Vol. 864 No. 3
1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions that have been taken to implement the latest agreement reached between all parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/15]
I welcome the Stormont House Agreement which will help to bring much needed stability to the workings of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The agreement averted the political collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive and impending financial suspension. As I said to the Minister previously, we need a continuous hands-on approach by the Government to ensure the agreement is implemented and that substantial progress is made in meeting other outstanding commitments made in previous agreements such as the Good Friday Agreement, the St. Andrews Agreement and the Hillsborough Agreement.
I thank the Deputy for his question and acknowledge his continued interest in this important matter. The Stormont House Agreement is a significant achievement that has the potential to restore effective partnership government in Northern Ireland. It also has the potential to advance genuine reconciliation between divided communities and progress economic prosperity for all. For its potential to be fully realised, it is vital that the provisions of the agreement are implemented effectively and expeditiously. This is a priority for the Government. I am pleased to inform the House that on 20 January the Government agreed to take all necessary steps to implement the agreement.
In the context of the agreement, the Government undertook a number of commitments, which will be an important focus of our work in the period ahead. They include the drafting of legislation, where necessary, on the establishment of new institutions to deal with the legacy of the past. In particular, legislation will be required to establish an independent commission on information retrieval which will enable victims and survivors to seek and receive information on the deaths of their loved ones. As regards financial aspects, the Government committed to the continuation of the annual provision of €2.7 million for the Department’s reconciliation fund, which supports community groups and voluntary organisations working to repair and build relations and trust across the community in Northern Ireland, and to improve relations between North and South and Ireland and Britain.
The Government also committed to a number of measures, which will contribute to economic renewal in Northern Ireland, as well as being beneficial to the all-island economy. They include £50 million sterling in financial support to complete the A5 road project in the north west and a commitment to further progress the north-west gateway initiative. The Government has fulfilled a commitment related to the agreement to allocate €5 million to the International Fund for Ireland to support its important work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties, including the Deputy's constituency.
I welcome the Minister's outline of what has been done to date. I hope the processes are also put in place to ensure the agreement is implemented through the workings of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and also with the co-operation of the British and Irish Governments. Will the Minister take into account the significant concerns that have been outlined by the SDLP about this agreement? Its members have stated that the concerns relate to the agreement being far too silent on very important issues, including the proposed bill of rights, which was a commitment in the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish language Act - Acht na Gaeilge - and the also the re-establishment of the civic forum. They also rightly point out the potential of further co-operation on a North-South and all-Ireland basis for economic development and the development of Irish society, encompassing the Thirty-two Counties. We must be conscious of the concerns expressed by a party which has been the bedrock of progress in Northern Ireland and the development of political institutions on all of the island. I hope the Minister can work with all other parties to ensure those concerns are addressed. The SDLP would not outline concerns as a means of political play-acting but rather from a genuine belief that the issues must be addressed in a more meaningful way. We need to have progress on those issues, which do not threaten anybody in Ireland.
I acknowledge the important role of all the parties in Northern Ireland towards reaching an effective agreement on the eve of Christmas Eve. The Deputy mentioned the SDLP and I acknowledge its role in the negotiations under the leadership of its chief negotiator, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell. Deputy Smith is right in that there are important issues that must be advanced, both in the context of the agreement and in areas where it was not possible on this occasion to reach a consensus. As is the case with participants in this or any talks, there were a number of issues that the Government wished to see progressed further but there was not sufficient consensus among the parties at this time to enable that consensus and include those matters in the agreement. However, the Government will avail of further opportunities to secure progress on a number of outstanding issues. That should not detract from a very successful conclusion to challenging and difficult talks over 12 weeks last autumn and winter.
I thank the Minister for his response. Will he outline the timeline for the establishment of the historical investigations unit? The Minister is aware of a number of issues that I have previously raised relating to the carnage which occurred on this side of the Border and which we must have referred to that commission. My understanding is these cannot be referred to the historical investigations unit unless they are cleared by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman. It is an area I would like to see the Minister address. There are particular tragedies in which so many lives were needlessly lost through paramilitary activity which led to the carnage involving innocent people. I hope the concerns of those families of victims, as well as survivors of these terrible atrocities, can be addressed. That must happen and I hope the Minister can progress some long-standing issues in that respect.
The implementation of all aspects of the agreement is the focus for early this year and beyond. As part of the efforts to ensure effective implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, I will attend a review meeting with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties in Belfast next week, at which our implementation timeline will be agreed. It will involve a level of legislation, including in this House, and in that regard I have contacted my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. There must be preparation of appropriate legislation to enable our engagement in the new institutions, and this has already commenced. It will be introduced to the Houses by the Minister for Justice and Equality in early course.
The Deputy mentioned the historical investigations unit. That will take some time to set up but there is a resolve on the part of all parties in Northern Ireland, the Executive and the British Government to ensure that both the historical investigations unit and the retrieval body will be established and set up at the earliest opportunity. I will keep the House fully informed of developments in this regard and I look forward to the Irish Government being committed fully to all aspects of the agreement where we have engagement and compliance responsibilities.
2. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to ensure the full implementation of previous peace agreements during the recent Stormont House talks in Belfast. [2987/15]
We had an interesting discussion about the Stormont House Agreement on Tuesday but I want to raise specific aspects relating to the full implementation of previous agreements and what actions, if any, will be taken by the Minister to ensure these outstanding matters are brought to the table and implemented. Is there a plan or timescale for these issues?
Throughout the recent talks, the Government maintained the view that the best way to strengthen peace and reconciliation across this island is to implement fully the commitments undertaken in the two foundational agreements of the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement. These agreements, together with the Stormont House Agreement, will remain at the core of the Government’s approach to Northern Ireland.
In the course of the talks, progress was made regarding the implementation of a number of commitments from previous agreements. The St. Andrews Agreement included a commitment to take forward a review of the North-South implementation bodies and areas for co-operation. Progress secured in the Stormont House Agreement means that the North-South Ministerial Council, meeting in institutional format, will agree by end February 2015 a report on new sectoral priorities for North-South co-operation, identified during ministerial discussions since November 2013. In the context of the Good Friday Agreement commitment regarding a Northern Ireland civic forum, the Government advanced the position that greater civic engagement would stimulate informed public debate in Northern Ireland in key societal challenges. I welcome that the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a civic advisory panel to meet regularly on key social, cultural and economic issues.
As is the case with all participants in the talks, there were issues which the Irish Government wished to see concluded but, unfortunately, sufficient consensus was not reached. For example, I was disappointed that a commitment to an Irish language Act, either enacted in Westminster or the Northern Ireland Assembly, did not form part of the final agreement. I welcome, however, the explicit endorsement in the agreement by the British Government of the principle of respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland. The Government will continue to advocate for an Irish language Act and encourage those Northern Ireland parties which currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
That is useful. In the few minutes we have, I want to get some sense of how we can move on many of these issues. For example, there was agreement that there should be an inquiry into the Finucane case. What will the Irish Government do with that issue? The Barron report on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is not part of the agreement but it must be dealt with if we are to move things on.
What are we going to do to try to get the British Government to release the information? A bill of rights is a key component of what we are talking about. I refer to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in the South and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in the North. Part of the agreement was that there would be a synergy or a coming together in that regard. I imagine that is something about which there would not be a huge difficulty in terms of moving those two bodies together.
However, there does not seem to be any plan or we are not hearing if there is a plan or about how the Government, together with other parties, in particular the British Government, will progress those issues. It is about the nuts and bolts. Is the Minister working to a specific plan? When he meets the British Government, are these issues raised on a regular basis with it? We are not getting feedback on what the reaction is and so on.
I understand what the Deputy is saying but, as usual, he continues to see the glass half empty rather than half full. A large measure of progress was made in the context of this agreement. In fact, people were of the view early on in the talks that a successful conclusion would not be reached. I accept what the Deputy said that a number of issues remain outstanding and on which, to my mind, agreement can be reached over a period of time.
The Deputy mentioned specifically the case of Pat Finucane. He will be aware of the fact that individual and specific case did not come within the scope of the Stormont House Agreement. However, the position of the Irish Government on this issue has not changed. We believe that a commitment to have a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, as provided for in the Weston Park Agreement of 2001, should be honoured. We will continue to raise this issue with the British Government. It is an issue on which we will continue to pursue and raise at every opportunity.
In the short period of time at the Deputy's disposal, he concentrated on issues that did not come within the scope of the agreement. He needs to acknowledge, as does this House, that the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, on the evening of the conclusion of the successful deal, described the Stormont House Agreement as a fresh start and an opportunity to be seized with both hands. I wish to welcome that comment and acknowledge the very important and crucial role of the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and others in the talks.
I do not know who wrote the script in this regard but maybe I am not explaining myself very well. I am asking about the full implementation of previous agreements; I am not asking about the Stormont House Agreement. I welcomed the agreement but it could have been better. Perhaps my demeanour portrays the glass is half full. There were other agreements, of which the Minister will be aware, including the Weston Park and the Good Friday Agreements. Many commitments have been given over the years. I am asking about the outstanding matters in regard to those agreements and not about the Stormont House Agreement, which is a move forward. I am asking about the outstanding issues from the Good Friday and the Weston Park Agreements. What is the plan in regard to full implementation of them?
I am a member of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Part of our remit is to meet with groups and get some sort of consensus. In the limited time available, I am trying to find out what is the Minister's plan in trying to deliver on those matters. It is not about looking back at what happened in the Stormont House Agreement and so on but it is about looking forward. That is what I am trying to do. I am not into having an argument or a disagreement in regard to the Stormont House Agreement. I am more interested in what the Minister is going to do in regard to the other matters.
The Deputy raised the Pat Finucane issue specifically but my understanding is that the other issues to which he referred would include the Irish language Act, for example. A specific commitment in regard to the Act was not included in the recently forged agreement, nevertheless recognition was contained in the agreement of the role of the Irish language in Northern Ireland. We will continue to raise this issue. Similarly, as far as the North-South Consultative Forum and the issue of a bill of rights for Northern Ireland are concerned, the enabling consensus was not around the table to have the specific initiatives included in the agreement.
However, I want to confirm to the Deputy that there will be other opportunities to raise these issues. Having regard to the fact that the agreement was concluded before Christmas, the review mechanisms contained in it and issues of importance will continue to be raised at the meetings that will take place on a quarterly basis. With specific reference to the issues raised by the Deputy, there will be an opportunity to raise them at the North-South Ministerial Council, which will take place in February. Now more than ever, there is a very high degree of contact and a very positive relationship between representatives of this House and the Northern Ireland Assembly and the British Government. I can assure the House that we will continue to raise outstanding issues at every opportunity.
3. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent stocktake report on the August 2010 prison agreement in Maghaberry Prison, if he has any contact with the Northern Ireland Office in regard to the independent assessment of the rationale for the ongoing isolation of certain prisoners held in the care and supervision unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2919/15]
This question relates to the stocktake report, which was published before Christmas, on the August 2010 prison agreement in Maghaberry Prison and the ongoing isolation of prisoners in the care and supervision unit, the CSU. Some prisoners have been there for years at the behest of the Northern Ireland Office. The stocktake report recommended an independent assessment of the rationale for keeping prisoners in the CSU. What contact has the Minister had with the Northern Ireland Office in regard to it?
I am aware that the Deputy has concerns about this matter. I will refer to previous questions on the record of the House in this regard. The current system of accommodating republican and loyalist prisoners in Northern Ireland separately from each other and from the rest of the prison population was established in Maghaberry Prison in 2003. Decisions on who can be admitted to the separated regime are made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. This did not change with the devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland in 2010, since access to the separated regime is deemed to be a matter of national security and hence a reserved power.
I wish to confirm again to the Deputy that the Government has on a number of occasions raised humanitarian issues in certain prisoner cases directly with the Northern Ireland Office and with the Prisoner Ombudsman and will continue to do so, as appropriate.
On 15 January, I met one of the independent assessors who concluded the recent stocktake report on the 2010 agreement. That report states that not all the principles of the August 2010 agreement have been adhered to nor have all undertakings been acted on. The stocktake report provides a six-month timeline for implementing its recommendations and thereby resolving the outstanding issues. It is my view that the report, if properly implemented, offers an opportunity to create a conflict-free environment in the prison. The Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, David Ford, has accepted the stocktake report. The report also recommends that the Northern Ireland Office should clarify eligibility criteria for access to Roe House for separated paramilitary prisoners. There should also be an independent assessment of the rationale for the isolation of prisoners and an appropriate appeal process.
Following up on these recommendations is also currently part of a regular dialogue between my officials and their Northern Ireland Office counterparts. At my request, my officials have raised these issues and have been informed by the Northern Ireland Office that it is still considering its response to these recommendations. My officials have reminded the British side of our continuing interest in the humanitarian welfare of those prisoners in the separated regime.
I thank the Minister for his response. It is very important that the independent assessment of the rationale for isolating prisoners in the CSU is carried out. In correspondence I have had with the Northern Ireland Office and the Prison Service of Northern Ireland, it seems they are both playing off each other with one saying it is the others' responsibility but with nobody taking responsibility for it.
We have been informed that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland decides who is separated from the separated prisoners, which is the case in point here in relation to the care and supervision unit. There were five prisoners in the unit. I think two of them have been released at this stage. They have been separated for over three years. They are even in isolation from other isolated prisoners. It is a human rights situation. It is in the interests of removing the seeds of future conflict that these issues be dealt with. It would be important to impress on the Northern Ireland Office the need for this rationale to be looked at. Those in the office need to accept responsibility for the isolation of these prisoners within the prison - it is happening on their orders - and they need to deal with it.
The Deputy will be aware that it is generally accepted, including by the Northern Ireland authorities, that conditions in Maghaberry Prison are not ideal. That is why I believe it is important that every opportunity be given to allow for the recommendations of the recent stocktake report to take place. There is an element of independence, as the Deputy mentioned. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has accepted the report's recommendation that the prison forum meeting should take place. The service will engage with the forum. Meetings will take place every two months. The agenda will be agreed a week in advance. I understand that Tom Miller, who is a former principal officer in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has been appointed as chair of the prisoner forum. I accept the Deputy's contention that there have been some difficulties on the prisoner side regarding the acceptability of certain issues. I appreciate that there is an element of tension. I believe the resolution of the difficulties is a matter of ongoing work. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to monitor matters on a regular basis to ensure a certain balance is achieved. I accept that timelines are important. I was very satisfied with the outcome of my meeting last week. Officials from my Department will continue to monitor the process of implementing the stocktake report.
I have to go back to the independent assessment of the rationale for the care and supervision unit. It seems to me that neither the Northern Ireland Office nor the Northern Ireland Prison Service will carry out that assessment. They are both kicking it over and back between each other. This was recommended as part of the independent assessment of the 2010 agreement. If they have accepted the recommendations, this independent assessment should take place. I ask the Minister to step up his communications with the Northern Ireland authorities on the independent assessment of the rationale for the care and supervision unit. He needs to make sure that actually takes place.
I remind the Deputy that while conditions in Maghaberry Prison are not ideal, there are people in that prison who have been convicted of the most serious and grave offences. The continued threats against prison officers and prison personnel are a cause of very serious concern and must be condemned at every opportunity. I believe Maghaberry Prison must be seen in the context of overall prison reform. An early priority of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice was the commissioning of a major report on prison reform. This was subsequently published as the Owers report. I agree with the analysis of Minister David Ford, with whom I have continual contact on these and other issues, that "the delivery of a reformed justice system has a major part to play in building and protecting a more positive future" for Northern Ireland. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will continue to keep in contact with Members of the House on it. I am sure the Deputy will avail of opportunities to meet those who are involved in this matter, particularly those who are engaged in the formulation of reports.
4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way his Department plans to address the threat of religious fundamentalism to Ireland; the measures or discussions which will be taken at a European Union Foreign Affairs Council level with regard to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/15]
It is extremely important for the Minister and his Government colleagues to be in a position to give the public a clear message that our State forces remain diligent, vigilant and very alert in their monitoring and surveillance work to ensure any potential terrorist threats to our security are dealt with successfully in the wake of recent terrorist activity in Europe.
A number of terrorist groups that are linked to a brand of religious fundamentalism claim their actions are in pursuit of their religious beliefs. Religious leaders have condemned such actions as not in accordance with religious beliefs. We must continue to make this distinction. The threat is posed not by religious beliefs, but by terrorist and criminal groups. The Minister for Justice and Equality takes the lead role in assessing and responding to the threat to national security posed by international terrorism. The Minister recently said that there is no specific information concerning any threat to Ireland and that the level of threat is kept under constant review by An Garda Síochána. The appalling attacks in Paris and Nigeria, as well as the action taken by police to prevent further attacks in Belgium, have served to remind us that terrorism does not respect borders. The Paris attacks showed that the potential for terrorist attacks is heightened by European citizens returning from areas of conflict.
International co-operation is vital to preventing and responding effectively to the terrorism threat. At EU level, the Foreign Affairs Council endorsed the EU counter-terrorism strategy for Syria and Iraq, which has a particular focus on foreign fighters, in October of last year. Last Monday in Brussels, foreign Ministers agreed to make a summary version of the strategy publicly available in the interests of transparency and to demonstrate to the public the comprehensive nature of the EU response. The strategy is built around the four pillars of preventing, pursuing, protecting and responding. Its objectives include preventing violent extremism, promoting a counter-narrative, pursuing terrorists by building human rights-compliant capacity for investigations, detention and prosecution of offences, enhancing aviation security and tackling the movement of arms and weapons technology. On Monday, we discussed the need to implement the strategy urgently, to intensify engagement with and assistance for countries in the Middle East and north Africa and to continue to work closely with partner organisations such as the Arab League. I assure the Deputy that we are taking a two-pronged approach to this issue. This involves the national strategy, under the auspices of the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the work that is being done at EU level, at which the Government is represented by me and the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I concur with all the sentiments he has outlined. As he is aware, it has been estimated that at least 25 to 30 Irish citizens have travelled to Middle East conflict zones in the last four years. He will also be aware that three Irish citizens have died in the conflict zones in that region since 2010. Does the Minister have any reasonable grounds to accept that those figures are correct? He is probably aware that a report compiled by CNN in 2014 suggested that Finland is the only country that is the country of origin of more foreign fighters per head of population than Ireland. The EU Commission estimates that approximately 5,000 people have left Europe to fight in wars in Syria and Iraq. Those countries were mentioned by the Minister earlier. Does the information available to the Minister, to the EU or to other State agencies, particularly the Department of Justice and Equality, if that information is available to the Minister, confirm or refute the figures I have quoted, which have been in the public domain for some time?
The Minister for Justice and Equality has given the Cabinet a comprehensive report on the possible threat posed to Ireland by international terrorism and the measures to prevent attacks. There is no specific information in relation to any threat to Ireland from international terrorism. The Deputy made the point that Ireland might be being used in some way as a hub or transit area, or indeed as a location for training camps. This has been suggested in the media. Ireland is not a transit hub for people to travel to Turkey or beyond on their way to Syria, any more than any other country with international flight connections could be said to be a hub for such people.
There is no evidence to support assertions that appeared in the media that there are organised terrorist training or recruitment camps in this country. We take such threats very seriously. The Minister for Justice and Equality is updated on a regular basis by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, and I are in constant contact with our European colleagues. Only last Monday, on behalf of the European Union, the High Representative, Ms Mogherini, issued details of an EU-wide plan to ensure we were alert to a threat and also to ensure there was no accommodation or tolerance for people who were prepared to threaten the legitimacy of the state or engage in terrorist activity.
The comments of the new High Representative are important and worthwhile. We had a similar exchange in our short meeting with her when she visited this country. It is extremely important that this issue be kept on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council at all times to ensure there is an EU-wide approach and that the message will still go out to the public to be vigilant and diligent in addressing any issue that might arise.
Did the Minister have an opportunity during the recent annual meeting of ambassadors to address the specific issue of threats from terrorist sources with ambassadors in the Middle East region? We need to have intelligence from our diplomats and representatives based in these countries.
Both my Department and I are in regular contact with ambassadors of the many states in the Middle East and beyond that have offices and residences in this jurisdiction. On Monday of this week I was very pleased to have the opportunity to engage with the secretary general of the Arab League, Mr. al-Arabi, when the issue was raised with him in the context of the current difficulties.
I wish to revert to what I said about the comprehensive strategy of the European Union under the headings of prevention, pursuit, protection and response. It is very important that the issue of capacity building in partner countries be addressed to investigate suspected offences in order that we can ensure there is a proper and adequate exchange of information across EU member states. We must share as much information as possible, but we also must ensure there is not a level of isolation in communities. I very much welcome and acknowledge the very close relations between minority communities in this city and the authorities. It is important that every effort is made towards inclusivity and integration and that there not be any level of isolation or grievance on the part of anyone living in this country that might lead them to travel to Syria or the Middle East or to engage in the type of terrorist activity to which the Deputy referred.
5. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the arrest of 12 lawyers in Spain who were involved in defending Basque political prisoners; and his views that this move is a worrying development which damages the potential peace process. [2988/15]
Last week 16 individuals, including 12 lawyers representing Basque political prisoners, were arrested. The arrests came just days after a huge demonstration in Bilbao when more than 80,000 people marched in support of the fledgling peace process and also Basque prisoners. There is huge support across the political spectrum for the peace process in the Basque country. Does the Minister of State believe the arrests are damaging to the fledgling peace process? Given our history, will he use his positive influence to consider calling for the release of the lawyers? Will he indicate whether there is anything the Government could do to help the fledgling peace process?
I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the circumstances surrounding the recent arrest of a number of individuals, including lawyers, in the Basque country and also in Madrid on 12 January. However, as the issues involved are being examined by the Spanish courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the cases referred to. More broadly, the Government continues to support and encourage all efforts aimed at securing a definitive peace in the Basque country following several decades of violence.
Everyone is entitled to legal representation and lawyers engaged in such sensitive political cases deserve to be allowed to carry out their work without interference. I accept what was said about the cases being before the courts. However, unfortunately, in this country we know what can happen when the State tries to prevent human rights lawyers from carrying out their work. The Finucane case was mentioned earlier. Another case is that of Rosemary Nelson, whom I also knew, who was murdered by loyalist gangs in collusion with British state agents. There is a question mark over what happened in that case and when the state attempts to frustrate the justice system. Given the history of the Irish peace process, is there anything the State can do to kick-start, promote or nurture the process? We know from our history that there were difficulties with what we described as securocrats within the system who did not want the peace process to develop and bloom. Perhaps I am taking the arrests out of context, but there seem to be parallels between what is happening in Spain and what happened in the North. There are similarities between the groups attacking Basque separatists, for example, Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberatión, GAL, which assassinated people on behalf of the Spanish state during the conflict. There seems to be such elements involved. Is there anything we can do to assist the peace process? The Minister of State meets his colleagues on a regular basis. It would be helpful if he were even to express his dismay or concern about what was happening or to ask whether this was a new development in the process.
As I stated, I will not be drawn into discussing the specifics of this matter which is one for the Spanish Government. However, in general, it is true that everyone is entitled to legal representation and that all of us, legal representatives and others, are subject to national law. The Deputy referred to similarities between the peace process in the North and the situation in the Basque country. I agree that similarities can be drawn between conflicts around the world, but the reality is that each conflict has specific characteristics and requirements and I would, therefore, be reticent about drawing exact parallels in this specific case. Obviously, based on the experience of the peace process in the North, the Government would support any democratic initiative proposed by the Spanish authorities that could lead to a continuation of the peace process. We very much support all efforts to bring an end to violence in all conflicts. I hope the declaration by Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, ETA, in 2011 will continue to be a very important step in that direction.
There is agreement across the political spectrum in the Basque country that this is the way forward. There is a difficulty in terms of prisoners. The Spanish Government adopted a dispersal policy, as a result of which prisoners were located away from their families, across Spain and as far away as the Canary Islands. Given our experience, there are issues the Government could address, including stressing the importance of prisoners as part of the overall peace process.
There are simple messages. It need not be done today in this Chamber, but there are messages that we could send privately to the Spanish authorities that this is what worked in Ireland. They might pick up on them, and it might defuse the situation and might help create the conditions for that fledgling peace process to bloom.
As the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, stated in response to an earlier question, we all are aware that the issue of prisoners is a sensitive and complex one, but in this instances decisions on such specific matters continue to fall within the jurisdiction of the Spanish authorities and courts and need to be determined within their legal and constitutional provisions. As such, I must continue to state it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics involved in this case.
6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the impact of sanctions on Russia on trade to and from Ireland; his position on the issue of sanctions; if he foresees the lifting of sanctions in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2603/15]
This is an extremely important issue. As Russia is the third largest non-EU export market for Irish goods after the United States and China, the ongoing tensions between the EU and Russia over the crisis in Ukraine are creating serious obstacles for Irish exporters to Russia, according to the Irish Russia Business Association. I understand that companies, particularly in the Irish agrifood sector, have been hit hardest by the retaliatory sanctions against the European Union and the concerns of these companies, particularly in the agrifood sector, are growing. These companies are really worried about the continuation of these sanctions and the lack of a resolution.
I thank Deputy Smith for his question and his interest in this area. Of course, he is correct that this is a serious situation in Ukraine.
In July and September 2014, the EU agreed a package of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation on access to capital markets, trade in arms, dual use goods and access to sensitive technologies, particularly in the field of energy.
When the sanctions were introduced our initial assessment was that their impact on our bilateral trade with Russia would be modest given that the vast majority of goods exported from Ireland to Russia are not subject to the targeted EU restrictions. This has been borne out by recent trade figures which show that merchandise exports to Russia from Ireland for the first 11 months of 2014 amounted to €693 million. This represents an increase of 16% on the same period in 2013. As for imports from Russia, these amounted to €213 million for the first 11 months of 2014, representing an increase of some 60% compared to the same period in 2013.
The sanctions were imposed in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine and with the clear aim of encouraging a change in its behaviour towards its neighbour. They are clearly having an effect on Russia's economy and they remain a key element of the EU's approach to the crisis in Ukraine. The measures can be strengthened or eased in light of developments on the ground and progress made towards the objectives set by the EU when they were put in place. Whether they can be lifted in 2015 depends on the extent of this progress.
I remain of the view that the restrictive measures against Russia, coupled with open dialogue and continued political and diplomatic engagement with the various sides involved in the conflict, offer the best way of creating the conditions for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. In regard to his concluding remarks on the possible easing or strengthening of sanctions, is there any indication from his discussions at European Union level of which way we are likely to go?
I instance, in particular, the difficulties facing the pigmeat sector. Quite a number of years ago, both State agencies and individual companies made significant efforts and progress in opening up the Russian market. It is an important market for pigmeat exports from this country. The individual pig producers and pigmeat processors are concerned about the non-availability of that market, not only to Ireland but to the other European Union 27 members some of which, particularly those in central Europe, have had a strong export market in pigmeat to Russia as well. We are experiencing the effect of the ban on an Irish product, but also on products from the other 27 member states which is creating a glut and oversupply on the European Union domestic market.
There were two elements to Deputy Smith's supplementary. First, as he will be aware, the current sanctions are having an impact and, as I stated, they remain the key element of the European Union's approach to the crisis. We have always stated that Ireland believes restrictive measures are scalable, in both directions. They can be strengthened or eased depending on developments on the ground and progress towards the objective set out by the Union when we put the existing measures in place. It is vital that unity and consistency remain a part of the response to the crisis from the European Union to Ukraine. It is important we remain resolute and united in our strategic approach to Ukraine and in our efforts to create the conditions that can lead to a peaceful crisis.
With respect to pigmeat, as Deputy Smith will be aware, there have been continued efforts, and some successes, in opening new markets in that regard. Russia remains a major strategic market for Irish dairy produce. Regarding the impact on beef exports, there has been no clearly discernible impact on prices in the European Union - in fact, with them strengthening - but we are aware of the difficulties being caused to many Irish food exports due to the retaliatory sanctions imposed on us by Russia.
I emphasise it is not only that Irish products are excluded from Russian markets but that the products of the other 27 members states are excluded as well and those products seek shelf space in what one might call the western part of the European Union.
The Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, will be aware of the importance of the pig producing sector in the north of his county, particularly in the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock's, area, and from Edenderry and north Tipperary, the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, will be aware of the importance of Rosderra, and the industry that supplies the raw material to those plants. Over the years, those companies, supported by State agencies, did excellent work in sourcing new markets. There has been a significant, and unfortunately, negative, impact on prices paid to primary producers.
Could the Minister of State inform the House whether individual member states in the European Union have been able to negotiate an exemption from the imposition of sanctions for individual products, and if such process is available, would he ensure that efforts would be made to exempt those key products in the general agrifood area?
With respect to developing markets, the Deputy will be aware that, in December last, senior officials at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine met their counterparts in Moscow to discuss the temporary restrictions not covered by the presidential ban.
As I stated, there has been some success. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Deputy Coveney, led a trade mission to China, which is a crucially important growth market for Irish food and drink. There was also the opening up in the Philippines of new markets for Irish beef, pigmeat - as Deputy Smith mentioned the pigmeat sector is of strategic importance - and sheepmeat. We acknowledge, as Deputy Smith mentioned in his question, that given the sanctions, the issue of displacement is having an additional consequence.
However, we must remember the reason for the sanctions and the great difficulty the people of Ukraine are suffering. The continuation of work on the ground and at diplomatic and EU level to secure an improvement in the situation is required.
7. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the impact that moves within the EU to a common security and foreign policy have had on the independence of Ireland's foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2653/15]
My question relates to the development of the common security and foreign policy in the EU and the implications it has had for our independent foreign policy and the future.
In its foreign policy review published last week, the Government comprehensively set out its approach to international affairs and its continued support for a fairer and more just, secure and sustainable world through our development programme, human rights policies, peacekeeping, disarmament and security policies. In a globalised world, we work with other countries who share common values and interests so as to amplify our voice in an increasingly complex international landscape. A key pillar of our international engagement is our input into the shaping and formulation of the EU common foreign and security policy, CFSP, most notably at the monthly meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in which I participate on behalf of the Irish people and Government.
The CFSP allows the EU to act in a unified way in the external sphere, including in the areas of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, institution building, trade and development, and, thereby, contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security in support of the United Nations. This approach reflects Irish values and is fully consistent with our traditional policy of military neutrality, which the Government has reaffirmed in the foreign policy review, and which is protected under the Lisbon treaty. At its heart is a commitment to improving the lives of its own citizens and of those of neighbouring countries and regions. By acting together as the EU, Ireland like the other 27 member states, has a far greater influence on international affairs than if we were to act individually.
The Lisbon treaty provided the EU with the necessary tools, namely, a permanent President of the European Council, a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a European External Action Service, to play a more effective role on the international stage. The post of High Representative is firmly established as a key figure in international diplomacy, raising the EU's profile on key foreign policy issues and ensuring a more consistent and coherent approach to the EU's external relations. I was delighted to welcome the EU High Representative, Ms Federica Mogherini, to Dublin on Monday, 12 January 2014, where she delivered the keynote address and met members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Could the Minister point to examples of how our traditional policy of independence in foreign affairs has had a positive influence on the development of the EU's common security and foreign policy? I do not see it. The one example we had of the development of the policy was our abstention from the UN vote over the summer on the conflict in Gaza, which sent a very negative message to Palestinians. Given the very strong role we have traditionally played on the world stage regarding the conflict in the Middle East, aligning ourselves with the interests of France, Germany and England did nothing to develop the relationship.
Ireland continues to play a leading role in shaping the policies of the EU in areas of priority concern from an Irish perspective. For example, the articulation of the approach of the EU to conflict prevention and resolution and the EU guidelines on promoting and protecting the rights of human rights defenders who face persecution for defending the rights of others. We play a leading role on the establishment of protocols on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. In addition, Ireland has a long and credible record of support for a lasting peace in the Middle East. We continue to be a strong voice and play a leading role advocating a two-state solution. We play a prominent role in shaping and achieving EU positions in the Middle East, including benchmark sets of Foreign Affairs Council conclusions in which the EU has focused on specific issues relating to the viability of a future Palestinian state. Last Monday I again participated on behalf of Ireland in discussions on how best the EU can play a positive role in bringing about a lasting solution to the crisis in the Middle East.
Deputy Coppinger is unable to attend and sends her apologies. We therefore move on to Question No. 9.
9. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2538/15]
We all welcome President Obama's comments in his state of the Union address earlier this week that he is determined to progress plans on immigration reform. Although this will benefit many undocumented Irish in the US, many more will not fall into the category and it will not deal with the lack of a clearly accessible route into the US from an immigration perspective. Unless we can progress an E3 visa, the problem will continue to recur.
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and I acknowledge his role in that regard. The intention to establish an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the US remains a key element of Ireland's overall position on US immigration reform and one which we continue to emphasise in our contacts with US spokespersons and at ministerial level through the immigration reform activities of our embassy in Washington DC. The Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, is in the US availing of the opportunity to review progress and our embassy continues to follow up on our contacts on a cross-party basis with Congress. I urge the Deputy to play his role in this, which I know he does, on a regular and active basis.
I thank the Minister for his response. I acknowledge the role the Irish ambassador to the United States is playing in this. She has been very significant in progressing many of these issues. The appointment of the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, in this specific role is significant. While we had hoped for a more expansive programme, what is being progressed is very welcome. Some years ago, Bruce Morrison addressed Members here and pressed home how important it was to have a comprehensive immigration programme in the US. He also pointed out that solving the problem without addressing the need to be able easily to access the US will lead to a recurring problem in the future. It is fundamentally important that we try, in so far as possible. Given that we have significant, very credible and highly influential friends in the US, we need to secure their support to progress this to finality as soon as possible.
The Deputy is correct in his approach. I wish to assure Deputy Naughten and the House again that through its embassies and consulates across the United States, as well as through direct political contact with the Administration and Congress, the Government will continue to advocate and encourage further steps that will reflect the concerns and needs of the Irish people. I also refer again to the Deputy's comments with specific reference to the E-3 visa, which is a vehicle that has been used to good effect in respect of relations between Australia and the United States in particular. It is the Government's intention to continue to pursue at every opportunity the facilitation of such an agreement between Ireland and the United States and I will keep the House informed of developments in this regard.
Briefly, may I ask the Minister one final question? As the Minister is aware, the President indicated in his state of the Union address his determination to make progress with the issue of immigration reform. It is important to ensure that as many Irish citizens as possible who are eligible to apply under the scheme so do. To ensure this happens, it is necessary to ensure the groups working with the undocumented Irish in the United States have the resources and capacity available to them to assist people through what will be a highly complex process. It is in our interests and those of the authorities in the United States that this be as seamless as possible. Can the Minister assure the House that whatever resources are required will be made available to those organisations to ensure there is the maximum possible uptake of this scheme?
I assure both the Deputy and the House that the resources for Ireland's emigrant groups will continue to be made available. On foot of a visit I made to a number of centres last autumn, I am satisfied that all these funds are being expended well. While I am conscious of the time, I note briefly that I was pleased to see reference in the President's state of the Union address to the matter of immigration reform. Work continues within the United States Administration to finalise the details and what now is needed is to give effect to the measures. I am satisfied, from assurances given, that this will take place this year.
10. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland's contribution in respect of the Ebola crisis; his views on concerns relating to low survival rates in the management centres; and if enough is being done to ensure better survival rates. [2539/15]
This is to ask the Minister about Ireland's contribution with regard to the Ebola crisis, about the low survival rates in the centres and whether he believes enough is being done to ensure better survival rates.
Ireland is playing a strong role in the international response to the Ebola crisis through the work on the ground of its embassy in Sierra Leone - it is one of very few countries that have such a bilateral relationship with that country in particular - and through its significant financial support. In 2014 alone, the Government provided more than €18 million directly and through non-governmental organisations, NGOs, to the most affected countries in that region. This included approximately €10 million through its annual development programmes in its partner countries, namely, Sierra Leone and Liberia, which have a particular focus on strengthening the national health systems. Moreover, the Government has provided more than €5.6 million specifically for Ebola treatment facilities and for work on contact-tracing, community mobilisation and child nutrition programmes. The Government intends to continue this strong focus in 2015.
While there appears to have been a welcome slow-down in the incidence of cases of Ebola in recent weeks, there are fluctuations from country to country. It is therefore essential that the international community maintains its resolve to defeat the epidemic and not lose the momentum of its response. The World Health Organization, WHO, reports that fatality rates for hospitalised patients in the most affected countries are between 57% and 60%, which still is too high. However, deaths outside treatment centres are significantly under-reported, making it difficult to provide a completely accurate case fatality rate for the outbreak as a whole. Now that Ebola transmission rates are dropping slightly and pressure on beds is reducing, more suspected Ebola cases will go directly to treatment centres rather than transiting through holding centres while awaiting test results. This will allow more patients to receive the highest quality of care at an earlier stage and that will lead to improved outcomes.
One must distinguish between treatment centres and management centres. There is a low survival rate, I believe it is 30%, among those who go into what are known as and must be called management centres. The fear is that not enough is being done and the point has been made by various medical people that were Ebola to be present in a western developed country, there would be much greater emphasis on its treatment. Members can see, for example, the amount of effort that goes into the treatment of individuals who return from countries such as Sierra Leone or Liberia. One must draw the point that Ebola is an illness of poverty that comes about because of inequality in society. Unless this is considered as part of the overall picture, the statistics will continue to be extremely bad. I met recently Ireland's ambassador to Sierra Leone and I acknowledge completely that in a sense, her life is on the line, as well as her total commitment. I had the opportunity with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to visit Sierra Leone two and a half years ago but another aspect of this problem concerns the breakdown in society and the lack of socialisation. We visited St. Joseph’s School for the Hearing Impaired run by Sr. Mary and to think that school had to be stopped and those children now have been left without any support. While I acknowledge that some kind of outreach is going on there, I refer to the social impact and do not believe we are concentrating enough on survival and getting through it. Moreover, one must distinguish between treatment centres and management centres. Another issue concerns burials and the manner in which they are a major cause of contamination.
Through the Chair, I wholeheartedly agree with everything Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has said. In fairness to the Irish response, it has been extremely influential in influencing the United Nations response. There is a United Nations mission on the ground - I was present in Freetown on the very weekend it arrived - and because of the presence of our ambassador and team on the ground, as well as Irish NGOs being on the ground in Sierra Leone and Liberia, we were able to influence the global response to the crisis. However, for our part and in respect of our response as a nation, it was early and effective. While I agree absolutely with Deputy O'Sullivan when she states there are more fundamental problems, the Government has an embassy and accreditation there by virtue of the fact that Sierra Leone is third from last on the human development index. This signifies Ireland's commitment to those countries on the very issues such as education, maternal health, nutrition, gender and so on. When I visited, I spoke to the President and the Ministers for social welfare, education and health on those very issues because the Government believes strongly that there must be action on them and that Ireland has a role to play in assisting countries such as Sierra Leone in that respect.
Briefly, one other aspect on aid is the need for it to go to established community organisations that are run by the people of Sierra Leone because they are located within their communities. Sometimes, an NGO can be a little bit removed and it is important that aid should go to those community groups, which are established and are out in the field. They know their communities and in particular, they know how to communicate with those communities on the best way to deal with the illness, as well as on the best way to handle burials and on how dangerous it is to continue people's usual practices for dealing with those who have passed away.
To their credit, the Irish NGOs are working directly with people and seek to empower people on the very dynamics about which the Deputy has spoken. While I acknowledge the Deputy is not necessarily making this point, Ireland does not take a patronising or patriarchal view in this regard. We help people to empower people to build up capacity in order that they can do it themselves. However, the immediacy of the Ebola crisis has caused the Government to shift the focus towards directing funding towards that crisis per se by directing funding to things like call centres, community mobilisation and psychosocial issues. However, once the Ebola crisis is over, the work to which the Deputy refers will continue apace and the Government's commitment to that region of west Africa is as strong as it ever has been.
As we were late starting, there are a couple of minutes of the allocated time remaining. With Deputy Terence Flanagan's agreement I will ask the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, to reply first to his question and I will then allow him a brief supplementary question.
11. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide regular briefings to the family of a missing person (details supplied); if he will meet them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2469/15]
The Embassy of Ireland in Madrid and the consular assistance section of my Department provided consular assistance at the time of this individual’s disappearance, and have continued to maintain contact with family members and to provide assistance in the years that have followed. Our embassy in Madrid remains in ongoing contact with the local police authorities regarding the case. Successive Irish ambassadors in Madrid have had detailed meetings with the Spanish authorities and the Guardia Civil. In addition, the consular division of my Department, as well as senior Government figures and taoisigh, have met on many occasions with members of the named person’s family. Most recently consular officials from my Department met with family members in November and remain in ongoing contact with them and with other family members. My officials will continue to meet with them as circumstances require.
We are informed by the Spanish authorities that the police investigation remains open. The police continue to follow up possible leads and to cross-check new cases for any potential links with the named person’s disappearance. I am aware that a family liaison officer has been appointed by the Garda to work with family members in Ireland, to receive information from them as necessary and to keep them briefed on any developments in the case.
The investigating police force in Spain has advised our embassy that any new information coming from Ireland in relation to the case should be sent via the Garda through appropriate police channels rather than through my Department or the embassy. My Department and our embassy in Madrid will continue to monitor developments in this case and will, of course, remain on hand to provide any consular support required.
I thank the Minister for his reply. The missing person concerned is Amy Fitzpatrick, an Irish citizen who at 15 years of age went missing in Spain seven years ago. At the time of her disappearance the Government made many promises to do everything necessary to find out what happened to her and to bring a conclusion to this matter. The missing girl's aunt, Christine Kenny, would like to meet with the Minister to ensure a proper protocol in terms of quarterly meetings with officials is put in place. Despite the many promises made by the Government to do everything possible, in Ms Kenny's experience, that is not happening. The family would welcome greater and better communication.
I can assure Deputy Flanagan that I have requested the Head of Council to keep me fully informed and briefed on any discussions or developments in this case. I also can assure him that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided extensive and continuous assistance to the family since Amy's disappearance in 2008. The Department has also liaised consistently with the appropriate Spanish authorities.
I take this opportunity to again assure the Deputy and the House that the Department will continue to provide all possible assistance to the family of the individual concerned.
