Written Answers Nos. 102-117
105. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the peace talks in Cuba on the conflict in Colombia; if he will provide an update on the talks taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that ongoing negotiations will bring an end to the long conflict there which has caused much suffering. I welcome progress made to date, including the agreement reached last May on the land reform element of the peace negotiations. I wish the parties success in reaching agreement on the other important items remaining on their agenda so that a final comprehensive peace agreement can be secured. The European Union continues to follow closely the progress of negotiations and has declared its readiness to provide support for activities that promote peace, truth, justice reparation and reconciliation. Ireland supports fully this approach, and stands ready within available means to share our experiences, if invited to do so by the parties to the process. Ireland will continue to follow closely developments on the talks underway, and to support a negotiated solution to the conflict in Colombia.
106. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he has taken, as part of a unilateral initiative by Ireland or working with our European partners, to address the ongoing serious persecution of Christians in Egypt, Syria and Iraq; if he has considered offering asylum to those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37858/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Middle East is home to some of the world’s most ancient Christian denominations. Unfortunately, many of these often small and vulnerable communities are coming under increasing pressure due to a range of factors including low birth rates, emigration and, in some cases, increased sectarian persecution and violence. This has led to a significant reduction in their numbers in the region over recent years. In Iraq for instance, it is estimated that more than half of the Christian community may have emigrated over the past decade. The political turmoil which has overwhelmed many countries in the Middle East in recent years has led to increased international concerns about the safety of Christians first in Iraq and Egypt and now most pressingly in Syria. The descent of Syria into violence and disarray has left small Christian communities very exposed and sometimes subject to direct attack. Ireland raises the issue of the safety of Christians through its official bilateral contacts with the countries in question, stressing the responsibility of the government to protect minorities.
In situations of general instability and insecurity, such as Iraq some years ago or Syria today, this is of course especially difficult. Ireland also works with our partners in the EU to raise the issue in multilateral fora such as the UN Human Rights Council, as part of the EU’s human rights policy. The EU has taken a number of steps in recent years in support of Freedom of Religious Belief, including issuing Council Conclusions on the matter, most recently in February 2011. I have raised the issue of protection of Christians in the Middle East in discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council, and supported stronger EU statements on the issue, for instance in the Council Conclusions on Egypt issued on 21 August last.
Ireland attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. Ireland was elected to the Human Rights Council in November 2012 and will serve for the 2013-2015 term. Amongst our priorities as a member of the Council is the issue of freedom of religion or belief, and we have played a central role in the negotiation of two important resolutions on this issue in the past year.
Officials from my Department have met frequently with local Christian leaders from the Middle East region, and discussed the issues affecting their communities. It should be noted that many of these groups request that any efforts made on their behalf be carried out very discreetly, as any special attention from western countries might only increase their difficulties. While some individuals from the region have found refuge in Ireland, asylum in Ireland or in Europe cannot provide the solution to this problem, because the numbers are too great, because there are others also at risk, and because this would spell the end for ancient Christian communities who have survived in the region since the earliest days of Christianity.
108. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail by name, location and cost the number of capital projects funded by his Department for each of the past five years to date in tabular form in an area (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37962/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has funded no capital projects in the past five years in these locations.
109. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the possible loopholes contained in the EU arms restrictions against Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38044/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Foreign Affairs Council met on 21 August to discuss the situation in Egypt. The Council agreed Conclusions on Egypt, which I have discussed in detail in my reply to another Question from the Deputy today. There was unanimous agreement among Foreign Ministers that all Member States would suspend export licences to Egypt of any equipment which might be used for internal repression, and reassess export licences of equipment covered by Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and review their security assistance to Egypt. I would stress that all Member States agreed to these measures, which cover all military goods requiring export licences as well as non-military equipment used for internal repression.
110. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans, if any, to reopen the embassy in the Vatican in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38288/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See. This decision was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department as non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See, thereby ensuring that contact with the Holy See is maintained at the highest possible diplomatic level. The Ambassador travels to Rome regularly and I am satisfied that the current arrangement for Ireland’s representation at the Holy See is the most effective possible in light of the resource constraints faced by my Department. While there is no plan to re-establish a resident Embassy to the Holy See in the immediate term, I will be keeping the deployment of our diplomatic and consular resources under review in light of ongoing national priorities and the availability of resources.
111. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the mechanisms that have been put in place to have the passport office notify passport holders when their passports are due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA passport reminder service is available on the Passport Service website www.passport.ie. The reminder service sends an e-mail, to those who have registered, three months before a passport is due to expire. Registration is simple and merely requires those interested to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport. It is possible to register a number of different passports (e.g. all members of a family) using the one e-mail address with the reminder e-mail detailing which passport registered is about to expire. The reminder e-mail also provides details of how to renew the passport, where to obtain passport application forms, etc.
112. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of interns that have been based in his Department and the period of time in each case from 2011 to date in 2013; if he will break down the figures between those in the JobBridge scheme, other paid internships and other unpaid internships; if he will further break down these figures between his Department's sections here and at each diplomatic mission abroad, stating whether they were paid or unpaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38322/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide up to 46 paid internships annually at headquarters and in Missions abroad. These are awarded to suitable candidates who have undertaken relevant third-level studies or who have other relevant skills or experience. Interns are recruited following a competitive process and are remunerated on the basis of the Executive Officer salary scale. Up to twenty-five of the temporary recruits are assigned for periods of approximately 18-21 months as Junior Professional Interns in the Department’s Development Cooperation Division and a small number of Missions. That Division, which is partly headquartered in Limerick City, also hosts two University of Limerick students twice-yearly under an internship programme operated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The remaining nineteen posts are allocated to other Units of the Department dealing with other areas of foreign policy including human rights, disarmament, conflict resolution and international legal affairs and to a small number of multilateral Missions. In these cases the internships are normally for periods of up-to 11 months. The Department also facilitates an annual 7-week placement for a University of Notre Dame student, with all costs in that case borne by the University. Some unpaid short-duration placements also occasionally arise at Missions abroad, as do paid short-term local staff positions.
Separately, the Department was given approval in 2012 to recruit a small number of Interns for the period leading up to and for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the European Union in the first half of this year. As part of a management review of policy in this area, I have asked my Department to make renewed efforts to engage with the JobBridge scheme with a view to making a number of placements during the remainder of 2013 and early next year. Despite our efforts to avail of this scheme, including the advertising of some vacancies, no placements have been made to-date.
As much as possible of the information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. However, in the time available, it was not possible to compile and include details of all unpaid internships or similar placements at Missions abroad.
2011
|
No of Interns |
Section / Mission |
Paid / Unpaid |
Duration of contract |
|
2 |
Legal Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Human Rights Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Conflict Resolution Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Disarmament & Non- Proliferation Section |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Political |
Paid |
11 months |
|
4 |
DCD, Limerick |
Paid |
6 months |
|
21 |
DCD |
Paid |
18 months |
|
1 |
Embassy The Hague |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Press (Notre Dame Intern) |
Unpaid |
7 weeks |
|
1 |
Legal Unit / Press (University of Cork student) |
Unpaid |
3 months |
2012
|
No of Interns |
Section/Mission |
Paid/Unpaid |
Duration of Contract |
|
2 |
Legal Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
3 |
Human Rights Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Conflict Resolution Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Disarmament & Non- Proliferation Section |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Political |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Middle East Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Europe Division |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Presidency Planning Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Security Policy, Political Division |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Political Secretariat |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Asia Pacific Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
4 |
DCD, Limerick |
Paid |
6 months |
|
23 |
DCD |
Paid |
18 months |
|
1 |
Embassy The Hague |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg |
Paid |
11 months |
|
8 |
Permanent Representation to the EU, Brussels |
Paid |
For periods ranging from 7 – 12 months |
|
1 |
DCD, Dublin (Notre Dame Intern) |
Unpaid |
7 weeks |
|
1 |
Anglo Irish (Notre Dame Intern) |
Unpaid |
7 weeks |
|
1 |
Minister of State Costello’s office (Crosscare Intern) |
Unpaid |
4 months (2 days a week) |
2013
|
No of Interns |
Section/Mission |
Paid/Unpaid |
Duration of Contract |
|
2 |
Legal Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
3 |
Human Rights Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Conflict Resolution Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Disarmament & Non- Proliferation Section |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Middle East Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Europe Division |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Presidency Planning Unit / Political Division |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Security Policy, Political Division |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Political Secretariat |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Asia Pacific Unit |
Paid |
11 months |
|
4 |
DCD, Limerick |
Paid |
6 months |
|
23 |
DCD |
Paid |
18 months |
|
1 |
Embassy The Hague |
Paid |
11 months |
|
2 |
Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva |
Paid |
11 months |
|
4 |
Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York |
Paid |
For periods ranging from 4 – 6 months |
|
1 |
Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg |
Paid |
11 months |
|
1 |
Anglo Irish (Notre Dame Intern) |
Unpaid |
7 weeks |
|
1 |
Press (Notre Dame Intern) |
Unpaid |
7 weeks |
113. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that a fundraising event was held in the Irish consulate in New York in May 2012 for the redevelopment of the Irish Jewish Museum; the date of that event; the person who organised same; on whose request was it organised; the number that attended; the costs that were covered by the Irish State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38331/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Jewish Museum records and presents the history and culture of Ireland’s small but significant Jewish community and their contribution to Ireland’s history and heritage. My Department has been liaising with the Museum for a number of years in regard to its efforts to build support and generate funding abroad. A group from the Museum visited New York in May 2012 in order to establish contacts and raise the profile of the Museum among New York’s Jewish and Irish Communities. The Deputy Consul General of Ireland in New York hosted a networking reception for the group, at their request, on 21 May 2012. The reception took place at a cost of US$2,400 in the Consulate General premises. It was attended by 100 guests drawn from the Irish and Jewish communities, including prominent members of several New York Jewish congregations, representatives from Jewish organisations in New York and a wide group of the Consulate’s community, press and cultural contacts. The event was a successful part of the public diplomacy activity of the Department, helping to broaden the Consulate’s outreach and to project to the New York Jewish Community a little known, but very positive, aspect of Irish-Jewish relations.
114. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the main points in the Irish Aid Annual Report 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38353/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe theme of the 2012 Irish Aid Annual Report, which I launched last week, is “Reducing Hunger, Strengthening Resilience.” The Report is available on the Irish Aid website, www.irish.ie. It outlines Irish Aid’s work during 2012 and includes examples of how Irish Aid – the Irish people’s overseas aid programme - works to reduce hunger and strengthen resilience, as part of Ireland’s overall commitment to a renewed global effort to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. While the Government’s absolute priority is to restore growth, jobs and prosperity in Ireland, we cannot ignore the plight of the over 800 million men, women and children in the world who go hungry every day. Our commitment to tackling hunger is a long-standing one. It continues to be at the heart of what we do. The Report highlights examples of how we actually work to reduce hunger and improve nutrition both in our partner countries and at international level. The Report also stresses the importance of strengthening resilience in our development and humanitarian work. Resilience – ensuring that people are better able to cope with shocks – is an important part of our efforts to end poverty and hunger. It is essential to ensure that the real improvements being achieved in people’s lives are not eroded by adverse events such as illness, food price increases or natural disasters.
Ireland's development programme is making a real difference to people’s lives. In the Ntcheu District of Malawi, for example, following the distribution of 263,000 bednets, suspected deaths from malaria among children under five have reduced by 95% since 2010. In Ethiopia in 2012, 6.9 million people avoided hunger, through the Productive Safety Net Programme, which is supported by Ireland. In exchange for public works, vulnerable people receive predictable cash or food transfers. During my own visits to Ethiopia, I saw how people’s lives have improved as they use the grants to access basic services like healthcare, education, and purchase better food and clothing for themselves and their family members.
The Annual Report reaffirms our strong commitment to transparency and accountability. It is vitally important that aid funding on behalf of the Irish people is spent effectively and that there is full accountability to taxpayers for public expenditure on development. As well as ensuring that robust financial and risk management systems are in place internally, we will continue to work to strengthen systems and oversight mechanisms in our partner countries. The Annual Report itself is part of our efforts to provide comprehensive information to the Irish public. The Report also contains statistical annexes which set out Ireland’s Official Development Assistance spend for 2012 and provide detailed breakdowns on how this money was spent. In 2012, the Government provided a total of €628.90 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA), which represented 0.47% of GNP. The Report sets out in detail how this money was channelled to our partners in developing countries.
115. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will advocate comprehensive political talks with Syria. [38535/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent European Union Council of Ministers' meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38808/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at the EU Council of Ministers in to the ongoing crisis in Syria; the proposals the EU have put forward in relation to the need to achieve a political settlement at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38809/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals and view points he put forward at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the ongoing crisis in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38811/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals Ireland has put forward at the United Nations in relation to the urgent need to achieve a political settlement in relation to the ongoing crisis in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38812/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 123, 124, 126 and 127 together.
I am assuming that Questions relating to the recent Foreign Affairs Council are referring to the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers on 6-7 September, which was not a meeting of the Council as such. I have already welcomed in my statement on 14 September the outcome of the US-Russian negotiations on a framework agreement for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons. Syria’s possession of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and the use of these weapons under any circumstances is illegal under international law as well as morally reprehensible. Syria must comply in full with the terms of the framework agreement and also with the international obligations which it will assume under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Ireland has consistently stressed that only a political solution can bring peace and democratic reform to Syria. Recent events, including the atrocity of the mass gassing of the civilian population in Ghouta, have only reinforced that analysis. This is also the broadly held view of the wider international community. I welcome the participation of the UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi at the recent Geneva talks between the United States and Russia. The overall objective for Ireland and its EU partners remains the achievement of a political solution in Syria.
I discussed events in Syria with my EU counterparts at the recent Informal Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Vilnius on 6-7 September. EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the chemical weapons attack in Damascus on 21 August represents an unacceptable violation of international law and that every effort should be made to prevent further recourse to such weapons; that the United Nations is the appropriate and legitimate forum for addressing these issues; that the Security Council must unite to agree a resolution; that there equally must be accountability for the perpetrators of this atrocity; and that only a political solution can ultimately bring peace to Syria. The EU also undertook to continue its strong support and leading role in international humanitarian relief efforts to assist Syria. While progress is being made on the issue of chemical weapons use in Syria, the need for a political process and an end to the fighting is more urgent than ever.
116. Deputy John Lyons asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons in possession of an Irish passport who are not resident here. [38585/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested regarding current place of residence of Irish passport holders is not maintained by the Passport Service. The Passport Service technology system does not currently record "address" information in the structured format necessary to facilitate the production of management information in relation to place of residency, place of birth etc. Additionally passports are issued for a ten year period it would not be unusual for people to change address or even country of residence a number of times over this period. Additionally, the address to which the passport is sent is requested only for the purpose of passport delivery. However I can provide some information regarding numbers of passports issued by our Embassies and Consulates around the world in 2012 which may be of assistance to the Deputy.
|
Country |
Number |
|
Abu Dhabi |
898 |
|
Abuja |
256 |
|
Addis Ababa |
17 |
|
Ankara |
77 |
|
Athens |
145 |
|
Auckland |
1832 |
|
Beijing |
618 |
|
Berlin |
1474 |
|
Berne |
756 |
|
Boston |
1794 |
|
Brasilia |
100 |
|
Bratislava |
18 |
|
Brussels |
588 |
|
Bucharest |
60 |
|
Budapest |
64 |
|
Buenos Aires |
162 |
|
Cairo |
271 |
|
Canberra |
5646 |
|
Chicago |
1632 |
|
Copenhagen |
166 |
|
Dar-Es-Salaam |
46 |
|
Edinburgh |
33 |
|
Hanoi |
100 |
|
Helsinki |
85 |
|
Kampala |
41 |
|
Kuala Lumpur |
468 |
|
Lilongwe |
11 |
|
Lisbon |
143 |
|
Ljubljana |
29 |
|
London |
52550 |
|
Lusaka |
73 |
|
Luxembourg |
233 |
|
Madrid |
1502 |
|
Maputo |
31 |
|
Maseru |
4 |
|
Mexico |
138 |
|
Moscow |
90 |
|
New Delhi |
138 |
|
New York |
5281 |
|
Nicosia |
109 |
|
Oslo |
101 |
|
Ottawa |
2128 |
|
Paris |
1554 |
|
Prague |
104 |
|
Pretoria |
2586 |
|
Riga |
11 |
|
Riyadh |
355 |
|
Rome |
388 |
|
San Francisco |
3094 |
|
Sydney |
3282 |
|
Seoul |
85 |
|
Shanghai |
113 |
|
Singapore |
417 |
|
Sofia |
36 |
|
Stockholm |
249 |
|
Tallin |
7 |
|
Tehran |
3 |
|
Tel Aviv |
167 |
|
The Hague |
730 |
|
Tokyo |
162 |
|
Valetta |
75 |
|
Vienna |
191 |
|
Vilnius |
22 |
|
Warsaw |
85 |
|
Washington |
739 |
117. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a recent proposal at European level to designate 2015 as the European Year of Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38636/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the proposal that 2015 should be designated the European Year of Development, which has been adopted by the Commission and forwarded for consideration to the Council and the European Parliament. The EU is the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the world. The proposed Year of Development 2015 will be a timely opportunity to raise awareness of development across Europe. It will mark the target date for the Millennium Development Goals adopted by international leaders at the United Nations in 2000. Already, significant international discussions are taking place on the framework for international development post-2015, in which Ireland has played a significant role, notably during our EU Presidency in the first half of this year.
I believe that, if agreed by the Council and the European Parliament, the designation of a European Year of Development would help raise awareness of the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger among European citizens and policy makers. It would help generate greater understanding of the reality of underdevelopment in our world, and of the common interest of people in rich and poor countries in action to tackle issues of hunger, sustainable development and climate change on a global level. Ireland supports the proposal before Council at present, and will work to ensure that, if adopted, it engages citizens and policymakers across Europe, as well as our partners in developing countries.
