Written Answers Nos. 42-9
42. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive and the political parties in Northern Ireland regarding parades during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30815/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of Parades features in almost all of my regular discussions with the British government, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and with political and community leaders in Northern Ireland. I have spoken in the past two weeks with both the Secretary State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP and NI Justice Minister David Ford. We have a shared concern about the potential for sectarian violence during the summer marching season. I re-iterated our view that it is essential that the determinations of the Parades Commission are fully respected and that the Commission itself and the Police Service of Northern Ireland receive full support from everyone. Apart from the risk to life and the potential for parades linked violence to damage community relations, it would be a real setback if the positive images about the North emerging from the success of the G8 conference were replaced with scenes of riots and attacks on police. The recent conference organised by the PSNI in Cardiff was not specifically about parades but was about relationships – relationships between community representatives and between such representatives and the police. And of course these relationships go to the heart of the parading dilemma just as they go to the heart of the solution to other sources of sectarian division. The fact that all participants committed themselves, inter alia, to support the police in upholding the rule of law in their communities and to commit to ongoing dialogue throughout the summer even when tensions are high is a very welcome development. I fully support and join with the leaders of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Chief Constable in their recent call on all political and community representatives to redouble efforts to reduce parade related tensions in the coming weeks.
43. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council the totally inadequate response of the international community to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and adjoining areas; if the EU is pursuing with other major trading partners the urgent need to provide an immediate and adequate response to the needs of millions of deprived persons in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30816/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra49. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the inadequate international response to commitments of humanitarian aid to Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30495/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 49 together.
The unprecedented humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Syria and in surrounding countries is of grave concern. As the Deputy will be aware, there are now almost 7 million people in need of emergency humanitarian assistance inside Syria, while the number of fatalities as a result of the widespread and indiscriminate violence is in excess of 90,000. As a result of this crisis there are more than 1.6 million Syrians in neighbouring countries who have been forced to make the dangerous journey out of Syria, with more than 4 million more who have been displaced from their homes within Syria’s borders. With each passing day, the humanitarian situation becomes increasingly desperate.
Ireland has been a leader in terms of the international humanitarian response to this crisis. Only days ago, the Government announced a further humanitarian assistance package of €1.65 million, bringing our overall assistance to help meet the needs arising from this crisis to almost €10 million. This includes Ireland’s pledge of €4.7 million made at the Kuwait Pledging Conference for Syria in January, which was met in full. This significant support marks us out as one of the most generous contributors in the world to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis. Ireland’s support is being provided through trusted UN agencies, NGO partners and the Red Cross to deliver life saving assistance, including with water, food, shelter and vital medicines, to the most vulnerable and in greatest need as a result of this disaster.
At the international level, the Government has consistently raised the dire situation being faced by the people of Syria and the imperative to improve humanitarian access to the worst affected areas. In this regard, my own visit to al-Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan in 2012 and the Tánaiste’s visit to Nizip refugee camp in southern Turkey provided further opportunity for Ireland to express our concern about the humanitarian consequences of the Syrian crisis.
Throughout our Presidency of the Council of European Union, we have also underlined the gravity of the humanitarian situation and the need to provide urgently needed assistance to all those affected. At this week’s meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg, we encouraged our partners to increase their contributions to the humanitarian response and to respect pledges already made.
We welcome the fact that the EU and its Member States, including Ireland, has so far contributed almost €1 billion in emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis, and recently announced an additional €400 million as a response to the deterioration of the situation in the country and the surrounding region. We also welcome the collective commitment made by G8 leaders who met in Co. Fermanagh last week to provide an additional $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance. This is in support of the latest UN appeal for $5.2 billion launched earlier this month and which represented the largest such appeal ever launched by the UN.
44. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent economic package announced by the British Government for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30794/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcomed the economic package for Northern Ireland announced by the British Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on 14 June, 2013. I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and commended her on the package which represents a strong commitment by the British Government in support of the work of the Northern Ireland Executive. I have noted the reference in the economic package to the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive working with our Government to examine how we can jointly support economic growth and a genuinely shared society in Northern Ireland. We will do all we can to take this forward both in the context of ongoing North-South engagement and East-West economic co-operation.
I also note the commitment to work with our Government to explore the possibility of creating a reciprocal visa regime whereby the UK would permit visitors from some destinations to enter Northern Ireland and the UK using an Irish visit visa without the need for a separate UK visa. This would complement the existing visa waiver scheme which is operating in this jurisdiction for visitors from a number of countries and has considerable potential to boost tourism to the island as a whole.
46. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update regarding to the most recent discussions at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the need to advance peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30811/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the recent progress in efforts to secure a durable solution to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In particular, I welcome the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for the DRC and the Region, which was concluded in Addis Ababa on 24 February, in the presence of the UN Secretary General. The adoption of the Agreement was welcomed on behalf of the EU in a joint statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton and Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, calling on all parties to continue negotiating in good faith and to refrain from violence. The European Union will continue to pursue a strategic and comprehensive approach to the crisis in the region, working through political and diplomatic engagement, development cooperation programmes, and support for the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The EU is also pursuing security sector reform programmes, through the EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions in the DRC.
Ireland will also continue to play a constructive role. We are contributing a number of military observers to the UN Mission. So far in 2013, Ireland has provided €3.8 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This assistance is being channelled through the UN, international organisations, and our NGO partners.
We are also funding two high level events in support of mediation efforts with the involvement of the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Great Lakes region, former President Mary Robinson. These are focussed on encouraging the participation of women in the implementation of the region’s peace framework. We will continue to examine ways in which we can support the implementation by the signatories of the framework agreement.
48. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied with the current spending for repair and maintenance by the embassies of Ireland over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30809/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently utilises 138 premises abroad in pursuit of its mission on behalf of the State. These consist of offices and official residences of Heads of Mission which provide platforms for our Missions to promote Irish economic interests, provide services to the public and represent Ireland in international organisations. These premises need to be maintained, repairs are inevitably required from time to time, operating requirements change and it sometimes proves necessary or advantageous to relocate to more economical accommodation. Total amounts of €2.97 million and €2.70 million were spent for these purposes in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The bulk of the expenditure over the past two years has been on essential repairs and maintenance; upfront transitional expense involved in relocations to more cost-effective premises which are yielding significant net savings and operating benefits to the State; temporary reconfiguration of office space to accommodate the additional staff required to conduct the EU Presidency; and implementation of expert recommendations for strengthening of security systems.
This expenditure was necessary to ensure that Missions have the accommodation necessary to fulfil their responsibilities and present a positive image of Ireland and its potential as a business partner, investment location and tourism destination.
