housing, rather than individual householders. There have been two main reasons for this. First, House of Tomorrow is a research and development support scheme, not a home improvement grants scheme. It is seeking projects of sufficient scale and impact to influence wide application of the practices and technologies demonstrated. An effective way to achieve this is by means of clusters of homes that will provide regionally visible and accessible examples and which can be replicated. Overall, integrated developments are encouraged.
Second, a key need in moving towards more energy efficient planning and construction practices in Irish homes is to develop the necessary awareness and capability within the construction industry. SEI, through its consumer awareness programmes, seeks to increase the demand for energy efficiency amongst homeowners and occupants. House of Tomorrow, as a research, development and demonstration programme, supports the development and demonstration of capability in the industry to deliver higher quality energy efficient homes to meet such a demand. The aim is to increase standards and practices across the industry as a whole.
Regular reviews are conducted on all SEI's funding programmes. Factors entering any such consideration include the establishment of consumer product standards, supplier capability and installation quality assurance systems appropriate to consumer markets. This is in addition to the core requirements of energy and CO2 saving impact, market impact potential, administrative efficiency and ultimately, value for money for the taxpayer.
Funding for SEI is determined on an annual basis. SEI submits a proposed work programme for the coming year along with a budget for each of its programmes, such as the House of Tomorrow programme, to my Department. Any increase in funding required for these programmes would have budgetary implications and could only be considered in the light of the overall budgetary requirements of SEI and the level of funding available to the Department.
I am keen to see a wider take-up of energy-efficient technology in design, building and use of homes. While many of the measures involved are self-financing, with payback periods of as little as two or three years, I am looking at what incentives might be needed to improve the rate of take-up and use. Increasing the energy efficiency of our building stock reduces our energy imports, reduces our CO2 emissions and saves money for the individual household and for the Exchequer.
Marine Safety.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:156 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to tackle the problem of the destruction of fish stocks, including salmon in the Munster Blackwater, by a parasite Anisakis Simplex (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27301/05]
: I refer the Deputy to my reply given to Parliamentary Question No. 325 on Tuesday, 4 October in respect of inaccurate reports about a particular parasite affecting salmon stocks. I am advised by the Marine Institute that in early September anglers had noticed that some salmon caught on the River Blackwater were infected with a parasite. Samples were analysed and the parasite was identified as Anisakis species. Anisakis is not uncommon.
There can be no association between falling salmon numbers and the burden of Anisakis so far described. There is no history of high numbers in Irish salmon or of the capability of Anisakis to cause epidemics that might wipe out populations of fish. Indeed some authors describe Anisakis as being of little importance except for the human aspect.
Nor does the occurrence of this parasite represent serious infectious pressure to the coarse fish population. Salmon can be intermediate hosts or occasionally final hosts for this parasite. In order for freshwater fish to become infected, they must eat returning salmon — or possibly flesh from dead salmon. If freshwater fish were to become infected, they would merely act as another intermediate host. The life cycle of the parasite would not be completed in these freshwater fish.
Anglers who are concerned about any apparent parasitic infestations or diseases in fish should contact their local regional fisheries board staff, who will know who to contact and how best to collect and preserve fish for examination.
EU Competency Certificates.
David Stanton
Ceist:157 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of EU nationals who have been issued with certificates of equivalent competency by his Department each year since 2000 and to date in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/05]
Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr P Gallagher)
: The number of certificates of equivalent competency issued between the years 2001 and 2005 to date is as shown in the following tables. These certificates are issued in compliance with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, STCW, which came into effect in 2001. Prior to 2001 there was no mechanism in place under STCW to issue certificates of equivalent competency. Ireland recognises all mercantile marine certificates of competency issued by EU member states and by certain other Administrations with which it has reciprocal agreements. In accordance with the convention, Ireland issues certificates of equivalent competency to those seafarers, duly qualified, who wish to serve on Irish merchant ships.
|
Nationality |
|||||||
|
Year |
UK |
Poland |
Netherlands |
Germany |
Greece |
Estonia |
Total |
|
2001 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
|
2002 |
99 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
104 |
|
2003 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
30 |
|
2004 |
36 |
44 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
86 |
|
2005 |
14 |
41 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
62 |
|
Nationality |
|||||||
|
Year |
UK |
Poland |
Netherlands |
Germany |
Greece |
Estonia |
Total |
|
2001 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
|
2002 |
73 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
76 |
|
2003 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
2004 |
26 |
23 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
52 |
|
2005 |
12 |
21 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
39 |
|
Nationality |
|||||||
|
Year |
UK |
Poland |
Netherlands |
Germany |
Greece |
Estonia |
Total |
|
2001 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
2002 |
26 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
|
2003 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
|
2004 |
10 |
21 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
34 |
|
2005 |
2 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
23 |
Question No. 158 answered with QuestionNo. 15.
Question No. 159 answered with QuestionNo. 11.
Natural Disasters.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:160 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response he has received from the US authorities to his offer of assistance to help cope with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, in regard to his statement of 6 September 2005; if this assistance has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/05]
Ireland has committed €1 million in financial assistance for those affected by hurricane Katrina. Of this, some €700,000 has been channelled to the American Red Cross through the Irish Red Cross. The remainder will be disbursed by the Irish Embassy in the United States with the objective of assisting civil society groups in the Gulf Coast area in the local recovery effort.
Ireland, along with other EU member states, offered material assistance through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which is the formal EU co-ordination mechanism for such assistance.
The United States authorities have expressed warm appreciation for Ireland's assistance.
Question No. 161 answered with QuestionNo. 15.
Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:162 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his position on the recommendations from the assembly of the Western European Union to eliminate the member state veto in European security and defence policy decision-making. [25975/05]
Ireland has observer status in the Western European Union, including in the assembly, and is not bound by any decisions or recommendations of the assembly, nor do its recommendations have any standing as regards the European Union. The Treaty on European Union provides for unanimity in regard to all decisions having security or defence implications.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:163 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will appoint delegates to the assembly of the Western European Union; if so, the names of the delegates and the details of the terms of their defence mandate. [25976/05]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:164 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will send four delegates to the assembly of the Western European Union with a defence mandate; if this mandate will be made known to the relevant joint committees prior to meetings at the assembly; and if so, the names of the delegates. [25977/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
Members of the Irish parliamentary delegation to the assembly of the Western European Union are appointed by the Oireachtas from among its Members. Neither I nor any other member of the Government has any function in the matter. Members of the delegation do not receive any mandate from the Government or any member of it, nor do they represent the Government at the assembly. Ireland has observer status in the Western European Union, including in the assembly, and is not bound by any decisions or recommendations of the assembly.
Question No. 165 answered with QuestionNo. 15.
Question No. 166 answered with QuestionNo. 10.
Question No. 167 answered with QuestionNo. 26.
Foreign Political Developments.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:168 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the development of the political situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27270/05]
A period of political uncertainty in Ukraine in recent weeks appears to have come to an end with the appointment on 22 September of a new Prime Minister and subsequently a new Council of Ministers. Tensions in the previous Government came to a head when Presidential Chief of Staff Oleksandr Zinchenko resigned on 3 September, making serious allegations of corruption about those around President Yushchenko, particularly National Security and Defence Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko. This made existing tensions within the Council of Ministers between Mr. Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko public. On 8 September the President dismissed Prime Minister Tymoshenko and the Council of Ministers.
Reports suggest these difficulties are also to be seen in the context of positioning for the parliamentary elections due at the end of March 2006, which will be of critical importance for Ukraine's further development as a democracy and market economy. Mrs. Tymoshenko has been replaced as Prime Minister by Yuriy Yekhanurov who, on 22 September, was confirmed in that position by the Ukrainian Parliament. Mr. Borys Tarasiuk has been reappointed Foreign Minister. The work of the Government is now returning to normal, including in such areas of importance as legislation regarding Ukraine's entry to the World Trade Organisation. Ireland remains committed to working with Ukraine as it pursues the challenges of reform. The Ceann Comhairle is leading the first Oireachtas delegation to Ukraine. Following my visit to Ukraine in July, Foreign Minister Tarasiuk will visit Ireland later this month.
Question No. 169 answered with QuestionNo. 26.
Question No. 170 answered with QuestionNo. 68.
Overseas Development Aid.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:171 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that have been or will be taken to ensure that international aid is diverted towards those for whom it was intended with particular reference to preventing such aid getting into the hands of warlords or those involved in crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27273/05]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:172 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress in respect of the various efforts to alleviate death and starvation throughout the African continent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27274/05]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
The challenges facing Africa are enormous. Food insecurity, starvation, conflict and HIV-AIDS appear at times to create an endless cycle of poverty and conflict. Addressing these issues is one of the most important tasks to which we can dedicate ourselves in the 21st century.
The Government responds in two ways to the humanitarian and development needs of Africa. In the short term, we focus on saving lives in the most effective way possible, through direct assistance via the UN system and international agencies as well as non-governmental organisations — NGOs.
Ireland's emergency humanitarian aid programme supports short-term interventions in the immediate aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. This humanitarian assistance is founded on the principles of international humanitarian law, a commitment to needs-based programming and regular evaluations of humanitarian operations. This approach ensures that the assistance is directed where needs are greatest. It is clear that the cycle of recurring emergencies in Africa needs to be broken if the affected populations are to progress towards the achievement of the UN millennium development goals — the halving of poverty — by 2015.
In the longer term, Ireland's development programme tackles the structural reasons underlying endemic poverty. We have strong development partnerships with eight countries, six of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Through these partnerships, Ireland fully engages with Governments, donors, civil society, local communities and aid agencies on the basis of poverty reduction strategy plans — PRSPs. PRSPs prioritise a country's resources and expenditures to reduce poverty, tackle HIV-AIDS, encourage economic growth and foster a culture of respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Ireland's official programme of overseas development assistance has considerable built-in safeguards to oversee and monitor the utilisation of our funding resources. Our partner organisations have developed strong mechanisms to ensure that Ireland's official programme of overseas development assistance has considerable built-in safeguards to oversee and monitor the utilisation of our funding resources. Our partner organisations have developed strong mechanisms to ensure that assistance is provided to those most in need in a clear and transparent way. Our direct funding through local and national authorities is audited by the national auditing agencies, auditing firms of international repute, donor partners and my Department's audit and evaluation unit. As well as direct financial accountability, it is also important to ensure value for money and impact. Impact focused evaluations are also carried out by the audit and evaluation unit and independent experts.
In the context of increased levels of funding, it is clear that we will need to ensure that delivery mechanisms are appropriate and effective. This is clearly in the interests of all stakeholders, including Governments, donor countries, NGOs, aid agencies and, most important of all, the vulnerable people to whom all our efforts are directed. The Taoiseach was clear on the importance of accountability when he recently addressed the UN General Assembly, stating that "to ensure that public support for aid remains strong, we must work with developing countries to improve governance, promote human rights, increase transparency and stamp out corruption".
Debt Relief.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:173 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which recent developments such as debt write-off are likely to impact positively on the various countries affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27275/05]
At their meeting in Gleneagles in July, the G8 countries agreed on an initiative for the cancellation of debt owed to the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the IMF. The scheme will provide for the cancellation of debt for 18 heavily indebted poor countries — HIPCs.
The G8 initiative has been welcomed by Ministers meeting in the development committee ministerial meetings of the World Bank and the IMF. Ireland views it as an important recognition of the need for further significant reductions in the debt burdens of HIPCs. The Minister for Finance has indicated that Ireland will be prepared to pay its share of the costs of the scheme.
Ireland's official policy, adopted in 2002, calls for debt cancellation for all HIPCs and we will continue to work towards that end. We also hold the view that a country's obligation to repay debt must not prevent it from maintaining an adequate level of expenditure on services and investments in health, education, agriculture, water supply, sanitation, roads and other infrastructure. Without adequate resources for these areas, development and poverty reduction are impossible. I am glad that the G8 countries have come to the same conclusion. The objective of debt cancellation is to free up additional resources which can be devoted to working towards the millennium development goals of eradicating extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, etc. In this regard, Ireland intends to contribute €70 million to the IDA 14th replenishment to help ensure sufficient funding for loans and grants to less-developed countries. At the same time, it is clear that if borrowing by low-income countries is to be maintained at sustainable levels in the longer term, significant increases in ODA will be required, particularly by the larger economies.
With regard to the above, I take this opportunity to pay my own personal tribute to Bob Geldof and the DATA campaigners for their work in pushing debt issues at a global level.
EU Enlargement.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:174 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his EU colleagues have managed to resolve the outstanding issues relating to Cyprus in the context of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27276/05]
The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU enlargement process provided the impetus for the most recent efforts towards a settlement, which were undertaken by the UN Secretary General in the first half of 2004, during Ireland's EU Presidency. Ireland, as President of the EU, maintained close contact with the various parties concerned, in order to encourage their commitment to the negotiating process and to the achievement of an agreed outcome.
As a result of the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004 the accession to the EU of a united Cyprus on 1 May 2004 was not possible. Since 1 May 2004 the Republic of Cyprus has been a member state of the EU and in the absence of a comprehensive settlement, the application of the laws and regulations of the Union to the northern part of the island is suspended.
The matter has remained under consideration at the United Nations. In May of this year, following discussions with UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, the President of Cyprus, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos, sent an envoy to New York for preliminary informal talks with senior officials in the UN secretariat. As a result of these discussions, the Secretary General asked Mr. Kieran Prendergast, the Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to travel to Cyprus, Athens and Ankara to listen to the views of all parties on the future of the mission of good offices on Cyprus.
In June, Mr. Prendergast reported to the Security Council that despite certain positive elements, the gap between the stated positions of the parties on substance appeared to be wide. The Secretary General and United Nations officials continue to monitor the situation closely. The Government has strongly supported Secretary General Annan in his mission of good offices.
With regard to the EU enlargement process, on 29 July of this year, as part of the preparations for the opening of its accession negotiations and in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, Turkey signed the Ankara Agreement Protocol to take account of the accession of the new member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey also issued a declaration stating that its signature, ratification and implementation of the protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus referred to in the protocol. In response, on 21 September, the EU agreed and issued a counter-declaration recalling the status of the Republic of Cyprus as a member state of the EU. The counter-declaration also noted that recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process and underlined the importance the Union attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all member states as soon as possible. The EU negotiating framework for the Turkish accession negotiations, which opened on 3 October, reiterated the importance of progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.
In the context of the counter-declaration, the EU and its member states also agreed on the importance of supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General and that a just and lasting settlement would contribute to peace, stability and harmonious relations in the region.
The Government, together with our EU partners, remains ready to accommodate a settlement of the Cyprus problem based on the Secretary General's proposals and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:175 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position on EU enlargement with particular reference to the issue of Turkey and the Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27277/05]
On Monday the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, enabling the accession negotiations to open shortly thereafter. I very much welcome this development.
Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 which agreed that it was destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to the other candidate states. The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004 decided, on the basis of the Commission's report and recommendation, that Turkey sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria to enable the opening of accession negotiations. The Council therefore requested the Commission to begin work on a proposal for a negotiating framework and to present it to the Council, with a view to the opening of the accession negotiations on 3 October.
The shared objective of the negotiations is accession. It will be an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed in advance. The negotiations will be based on Turkey's own merits and the pace will depend on the country's progress in meeting requirements for membership. Given the financial consequences of Turkish accession, the framework makes clear that negotiations can only be concluded after the establishment of the financial framework for the period from 2014 together with possible consequential financial reforms. Throughout the negotiations, the Union will expect Turkey to sustain the process of reform which it has already begun, and to work towards further improvements including in respect of the principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Parallel to the negotiations, the Union will also engage with Turkey in an intensive political and civil society dialogue with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding.
The EU has taken a lead role in working with the countries of the western Balkans to consolidate peace and stability in the region, and to promote economic development and respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU-Western Balkans Summit, which was held in Thessaloniki in June 2003, agreed a shared agenda for progress towards the objective of the eventual integration of the countries of the region into EU structures.
In this context, I very much welcome that this week's Council gave the go-ahead to accession negotiations with Croatia, on the basis of a positive assessment of Croatia's co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia — ICTY — and that the accession negotiations opened on 4 October.
I also welcome this week's Council decision to authorise the Commission to open negotiations for a stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia and Montenegro. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia lodged its application for EU membership under the Irish EU Presidency in June 2004. The Commission opinion on the application is expected in November. This autumn the EU Commission is expected to issue its regular report on the stabilisation and association process in Albania. Negotiations for a stabilisation and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina will take place as soon as the relevant conditions relating to police reform have been met.
Departmental Agencies.
John Cregan
Ceist:176 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation in relation to the metrology unit in Enterprise Ireland; the reason it has lost interest in the metrology unit; the person who recommended that the unit transfer to NSAI; if there is not an inherent conflict in a national organisation attempting to offer both calibration and certification services to the same customers; if EU partners have not arrived at the same conclusion; the reason the metrology unit cannot stay where it is and where it works; if a move will take place; if it will not be logical to bring metrology and legal metrology together in a new body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27194/05]
The Metrology Act 1996 provided for the establishment of a legal metrology service within Forbairt and for its functions to be exercised through the Director of Legal Metrology. Section 21 of that Act deals exclusively with national metrology functions and defines the legal basis and locus of responsibility for functions related to all metrology in the State. Subsequently responsibility for metrology was transferred from Forbairt to the NSAI by virtue of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998. Section 51 of this Act also gave specific responsibility to NSAI "to promote the use and application of metrology in the State". The NSAI, therefore, has legislative responsibility for all metrology in the State.
The metrology laboratory is located on the Enterprise Ireland campus in Glasnevin. The laboratory carries out functions on behalf of the National Standards Authority of Ireland — NSAI — through its staff who are Forfás staff seconded to Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has been providing the necessary resources to NSAI, since 1998, through its staff working in the metrology laboratory, the cost of which is borne by NSAI.
It will be clear to the Deputy that the Oireachtas has already determined where responsibility for metrology functions lies, namely the NSAI. While the functions in this regard have been transferred, the budgetary arrangements supporting the activities of the laboratory, the transfer of ownership of the laboratory infrastructure and the regularisation of the position of staff working in the laboratory required further consideration. I advise the Deputy that the budgetary arrangements are now in place and that I expect the transfer of ownership of the laboratory to NSAI to take place shortly. On the single remaining issue discussions are taking place between my Department, management of the State agencies involved and staff representatives to regularise the position of the staff working in the laboratory.
Industrial Development.
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:177 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the developments which have taken place on the new IDA Ireland park in Tuam, County Galway; the cost of the project to date; the plans the IDA Ireland has to build advance factory-type units on the site; the efforts IDA Ireland has made to attract industry to the park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27203/05]
The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas for industrial development and it is not a role in which I have a direct function.
I understand from IDA Ireland that phase one of the development of the new Tuam Business and Technology Park was substantially completed in 2003 at a cost of approximately €3.5 million. This figure includes the cost of land acquisition. The construction of a minor estate access road and associated landscaping, costing approximately €200,000, have recently been completed.
The next stage of the project will be the building of advance technology units. The park will initially accommodate four units — two 5,000 sq. ft. units and two units of 7,500 sq. ft. — for which planning permission has been obtained from Galway County Council.
Planning permission is also currently being sought for a new advance technology building on a site adjacent to the park entrance. This 20,000 sq. ft. building will be designed to accommodate manufacturing-type operations but can also be converted to office based activity, if required.
I understand that the park is actively being marketed to potential overseas investors by IDA Ireland through its network of overseas offices and project divisions. I have no doubt that the availability of the flagship park together with the planned associated buildings will enhance the attractiveness of the area to potential overseas investors. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Tuam.
Semi-State Bodies.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:178 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to revelations of alleged illegal practices in relation to the voluntary severance scheme in Aer Lingus and his announcement of an investigation into same as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) dated 21 July 2005, the nature of his investigation; the person carrying out the investigation; the terms of reference which apply; and when he will receive a report on the matter. [27258/05]
In the absence of details of the alleged illegal practices, I am not in a position to supply specific information on the Deputy's question. I will, of course, be happy to respond on receipt of the information.
However, I am aware of recent complaints in the media against the company concerned, which made references to alleged bullying. My Department referred these complaints to the health and safety authority for investigation. The authority has confirmed that the company concerned has an up-to-date and comprehensive anti-bullying policy which is in compliance with the authority's code of practice. I also understand that no complaint of alleged bullying in the company concerned has been made to the authority but if such a complaint is received it will be duly investigated.
Social Welfare Code.
Paddy McHugh
Ceist:179 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will increase the amount allowed to be earned by a person of an old age contributory pensioner from the current amount of €88.88; if same will be increased in budget 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27187/05]
For the purposes of most other social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based on the income of the spouse or partner. A qualified adult increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse/partner's income is €88.88 per week or less and tapered reduced rates are payable where income is less than €220 per week. The lower threshold was last increased in budget 2000 while the upper threshold has been increased in each successive budget since then, from £135 in 2000 to €220 in budget 2005.
The position is being reviewed but any change in the current arrangements relating to entitlement to qualified adult allowances would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.
John Cregan
Ceist:180 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation in relation to a person (details supplied); the actual and percentage increase in adult dependant allowances in the past five years and ten years; the increase in threshold for claiming adult dependant allowance in relation to spouses in part-time work and still qualifying for adult dependant allowance; and if it has kept pace with rise in minimum wage rates; if a part-time working spouse works less hours than those worked ten years ago in order to qualify for the adult dependant allowances; and the old age entitlements for a person when they are 65 or 66 years of age. [27176/05]
The person concerned is an adult dependant on her husband's retirement pension. A reduced rate of increase for an adult dependant, IQA, is payable as the person is engaged in part-time work with a weekly income in excess of €88.88 per week, but less than €220.
One of the key objectives of the 2005 social welfare budget package was to protect and enhance the real value of all rates of payment. Budget 2005 provided for increases in the main personal rates of weekly payments ranging from 8.4% to 13.1% with the same percentage IQA increases. Similarly, the main rates of IQA were also increased by the same percentages thereby ensuring that they did not fall as a proportion of the associated personal rate.
Since the year 2000 the rate of IQA on retirement pension has increased by 53.6% or €43.06, while the consumer price index has risen by 18.8%. Similarly, since 1995, the rate of IQA has increased by 108.2% or €62.11 while the consumer price index has risen by 31.5%. This has given real increases of 29.3% and 8.2%, respectively.
For the purposes of most social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based on the income of the spouse or partner, An increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse-partner's income is €88.88 per week or less and tapered reduced rates are payable where income is between €88.88 and €220 per week. The lower threshold was last increased in budget 2000 while the upper threshold has been increased in each successive budget since then from €171.41 or £135 in 2000 to €220 in budget 2005.
When an adult dependant reaches age 65 or 66 he or she may qualify, respectively, for retirement pension or old age contributory pension in his or her own right, provided the contribution conditions are satisfied. If there is no entitlement to a pension or only a reduced entitlement which is lower than the adult dependant increase, the claimant can continue to claim the higher adult dependant increase.
Any change in the current arrangement relating to entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.
Michael Ring
Ceist:181 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons who are on the rural social scheme cannot get the fuel allowance if they were in receipt of a short-term payment prior to commencing the scheme; the number of persons affected by this ruling on a county basis; and his plans to include these persons for the fuel allowance. [27198/05]
The rural social scheme was introduced in May 2004 by my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to provide income support to low-income farmers and fishermen and their dependent spouses. The scheme is payable, subject to certain conditions, to people who have been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment or who had participated in community employment. The specified qualifying social welfare payment types are farm assist, unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, disability allowance and the FÁS community employment scheme.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has advised that fuel allowance payments will be made through the rural social scheme for participants who had an entitlement to fuel allowance previously under their relevant social welfare or employment scheme.
In general, people in receipt of short-term payments such as unemployment benefit-assistance or disability benefit do not qualify for a fuel allowance under the social welfare code. Any change in current arrangements would be a matter for consideration in a budgetary context.
Information on the numbers of persons in receipt of the rural social scheme who are ineligible for fuel allowance is not readily available in my Department. Any issues specific to entitlement or qualifying criteria under the rural social scheme are a matter for consideration by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the first instance.
Social Welfare Benefits.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:182 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason unemployment assistance supplementary welfare has been terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27262/05]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, HSE. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.
With effect from 1 May 2004, this scheme and other social assistance payments are subject to a statutory habitual residence test. An applicant whose habitual residence or "centre of interest" is deemed to be other than in this State or the common travel area has no entitlement to social assistance.
The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned had been in receipt of a reduced rate of supplementary welfare allowance for herself or her child, at a rate equivalent to that payable in the direct provision accommodation in which she had resided previously through the Reception and Integration Agency.
The HSE has further advised that it became aware subsequently that the person concerned had been in the United Kingdom for some time and had returned to this State. Following further review of her entitlements based on this information, the HSE determined that she no longer qualified for supplementary welfare allowance on habitual residence grounds. Her payment was terminated accordingly and she was referred to the Reception and Integration Agency so that her accommodation and other needs could be met.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision to the appeals officer in the relevant Health Service Executive area and, if necessary, then to the social welfare appeals office.
Social Welfare Code.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:183 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the arrangement whereby qualification for the family income supplement will be counted as means in the determination of eligibility for the household benefit package; if restricting qualification to the household benefit package in this way is an intended policy; if not, if he will undertake to address this anomaly in the context of budget 2006 and Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27266/05]
The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity-gas allowance, telephone allowance and free lifetime television licence schemes, is available to people living permanently in the State. People aged over 70 years can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. The package is also available to carers and to people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Decentralisation Programme.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:184 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when provincial based civil servants who have applied to transfer to the proposed Department of Transport offices in Loughrea, County Galway will receive an offer for transfer under the Government’s decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27189/05]
My Department is currently in discussion with the Department of Finance on various aspects of our decentralisation programme. We hope to issue an agreed letter to all our CAF applicants within the coming weeks.
Airport Development Projects.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:185 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport if he will initiate a cost benefit analysis prior to further consideration of an additional runway at Dublin Airport as required by the Department of Finance guidelines for projects costing over €50 million and considering that Fingal County Council has indicated that without a metro service between Dublin and Swords via Dublin Airport the future viability of the airport in its present form is in serious doubt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/05]
Proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport, including the planning and provision of runway capacity, are in the first instance a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airport and to provide such facilities and services as it considers necessary for aircraft and passengers.
The Dublin Airport Authority submitted its application for planning permission for a new parallel runway to Fingal County Council in December last and that application is currently being processed by the planning authority.
I am informed by the Dublin Airport Authority that the planning authority recently sought further clarification from the company on its planning application including information on forecast growth in passengers and aircraft movements and on a number of surface transport access issues. As the Deputy will be aware, for large infrastructural projects of this nature, it is not unusual for local planning authorities to request additional information.
I do not propose to initiate a cost benefit analysis of the runway project. Compliance with the Department of Finance guidelines on project appraisal is the responsibility of the management and board of the Dublin Airport Authority. I should also point out that the Commission for Aviation Regulation examines Dublin Airport Authority's capital investment programme as part of its regulation of airport charges.
Driving Tests.
Paddy McHugh
Ceist:186 Mr. McHugh asked the Minister for Transport his plans to close the driving test centre in Tuam, County Galway; if there are any proposals to close any driving test centres in the country; if any review is being carried out in relation to any driving test centre in the country; the reason for the reduction in the number of driving tests being carried out at Tuam in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27204/05]
There are no plans to close either the driving test centre in Tuam or any other driving test centre. The operation of all driving test centres is, however, kept under review to ensure that they meet the requirements of the driver testing service.
The recent reduction in the number of tests carried out in Tuam test centre was due to leave arrangements and training courses for testers serving that test centre.
Public Transport.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:187 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, further to Questions Nos. 813 and 814 of 28 September 2005, the specific point to point route covered by the ten Dublin Bus notifications in his reply which came under the categories, returned premature, application withdrawn by company, deferred prior application and section 25 application. [27240/05]
In accordance with standard procedures for processing notifications of proposed service changes by Dublin Bus, details of the notifications remain confidential until the Department has given a decision so as to protect the commercial interests of the operator.
In the case of decisions on applications under the categories, returned premature, section 25 applications and withdrawn by the company, my Department would not make details of such proposed operations for any bus operator available as this information would be considered to be commercially sensitive.
In the case of the application in 2004 for a new service under the category "deferred prior application", until such time as the prior application on hand and the subsequent consideration of the Dublin Bus proposal is finalised, and in accordance with standard practice, I am not in a position to provide the details requested by the Deputy.
Road Safety.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:188 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the regulations and guidelines set down by his Department for local authorities in respect of safety measures, signage and speed limits where a temporary road surface has been laid down; the statutory instrument reference in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27259/05]
As I indicated in response to Question No. 809 of 28 September 2005, the traffic signs manual sets out the directions and advice given to road authorities by the Minister for Transport pursuant to section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 regarding the provision and use of warning and information traffic signs. A copy of the manual is available in the Oireachtas Library. Chapter 8 of the manual contains advice on the signs to be deployed at road works. Responsibility for the provision, positioning, maintenance and monitoring of such traffic signs at road works locations on non-national roads is a matter for individual road authority and in the case of national roads, the National Roads Authority. The Department of Transport has been engaged in a comprehensive review of the traffic signs manual since late 2004, in association with the National Roads Authority and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Consultants have been engaged to prepare a new manual. It is intended that the use of the manual by road authorities will ensure a high quality of signposting in the State through uniformity of practice and the creation of a consistent approach to signing, including at road works.
Section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 provides that a county or city manager may make a road works speed limit order for the application of a speed limit on any road or part of a road, including a motorway, where road works are being carried out. A road works speed limit order can be applied for any period of not more than 12 months and the minimum speed limit that may be put in place by such an order is 30 km/h. This provision of the 2004 Act came into operation in January 2005. Before making an order under section 10, a county or city manager must give notice of the proposal to the Garda Commissioner and consider any representations made by the Commissioner. The consent of the National Roads Authority must be obtained in respect of any proposals to apply a road works speed limit on any part of a national road or a motorway. Notice of the making of a road works speed limit order must be published in one or more newspapers in circulation in the county or city where the road in respect of which the order is to have effect is located.
Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 provides for the application, by means of the making of by-laws by the elected members of local authorities, of special speed limits in lieu of the speed limits which apply on a default basis to roads and motorways. The section also provides that the Minister for Transport may issue guidelines to county and city councils on the making of special speed limit by-laws. I issued such guidelines on 18 April 2005 and they include a specific reference to the deployment of speed limits at road works. A copy of the guidelines is available in the Oireachtas Library and may also be viewed on the Department of Transport's website, www.transport.ie, under the heading of roads — publications. The determination of the speed limit that should apply at particular locations in lieu of a default speed limit is a matter for the elected members of local authorities in the case of special speed limit by-laws and for county and city managers in the case of road works speed limit orders.
The National Roads Authority has published a detailed list of guideline and information documents on various aspects of road maintenance on its website, www.nra.ie, under the heading of road design and construction — publications and resources. Further technical guidance and publications are provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on its website, www.environ.ie, under the heading of roads division — publications.
Road Network.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:189 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the estimate available on the cost of providing an eastern bypass around Dublin. [27263/05]
The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the relevant local authorities. I understand from the authority that a study of an eastern bypass of Dublin city, which was conducted in 2002, indicated that the cost, based on this preliminary analysis, would be at least €1.4 billion in January 2002 prices. The estimate was qualified as being an initial estimate — broad assumptions were made about land costs. It specifically excluded the cost of necessary special environmental protection measures, the cost consequences of the EU tunnel directive and the costs of the constraints on construction efficiency due to residential proximity and traffic management needs.
Public Transport.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:190 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent on integrated ticketing since the RPA was appointed to the project. [27267/05]
In March 2002, the Railway Procurement Agency was given statutory responsibility, under SI No. 84 of 2002, for the delivery of a multi-operator system of integrated ticketing. A subsequent departmental mandate to the agency set out the policy context. The proposed contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system will enable a passenger to use a ticket on one or more scheduled public transport services, by road and by rail, irrespective of the transport operator involved. It will be introduced on a phased basis, initially in the Dublin area. Pursuant to the departmental mandate, a project plan for a contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system was agreed with the agency. The project plan for the delivery of integrated ticketing consists of four key distinct phases. The first phase, the economic evaluation of the project, has been completed. The second phase, the definition of the integrated ticketing system, incorporating design, has been carried out in consultation with the stakeholders and the public. The third phase, the procurement process, commenced in 2004. The target dates for the implementation of the fourth phase, the installation and commissioning of the system, are under discussion following the inconclusive procurement procedure.
Since its establishment in 2002, the Department of Transport has overseen this project through a monthly monitoring committee, comprising officials and Railway Procurement Agency staff. The agency established the integrated ticketing scheme unit to deal specifically with the delivery of the system. The project team chairs a steering committee comprising representatives of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Luas, the Coach Tourism and Transport Council for private licensed bus operators, the Dublin Transportation Office, as well as officials from the Departments of Social and Family Affairs and Transport. The agency participates in various working groups with the transport operators and others. It contracted TNS MRBI to undertake a public consultation a view to obtaining consumer input on the development of integrated ticketing. The results of the survey affirmed the validity of the departmental mandate to the agency, as it found that there is significant demand for integrated ticketing.
The phased roll-out of integrated ticketing using smartcard technology is taking place in line with international experience. Such systems have been or are being deployed in cities, regions and countries throughout Europe and the world, including London, Paris, Hong Kong, Washington DC, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and Denmark. In April 2004 a private operator, Morton's Coaches, in conjunction with the Railway Procurement Agency and as a "proof of concept", successfully launched smartcards on its services. Last March, another step was taken with the launch of smartcards on Luas services. The Luas smartcard deployment is helping to obtain important feedback from passengers and to provide operational experience for the next stage of integrated ticketing. Approximately 1,000 smart cards are being used by customers of Morton's Coaches and some 8,500 smart cards are in use on Luas services.
Some €8.536 million of Exchequer funds has been spent on integrated ticketing since the RPA was appointed to undertake the project. Some €349,000 was spent on the first phase — project appraisal and related activities — in 2002. Some €3.615 million was spent on the second phase — the national design of integrated ticketing, including the proof of concept with Morton's Coaches, the public consultation and related activities — between 2003 and mid-2004. Some €4.572 million has been spent on the third phase of the project — procurement, incorporating the Luas smart card deployment and system integration work to facilitate multi-operator and multi-equipment supplier support for the project, and related activities — since 2004.
Social Welfare Benefits.
Michael Ring
Ceist:191 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who is on a rural social scheme is not in receipt of the fuel allowance. [27199/05]
Payment of fuel allowance under the rural social scheme is made to participants in the scheme who qualify for the allowance and for whom formal confirmation of entitlement to the allowance has been obtained from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. South West Mayo Development Company Limited, which implements the scheme on behalf of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the relevant area, has informed the Department that it has obtained formal confirmation from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that there is no entitlement to fuel allowance in this case.
Security of the Elderly.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:192 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the financial allocation which was made available in each of the past five years to provide personal alarm pendants to old age pensioners who require same; and the number of pendants which were issued in each of those years. [27254/05]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 174 of 28 April 2005. The processing of applications received under the 2005 scheme is ongoing. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs expects to make the first payments to qualifying organisations shortly.
Social Welfare Benefits.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:193 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the income eligibility criteria for the rural social economy scheme and the rates of payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/05]
If applicants are to be deemed eligible to participate in the rural social scheme they must be in receipt of farm assist or have a valid herd or flock number, and they must be in receipt of one of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit if they were previously on a community employment scheme, or disability allowance. Alternatively, they must be engaged in sea fishing as a self-employed person on a fishing boat entered in the register of fishing boats, or on a fishing boat and in a place in respect of which a licence for fishing for salmon at sea has been issued. In the latter set of circumstances, they must be in receipt of one of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit if they were previously on a community employment scheme, or disability allowance. Any persons participating in a FÁS community employment scheme who meet the above eligibility criteria have the option to transfer to the rural social scheme. Participants in the scheme are not permitted to undertake any other employment, apart from their primary farming and fishing work, which yields a payment of more that €88.88 per week. The rates of payment under the scheme, effective from 1 January 2005, are set out in the following table:
|
Participant Category |
Total Weekly Payment |
|
€ |
|
|
Participant without Adult or Child Dependant(s) |
173.20 |
|
Participant with Adult Dependant |
271.90 |
|
Each Child Dependant (Full Rate) |
16.80 |
|
Each Child Dependant (Half Rate) |
8.40 |
Grant Payments.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:194 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if arrangements will be made for payments of grants under the 2004 EU special beef premium scheme which are outstanding to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [27192/05]
An application under the 2004 special beef premium scheme in respect of 24 animals was received from the person in question on 30 December 2004. Following computer validation of the application, it was found that 11 of the animals concerned were non-CMMS compliant. The animals were not registered on the CMMS database as being in the herd of the person named on the date of application for the premium. This is a basic requirement of the scheme and EU regulations provide that penalties should apply in such instances. Permission to move the animals was granted to the person in question on 16 December 2004 and the completed movement notification was returned on 8 March 2005. The Department of Agriculture and Food had notified the person in question, by letter dated 23 February 2005, that the animals were non-CMMS compliant. In appealing the decision to reject the animals, the person maintained that the movement notification had been forwarded prior to the application under the scheme being submitted. There is no evidence of this, however. The only record in the Department is the receipt of the movement notification of 8 March 2005. Therefore, the Department has no alternative but to apply the proposed penalty. It is open to the person in question to appeal the decision to the agriculture appeals office if she wishes to do so.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:195 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason her Department is refusing to transfer the entitlements of a person (details supplied) even though the herd number has been transferred for over 12 months. [27208/05]
An application for the transfer of single payment entitlements by means of inheritance was submitted in this case to the Department of Agriculture and Food in December 2004. It was found that evidence of transfer of ownership had not been received with the application, however. The Department issued a letter on 14 February 2005 requesting the required documentation. Reminders were issued on 14 April 2005 and 4 October 2005, but the documentation does not appear to have been submitted. The application for inheritance cannot be processed by the Department until the requested documentation has been submitted.
State Property.
Michael Ring
Ceist:196 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is satisfied with all the procedures in relation to the selling of Coillte land to a company (details supplied); the steps which were taken in these negotiations; if Coillte obeyed the protocol and guidelines; if this company consulted with local persons; if it reinvested some of this money on the land which was sold which is supposed to be done by Coillte when local land is sold in a local area; the area in which the money was invested; the amount of money which was reinvested in that local area; the amount the land was sold to the company for and the price; if the sale was put out for public tender; if so, the number of tenders which were received; the person who was the highest tender; the amount of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27212/05]
Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale of land and issues surrounding the sale of land, are the responsibility of the company. Under section 14 of the Forestry Act 1988 and the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, Coillte has certain responsibilities and duties when selling land. I am satisfied that all such obligations and duties were properly discharged by Coillte in this instance. Notwithstanding the fact that Coillte is a private commercial company, I have made some inquiries on foot of the Deputy's queries. I understand that Coillte did not consult the local community prior to the sale of the land in question. A requirement for consultation is now part of Coillte's procedures, but that was not the case when this sale was negotiated. The receipts from the sale were used in the management and development of the company's overall activities. There was no specific reinvestment of the receipts in the local area. The sale of the 400 acres in question, which realised €2.75 million, was negotiated by private contract and was not the subject of a tendering process.
Visa Applications.
John Curran
Ceist:197 Mr. Curran asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 for permission to remain here will be made. [27170/05]
The person in question made an application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national in September 2003. The application was considered and a positive decision was issued on 21 April 2005 to the last notified address on file. All such notifications are issued by registered post. However it is noted that the last notified address is different to the address the Deputy supplied in the details. As there is no record of the registered letter issued on 21 April 2005 being returned to the Department the person in question should contact the immigration division of my Department in writing with her current address. At that point the notification letter can be re-issued.
Proposed Legislation.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:198 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will amend the Coroners Act 1962 to remove the restriction on the number of medical or other witnesses a coroner may call during an inquest; if he will list the recommendations contained in the report of the coroners review group published in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27179/05]
I refer the Deputy to my answer to Questions Nos. 1003 and 1004 of 28 September 2005.
Child Care Services.
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:199 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the serious plight of a playgroup (details supplied) in west Cavan where, without a staffing grant, it will not be able to continue to give a service in one of the most isolated areas in the country; if he will ensure that this essential service is not closed down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27241/05]
I understand that an application for continuation staffing grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-2006 was submitted by the group in question to my Department some time ago. Each application for funding undergoes a thorough assessment by Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which has been engaged by my Department to carry out the day to day administration of the programme. All assessed applications are then considered by the programme appraisal committee, PAC, which is chaired by my Department, before a final decision is made regarding funding.
The assessment on the group's application was completed by ADM and it was referred to the PAC for consideration. In the light of all information available at that stage, the PAC was unable to recommend the project for funding under the staffing measure of the EOCP as the demand for the service in the area was not substantiated. Accordingly, it was not possible to make EOCP staffing funding available to the group on that occasion.
An appeal of this decision has been lodged by the group in question to my Department. In line with normal practice when an appeal is lodged, I understand that ADM is re-examining the application and any additional information supplied in its support and that this process is in the final stages of assessment. When this is completed, the appeal will be re-submitted to the PAC for consideration following which a decision on the grant application will be made and communicated to the group at the earliest possible date. In the event that an appeal is unsuccessful, it is open to a group to reapply should the circumstances change.
Registration of Title.
Gerard Murphy
Ceist:200 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [27243/05]
I have requested the Land Registry to contact the Deputy directly concerning the current position of the application in question.
Garda Operations.
John Deasy
Ceist:201 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the establishment of joint local policing committees will require boundary changes to Garda operational divisions; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27283/05]
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee by a local authority and the Garda Commissioner to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority's administrative area. The Garda Commissioner will nominate members of the Garda Síochána of appropriate rank and seniority to the committee.
While the establishment of the committees will not of itself require boundary changes to Garda divisions and districts, there are practical arguments, both in relation to the committees and more generally, in favour of the greatest possible alignment of Garda and local government boundaries. This issue is being examined in the context of the national spatial strategy, the strategic management initiative programme of Garda modernisation and implementation of the Garda Síochána Act.
Crime Levels.
John Deasy
Ceist:202 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded headline crimes per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27284/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy on this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:203 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded domestic burglaries per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27285/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy on this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:204 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the percentage of the total recorded domestic burglaries between January 2002 and 30 June 2005 that were repeat burglaries in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions. [27286/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy on this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:205 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded commercial burglaries per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27287/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy on this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:206 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the percentage of the total recorded commercial burglaries between January 2002 and 30 June 2005 that were repeat burglaries in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions. [27288/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:207 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded vehicle crimes per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27289/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:208 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of recorded sexual offences per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27290/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:209 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of reported domestic violence incidents per 1,000 of population in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway west, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and for the first six months of 2005. [27291/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
John Deasy
Ceist:210 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the percentage of the total reported domestic violence incidents between January 2002 and 30 June 2005 that involved repeat victims of domestic violence incidents, in the Dublin metropolitan region and the Cork city, Cork west, Cork north, Limerick, Galway West, and Waterford-Kilkenny divisions. [27292/05]
I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy in relation to this matter when it becomes available.
Registration of Title.
Michael Noonan
Ceist:211 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Land Registry office will finalise the land issue for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [27294/05]
I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.
Visa Applications.
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:212 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy with regard to granting visas to the spouses and children of non-EU workers who are in Ireland under work permits; if the failure to grant such visas acts as a disincentive to potential migrant workers and acts to cut short the time that workers remain here; the way in which the failure to provide such visas acts to undermine the integrity of the families of skilled workers providing essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27295/05]
Ireland's policy on family reunification is broadly in compliance with international standards and operates in the following manner. There is no general policy of restriction in operation for family reunion where the family members in question are not visa required. The only caveat is that the worker in question must be in a position to support the family without recourse to public funds. The spouses and children of the majority of foreign national workers in the State fall into this category.
The general condition for visa required family members of non-EEA national workers is that before they may be joined by their families, the worker must have been legally resident in the State for 12 months and must have been offered employment for a further 12 months. Again, this is subject to the worker being able to support the family without recourse to public funds.
In 2000, the aforementioned 12 month waiting period was reduced to three months by my predecessor in the case of the family members of workers employed in certain specified high skills areas covered by the working visa programme.
The considerations underpinning the policy for visa required families are to ensure that the worker's presence in Ireland has a degree of stability and is likely to be for the longer term. Our practice avoids a family joining a worker whose employment situation is not yet up and running and where that position may prove to be short term.
The family reunification conditions have not proved to be a disincentive to migrant workers as the number of work permits issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has been significant with around 100,000 new permits, excluding renewals, issued in the last five years.
The level of renewal of work permits has also been high. In 2004, approximately 68% of all permits issued were renewals. This would not indicate any significant outflow of work permit holders from the economy. I will examine the issue of family reunification fully in the context of the development of the proposed Immigration and Residence Bill.
Peace Commissioners.
Dan Boyle
Ceist:213 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of approved peace commissioners under the name (details supplied) and the locations in which they are situated. [27297/05]
I understand that there is one serving peace commissioner corresponding to the name as supplied by the Deputy. This person acts as a peace commissioner in the Dungarvan sub-district of County Waterford.
Departmental Programmes.
Charlie O'Connor
Ceist:214 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the implementation of the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27181/05]
DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new action plan for educational inclusion, which will be introduced on a phased basis, starting during the current school year, aims to ensure that the educational needs of children and young people, from pre-school to completion of upper second-level education — three to 18 years — from disadvantaged communities are prioritised and effectively addressed. The new plan is the outcome of the first full review of all programmes for tackling educational disadvantage that have been put in place over the past 20 years and it will involve an additional annual investment of some €40 million on full implementation. It will also involve the creation of about 300 additional posts across the education system generally.
A key element of this new action plan is the putting in place of a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage in our primary and second-level schools, which will result in improved targeting of resources at those most in need. The identification and analysis processes are being managed by the Educational Research Centre on behalf of my Department.
As a result of the identification process, approximately 600 primary schools, comprising 300 urban-town and 300 rural, and 150 second-level schools will be included in a new school support programme, SSP. The SSP will bring together, and build upon, a number of existing interventions for schools and school clusters-communities with a concentrated level of educational disadvantage. We anticipate being in a position to notify participating schools in relation to the outcome of the ongoing identification process by the end of the year.
School Closures.
John Cregan
Ceist:215 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation on the closure of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if arrangements for closure, transfer of children, final closure date and so on have been agreed with her Department; and if there is sufficient school capacity in the area in view of the building of new housing schemes. [27182/05]
The school, which is an all-boys senior primary school, will close on a phased basis culminating in final closure in June 2007. To facilitate pupils who would ordinarily have attended this school, the Department of Education and Science has sanctioned a request for a change of status from a neighbouring school. This will enable the enrolment of senior boys into this school which, heretofore, catered for mixed infants and senior girls only. Given the pattern of declining enrolments in the area in which the closing school is located, I am satisfied there is adequate capacity to cater for current and future demand for pupil places.
School Transport.
Michael Ring
Ceist:216 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if school transport will be provided to children (details supplied) in County Mayo. [27206/05]
Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme, children are eligible, subject to conditions, for free transport to their nearest national school or school of amalgamation. Pupils not attending their nearest national school may, subject to conditions, avail of concessionary fare-paying transport to another school, subject to spare accommodation being available on the bus and provided that no extra State cost is incurred by extending or re-routing the service. Pupils who do not meet the distance requirement may also avail of concessionary fare-paying transport subject to similar conditions.
The eligibility of the pupils in question for concessionary fare-paying transport was assessed by Bus Éireann, which organises school transport on behalf of the Department of Education and Science, subject to the usual terms of the school transport scheme. The Department of Education and Science understands that after all eligible pupils were accommodated on the service concerned, there was not sufficient spare accommodation to facilitate all the pupils applying for concessionary fare-paying transport, including the pupils in question.
Schools Recognition.
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:217 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Question No. 1187 of 28 September 2005, the reason a letter from the school planning section referred to in the question was not received and a letter of clarification was not returned; when acknowledgement of the correspondence will be received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27207/05]
The school planning section of the Department of Education and Science wrote to the chairperson of the group proposing the development of the school in question in July 2005. This letter requested clarification on where exactly it was intended to establish the school. A response from the chairperson was received later that month indicating a preferred location. A further letter recently issued to the chairperson explaining that the Department is carrying out a review of the overall need at primary and post-primary level in the area in question. The proposer's application will be considered in this context.
Third Level Education.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:218 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Question Nos 1124 and 1126 of 28 September 2005, if she will address the issue of participation in university as distinct from participation in higher education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27218/05]
The findings from the HEA report on participation in higher education in 2003 show that the Irish participation rate in higher education stands at 54% up from 44% from the year 1998 and the Government has increased third level places by 30,000 since 1998. I am committed to increasing this participation rate. The capacity to realise this increase lies within the system as a whole, rather than any particular sector.
While I have accepted the principle of continuing with the binary model of higher education, I also accept that all our higher education institutions should play to their strengths, irrespective of whether they are an institute of technology or a university. Both sectors are equally important and relevant to the economy and both play a critical role in meeting skills needs and furthering our objective to become a knowledge society. The OECD report, Review of Higher Education, noted that one of the strengths of our higher education system is the extent to which a diversity of mission has been maintained between the university and institute of technology sectors.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:219 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science her proposals for the south-east region to bring about a participation rate at university in line with the participation rate at university in the western region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27219/05]
The latest Higher Education Authority review of participation rates in higher education relates to 2003. This indicates that, nationally, participation rates in higher education as a percentage of 17 to 19 year olds stood at 54%. This was up from 44% in 1998. The report showed that higher education participation rates in the south-east region in 2003 were above the national average. The rates for each of the counties in the region were Waterford, 58%; Kilkenny, 54%; Wexford, 57%; Carlow, 57% and Tipperary61%. These figures reflect a good relative level of accessibility to higher education in the region, which is served by Waterford IT, Carlow IT and the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute. The highest rates of participation were to be found in County Leitrim, 75%, while the lowest were to be found in parts of Dublin.
A national office for equity of access to higher education has been established within the Higher Education Authority with a remit to identify and address the range of factors that may be giving rise to inequitable levels of access to higher education on geographical, socio-economic or other grounds. The office is working on the implementation of an action plan for achieving equity of access to higher education, which I launched in December 2004. The action plan identifies six key goals under which a range of interventions and initiatives are proposed. This reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring that the benefits of higher education are widely and equitably available in the interests of enhanced personal development opportunity and a range of wider social and economic benefits for the State.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:220 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of recurrent funding and capital investment in third level infrastructure provided for each of the universities and institutes of technology for each of the years 1997 to 2005, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27220/05]
Details of recurrent funding and capital investment paid in respect of third level infrastructure for each university and institute of technology are provided in the following tables for the period 1997 up to and including payments to date in 2005. In addition to the capital investment paid to individual institutions, an amount of €136,240,088 has been paid to the HEA under the programme for research and development in third level institutions from 2000 to date.
|
Annual Recurrent Funding provided by Department to HEA sector |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005(to 3/10/05) |
|
|
Institution |
Grant inc. Free Fees |
||||||||
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
National University of Ireland |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
13,000 |
|
University College Dublin |
89,547,000 |
102,493,000 |
109,901,000 |
116,124,000 |
131,717,000 |
145,436,000 |
153,561,000 |
152,592,000 |
152,516,000 |
|
University College Cork |
54,015,000 |
62,857,000 |
71,634,000 |
75,888,000 |
89,033,000 |
94,863,000 |
99,710,000 |
100,938,000 |
103,487,000 |
|
National University of Ireland Galway |
37,914,000 |
44,036,000 |
48,908,000 |
53,521,000 |
63,557,000 |
72,998,000 |
76,611,000 |
77,125,000 |
80,282,000 |
|
National University of Ireland Maynooth |
18,796,000 |
21,018,000 |
25,976,000 |
26,940,000 |
31,131,000 |
35,156,000 |
36,722,000 |
37,355,000 |
39,424,000 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
59,308,000 |
66,604,000 |
73,624,000 |
80,178,000 |
93,061,000 |
101,337,000 |
108,946,000 |
107,784,000 |
109,227,000 |
|
Dublin City University |
29,200,000 |
34,411,000 |
39,323,000 |
44,704,000 |
50,610,000 |
58,260,000 |
62,461,000 |
63,817,000 |
62,201,000 |
|
University of Limerick |
36,646,000 |
43,090,000 |
50,962,000 |
58,112,000 |
65,835,000 |
70,920,000 |
74,771,000 |
75,153,000 |
76,390,000 |
|
National College of Art & Design |
6,566,000 |
7,293,000 |
7,835,000 |
8,393,000 |
10,348,000 |
9,605,000 |
11,283,000 |
11,038,000 |
10,781,000 |
|
Royal College of Surgeons |
— |
— |
— |
40,000 |
75,000 |
909,000 |
1,724,000 |
1,751,000 |
2,227,000 |
|
Royal Irish Academy |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2,553,000 |
2,826,000 |
2,973,000 |
2,983,000 |
2,930,000 |
|
NCEA/other |
170,000 |
170,000 |
254,000 |
3,428,000 |
— |
— |
— |
0 |
0 |
|
Totals |
332,175,000 |
381,985,000 |
428,430,000 |
467,341,000 |
537,933,000 |
592,323,000 |
628,775,000 |
630,549,000 |
639,478,000 |
Notes: DCU includes St. Patricks College, Drumcondra & Mater Dei.
UL includes Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
The 2005 allocation to the HEA sector is €671,608 million.
|
Recurrent Funding to Institutes of Technology 1997 to 2005 |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Institute |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005* |
|
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
|
|
Athlone Institute of Technology |
11,403 |
12,282 |
13,706 |
14,894 |
17,514 |
19,270 |
21,526 |
22,904 |
22,995 |
|
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown |
0 |
236 |
2,240 |
4,112 |
5,721 |
7,822 |
9,666 |
10,627 |
10,688 |
|
Institute of Technology, Carlow |
11,457 |
11,966 |
13,425 |
14,832 |
16,715 |
18,126 |
19,171 |
14,812 |
20,524 |
|
Cork Institute of Technology |
26,507 |
30,446 |
33,224 |
39,582 |
45,659 |
48,766 |
53,248 |
55,476 |
52,849 |
|
Dublin Institute of Technology |
70,300 |
74,491 |
82,683 |
88,946 |
99,768 |
106,097 |
112,618 |
120,156 |
122,179 |
|
Dundalk Institute of Technology |
10,542 |
11,047 |
8,077 |
10,084 |
17,598 |
19,551 |
21,129 |
22,000 |
22,438 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology |
2,910 |
4,635 |
10,503 |
12,509 |
10,098 |
10,865 |
11,846 |
10,387 |
12,895 |
|
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology |
17,540 |
19,559 |
21,707 |
25,192 |
28,542 |
31,408 |
33,776 |
35,273 |
36,271 |
|
Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
8,132 |
8,879 |
9,761 |
11,172 |
12,832 |
13,975 |
15,167 |
16,265 |
16,119 |
|
Limerick Institute of Technology |
12,238 |
13,183 |
14,831 |
17,621 |
19,397 |
20,737 |
22,724 |
23,385 |
24,134 |
|
Institute of Technology, Sligo |
11,193 |
12,157 |
13,665 |
15,819 |
18,902 |
20,782 |
21,954 |
23,743 |
22,974 |
|
Institute of Technology, Tallaght |
9,021 |
9,208 |
10,770 |
13,403 |
13,947 |
17,959 |
18,869 |
19,771 |
20,125 |
|
Institute of Technology Tralee |
9,723 |
10,554 |
11,722 |
13,984 |
15,796 |
18,956 |
20,029 |
20,832 |
20,653 |
|
Waterford Institute of Technology |
16,090 |
18,866 |
21,284 |
24,997 |
30,754 |
33,541 |
35,911 |
38,798 |
38,959 |
|
Tipperary Rural & Business Development Institute |
1,009 |
1,148 |
2,677 |
5,445 |
7,109 |
8,074 |
8,257 |
8,903 |
9,164 |
|
Tourism College, Killybegs |
1,057 |
1,206 |
1,402 |
1,898 |
2,344 |
2,211 |
2,401 |
2,813 |
2,901 |
|
Other |
328 |
2,546 |
3,224 |
2,387 |
2,164 |
6,465 |
5,458 |
5,192 |
|
|
Totals |
219,450 |
242,409 |
274,901 |
316,877 |
364,860 |
404,605 |
433,750 |
451,337 |
455,866 |
Funding comprises: recurrent grant, tuition fees in respect of students on certificate, diploma and degree courses and student services charge for students eligible for third level trainee grant.
* 2005 figures are provisional figures.
|
Capital Funding Provided to Universities 1997-2005 |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Institute |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 to03/10/05 |
|
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
€000s |
|
|
National University of Ireland Dublin |
1,502 |
150 |
1,626 |
12,269 |
29,533 |
16,933 |
5,611 |
7,563 |
2,445 |
|
National University of Ireland, Cork |
3,778 |
2,193 |
3,568 |
12,253 |
12,776 |
4,574 |
1,528 |
5,449 |
4,699 |
|
National University of Ireland, Galway |
421 |
2,426 |
8,512 |
12,080 |
4,051 |
5,896 |
308 |
5,000 |
2,225 |
|
National University of Ireland, Maynooth |
3,999 |
5,152 |
2,402 |
9,336 |
2,983 |
15,075 |
3,009 |
0 |
0 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
3,627 |
1,380 |
3,260 |
18,216 |
13,018 |
7,672 |
2,990 |
2,316 |
513 |
|
University of Limerick |
5,970 |
3,128 |
9,747 |
5,533 |
3,754 |
2,832 |
332 |
2,177 |
1,890 |
|
Dublin City University |
3,174 |
4,566 |
9,877 |
30,984 |
24,530 |
12,478 |
4,263 |
397 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
22,471 |
18,995 |
38,992 |
100,671 |
90,645 |
65,460 |
18,041 |
22,902 |
11,772 |
|
Institute |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 to 03/10/05 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Athlone Institute of Technology |
807,747 |
1,631,649 |
1,220,267 |
2,507,122 |
8,093,350 |
9,884,702 |
4,080,222 |
2,162,548 |
810,289 |
|
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown |
0 |
22,304 |
9,714,144 |
4,646,450 |
21,803,685 |
38,155,492 |
192,788 |
1,706,869 |
153,547 |
|
Institute of Technology, Carlow |
2,102,594 |
4,398,497 |
10,353,817 |
5,787,565 |
3,294,755 |
1,022,896 |
1,679,799 |
1,155,424 |
196,894 |
|
Cork Institute of Technology |
3,621,620 |
7,631,968 |
5,329,678 |
13,771,500 |
10,646,553 |
6,220,238 |
4,814,065 |
14,986,687 |
8,828,282 |
|
Dublin Institute of Technology |
3,914,860 |
4,064,486 |
3,957,091 |
15,398,339 |
26,287,314 |
25,440,476 |
5,247,232 |
8,832,483 |
1,292,162 |
|
Dundalk Institute of Technology |
2,153,921 |
4,205,707 |
3,314,488 |
10,946,875 |
23,880,381 |
6,943,005 |
729,480 |
1,095,527 |
366,211 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology |
1,328,854 |
6,455,954 |
3,687,804 |
2,372,496 |
1,955,696 |
1,814,566 |
5,080,889 |
1,093,572 |
537,632 |
|
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology |
6,352,984 |
1,887,752 |
2,754,739 |
7,291,713 |
11,792,381 |
16,463,474 |
4,202,436 |
2,482,643 |
595,429 |
|
Killybegs Tourism College |
30,640 |
34,864 |
274,406 |
613,360 |
2,204,668 |
657,385 |
84,965 |
422,275 |
37,939 |
|
Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
7,019,530 |
1,336,114 |
1,634,458 |
4,735,072 |
3,319,523 |
5,463,658 |
8,510,191 |
2,221,809 |
172,430 |
|
Limerick Institute of Technology |
3,490,959 |
2,861,939 |
3,566,273 |
4,418,757 |
10,372,147 |
5,975,184 |
2,007,548 |
1,746,160 |
579,786 |
|
Institute of Technology, Sligo |
1,316,210 |
5,220,967 |
6,529,498 |
7,972,447 |
9,038,967 |
9,522,911 |
267,739 |
1,416,793 |
364,120 |
|
Institute of Technology, Tallaght |
7,221,237 |
2,223,046 |
8,728,016 |
5,918,457 |
9,624,349 |
0 |
120,485 |
1,053,677 |
203,803 |
|
Institute of Technology, Tralee |
1,196,574 |
1,961,165 |
2,584,234 |
11,860,076 |
12,188,422 |
2,201,025 |
927,508 |
1,143,086 |
286,033 |
|
Tipperary, Rural and Business Development Institute |
1,174,289 |
2,684,691 |
11,772,557 |
4,912,457 |
1,472,840 |
585,098 |
19,533 |
258,452 |
53,262 |
|
Waterford Institute of Technology |
1,923,007 |
4,159,705 |
8,413,369 |
9,779,266 |
8,332,032 |
7,676,040 |
8,697,184 |
2,596,097 |
541,556 |
|
Annual Total |
43,655,026 |
50,780,808 |
83,834,839 |
112,931,952 |
164,307,063 |
138,026,150 |
46,662,064 |
44,374,102 |
15,019,375 |
Note: Amounts provided relate to not only state funded capital investment programmes, but include also capital programmes part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Scientific and Technological (Investment) Fund.
School Transport.
Pat Carey
Ceist:221 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if the needs of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be assessed with a view to providing appropriate transport for them as they are receiving short-term support from the Health Service Executive which is due to end shortly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27221/05]
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport service on behalf of my Department, has been asked to provide a report on the case referred to by the Deputy. When the report is received and considered, my Department will advise the Deputy of the position.
Special Educational Needs.
John McGuinness
Ceist:222 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the progress in providing full learning supports in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if her Department will establish a special unit attached to a mainstream primary school consisting of a teacher with language and visual based learning skills and a special needs assistant to cater for up to 12 children; if a decision in the specific case will be mentioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27223/05]
The representatives of the National Educational Welfare Board and the National Council for Special Education are liaising with the parents of the children in question to ensure that appropriate educational provision is made available for the children.
Inquiry into Child Abuse.
John Gormley
Ceist:223 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there was no practice of regulatory inspections carried out at a home (details supplied) in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27245/05]
The Department of Education and Science was not responsible for placing people in this home and therefore had no regulatory function to exercise at the home.
Michael Ring
Ceist:224 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if hospitals will be included in the promised legislation to be brought before Dáil Éireann in relation to the redress board in order that persons will have redress to hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27246/05]
The Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides a statutory scheme of financial redress for persons who, as children, were abused while in residential institutional care for which the State had a regulatory or supervisory responsibility.
The scheme applies in respect of institutions specified in the Schedule to the Act. Section 4 of the Act provides that the Minister for Education and Science may, by order, provide for the insertion in the Schedule of any industrial school, reformatory school, orphanage, children's home, special school which was established for the purpose of providing education services to children with a physical or intellectual disability or a hospital providing medical or psychiatric services to people with a physical or mental disability or mental illness in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function.
Since the enactment of the legislation, my Department has been contacted by individuals and or solicitors with regard to various institutions not specified in the Schedule. Following consideration of the matter and consultation with relevant public bodies, I signed an order on 9 November 2004 which provided for the inclusion of 13 additional institutions in the Schedule. A further order was made on 1 July 2005 adding three institutions to the Schedule.
The question of including additional institutions has now been fully considered by my Department in consultation with relevant Departments and it is not proposed to add any further institutions or hospitals to the Schedule at this point.
Grant Payments.
Emmet Stagg
Ceist:225 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a grant will be allocated to Kildare County Council under the local authority playground grants scheme in respect of a children’s playground for Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27166/05]
My Department is providing funding of €2 million to local authorities for the provision of playground facilities in 2005. Each city and county council, including Kildare County Council, has been allocated €60,000 to meet the cost of purchase and delivery of play equipment. The location of the playgrounds which are to benefit from these allocations is a matter for local authorities to decide.
Motor Vehicle Registration.
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:226 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason London Transport has access to the ownership records of Irish motor vehicles; the provisions under which such information is being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27188/05]
Section 60(3) of the Finance Act 1993 specifies a range of bodies, including the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda, who shall have access to and may inspect and examine, records in respect of vehicle and driving licences. The competent authorities for licensing vehicles and drivers in other EU member states are also among the bodies empowered in this connection. The relevant competent authority in the United Kingdom is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, DVLA.
Grant Payments.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:227 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be issued with a top-up payment for bog purchased by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27183/05]
In July 2004 my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs and turbary rights to my Department.
The person referred to is one of those who participated in the 1999 scheme. The detailed application of the retrospection provisions in this case is being examined and will be communicated to the landowner as soon as is possible.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:228 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be issued with a top-up payment for bog purchased by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27184/05]
In July 2004 my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs and turbary rights to my Department.
The person referred to is one of those who participated in the 1999 scheme. The detailed application of the retrospection provisions in this case is being examined and will be communicated to the landowner as soon as is possible.
EU Directives.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:229 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the considerations which gave rise to his Department’s delay until 2003 in implementing new energy efficiency standards for housing; the basis on which developers have been permitted to build houses to the energy efficiency standards of the unrevised 1997 regulations up to the end of 2005; if the EU energy performance of buildings directive will require that all houses sold or rented must have a certificate to indicate the cost of heating a building; if so, if in delaying implementation of new energy efficiency standards for housing construction, due consideration was given by his Department to the effect of the directive on the market value of houses built to energy inefficient standards after 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27237/05]
Thermal performance and insulation standards for new dwellings under part L of the building regulations have been progressively increased since their introduction in 1992 and are due for further upward adjustment by 2008.
The national climate change strategy, NCCS, proposed that 1997 part L standards, operative since 1 July 1998, be significantly increased in two phases in mid-2002 and 2005. The NCCS stated the planned increases were contingent on the outcome of an independent study, commissioned by the building regulations advisory body, BRAB, on the impact of the proposed further increase in thermal performance standards on, inter alia, building systems. The relevant report, by the energy research group in University College Dublin, concluded that the most commonly used house building systems could all be insulated to comply with the proposed part L regime subject to minor adjustments in the proposed standards.
Consequently it was decided to bring forward the planned second phase, 2005, amendment of the part L regulations and to implement the radical increase in thermal performance standards in a single step. Following a public consultation process, amending part L regulations were made in 2002 for new dwellings commencing on or after 1 January 2003. The greatly enhanced standards will reduce energy required for domestic space heating by an estimated 23% to 33%, depending on the type and size of dwelling.
The 2002 regulations contained a transitional provision whereby the enhanced part L standards do not apply to new dwellings for which planning permission was sought on or before 31 December 2002, provided substantial work has been completed on the new dwellings involved by 31 December 2005. This type of transitional provision is a common feature of building regulation amendments; and is designed to ensure that major changes in building code requirements do not disrupt the construction of new dwellings at an advanced stage of planning or design.
Under the EU energy performance of buildings directive, 2002/91/EC, of 16 December 2002, building energy performance certificates will be required for newly constructed buildings and for existing buildings when sold or let. The certificates will become mandatory on a phased basis over the period 2007 to 2009. For dwellings, the certificate will relate to levels of energy use in standard conditions rather than to heating costs, which also fluctuate in response to changes in fuel prices.
As indicated in section 2.4 of the draft action plan for the implementation of the energy performance of buildings directive in Ireland, April 2005, building energy performance certificates will add to a wide range of factors affecting the marketability of houses for letting or sale. A copy of the draft action plan is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Waste Management.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:230 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ensure a uniform application of regulations covering the burning of hedge trimmings in view of the major discrepancies between local authorities on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27238/05]
Under the Air Pollution Act 1987, the occupier of any premises, other than a private dwelling, is required to use the best practicable means to limit and, if possible, to prevent emissions, including smoke emissions, from such premises. In addition, the occupier of any premises is prohibited from causing or permitting an emission in such a quantity or manner as to be a nuisance. The Act provides local authorities with powers to prevent or limit air pollution and penalties include fines and/or imprisonment upon conviction.
The Waste Management Act 1996 places a general duty of care on the holder of waste not to hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. Local authorities are empowered to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit environmental pollution caused by the holding or disposal of waste, and mitigate or remedy the effects on the environment of any such activity. Implementation is a matter for each local authority having regard to the circumstances in its functional area.
EU Directives.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:231 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his planned timetable for the adoption of Directive 2002/3/EC dealing with ozone in ambient air; the results of tests for the past number of years; his views on the trend, frequency, distribution of tests and readings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27256/05]
The Ozone in Ambient Air Regulations 2004, which transpose Directive 2002/3/EC, were signed on 11 February 2004. Under these regulations, the directive is being implemented and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. This includes responsibility for ensuring, or causing to be ensured, that ozone monitoring equipment is accurate and appropriately situated.
The 2004 regulations require the agency routinely to inform the public, on at least a daily basis and, wherever appropriate and practicable, on an hourly basis, of the concentrations of ozone in ambient air. The agency is doing this, inter alia, through its air quality website which was launched in January 2004.
Also under the regulations, where the information threshold, 180 µg/m, or the new more stringent alert threshold, 240 µg/m, is exceeded, or where practicable is predicted to be exceeded, the agency is required to make certain information publicly available as soon as possible and by appropriate means. The information to be made available includes the exceedance, its location, start time, duration, forecasted changes in concentrations, the type of population groups potentially at risk, possible health effects and recommended conduct, and preventive action to reduce pollution or exposure to it.
Due to Ireland's geographical location and meteorological circumstances, ozone pollution has not been a significant problem here. No exceedances of the 180 µg/m; information threshold were reported by the EPA on behalf of Ireland during the last eight summer seasons from 1997 to 2004 when hot weather conditions and the presence of ozone precursors which chemically react in sunlight caused ozone pollution episodes in many parts of mainland Europe.
I understand from the agency that in 2003 one relatively minor exceedance of the population information threshold was recorded at a concentration level of 181.2 µg/m. This occurred on 18 April, Good Friday, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. and lasted for one hour. Owing to a problem earlier in the day with the data transmission element of the agency's automatic monitoring system, this specific concentration level was not notified to Met Éireann for public information broadcast. When this anomaly came to light the next day following contact by Met Éireann, the agency rectified the problem immediately. Given the relatively minor nature of the exceedance, its short duration, and the maintenance of subsequent readings below 180 µg/m, the agency did not ask Met Éireann to issue any public information alert as the exceedance had happened the previous day.
Grant Payments.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:232 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person with a bog (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded the top-up payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27300/05]
In July 2004 my Department concluded an agreement with the farming pillar under Sustaining Progress which involved increased rates of compensation for the cessation of turf cutting in bogs that have been proposed as designated conservation areas. This agreement incorporates retrospective provisions benefiting landowners who participated in the original 1999 scheme for disposal of raised bogs and turbary rights to my Department. I am advised that a determination of the case referred to will be made shortly.