Tuesday, 15 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos 1-17

Unemployment Data

Ceisteanna (1)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

1. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach the number of young persons who have been unemployed for over one year. [42599/13]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment in the State. The latest QNHS data available is for Q2 2013.

The following table shows the number of persons aged 15 to 24 years classified by gender and duration of unemployment (ILO) in Quarter 2 of each year from 2009 to 2013 for comparison purposes.

Unemployed Persons aged 15 -24 years classified by gender and duration of unemployment (ILO)

'000

-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-
-	Jun 09	Jun 10	Jun 11	Jun 12	Jun 13
Males
Less than 1 year	40.5	26.3	23.1	20.8	20.3
1 year and over	12.4	21.5	20.6	24.5	15.7
Not stated	*	*	*	*	*
Total	53.4	48.5	44.5	46.1	36.9
Females
Less than 1 year	23.9	19.2	18.7	18.4	20.2
1 year and over	5.2	9.1	8.5	10.8	6.6
Not stated	*	*	*	*	*
Total	29.8	29.0	28.2	29.9	27.8
All Persons
Less than 1 year	64.3	45.5	41.7	39.2	40.5
1 year and over	17.6	30.6	29.1	35.2	22.3
Not stated	*	*	*	*	*
Total	83.2	77.5	72.7	76.0	64.7

Data may be subject to future revision.;

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.;

Reference period: q2=Apr-Jun;

* Estimates are too small to be considered reliable;

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

Employment Data

Ceisteanna (2)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

2. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Taoiseach the percentage of full-time and part-time workers in employment; and the similar percentages for additional net jobs created since this Government came to office. [42581/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Paul Kehoe)

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State.

The table shows the breakdown of full-time and part-time employment.

Full-time and part-time employment breakdown

-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-	Apr-
-	Jun 09	Jun 10	Jun 11	Jun 12	Jun 13
All Persons
Share of total employment that is full-time (%)	78.9	77.7	76.5	76.0	75.8
Share of total employment that is part-time (%)	21.1	22.3	23.5	24.0	24.2
Ratio of full-time employment to part-time employment	3.7	3.5	3.3	3.2	3.1

Data may be subject to future revision.;

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.;

Reference period: q2=Apr-Jun;

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.

The specific information regarding the full-time and part-time breakdown of net jobs created requested by the Deputy is not available from the QNHS as the survey is a measure of the stock level of employment only and does not measure jobs lost and created from which a net jobs figure could be derived.

In addition while the job churn statistical product provides some information on job creation, job destruction and net jobs created, the figures available are on an annual basis and cannot distinguish between the nature (full-time/part-time) or duration of the employment.

Public Sector Staff Data

Ceisteanna (3)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

3. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Taoiseach the reduction in public expenditure numbers that will be achieved in 2013 and 2014 from targeted redundancy and early retirement in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43064/13]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

No targeted redundancies are planned in my Department in 2013 and 2014.

No applications for early retirement have been received in my Department for 2013 and 2014.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (4)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

4. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of public servants in his Department that are being paid in excess of his salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43402/13]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

No public servants in my Department are paid in excess of my salary or the Government's pay cap.

Consular Services Remit

Ceisteanna (5)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

5. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the appeal of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43053/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the situation concerning the person referred to by the Deputy. As he is not an Irish citizen it is not possible for my Department to offer him consular assistance. The Greek authorities are under no legal obligation to assist our Embassy with any requests made in connection with this case, as we have no locus standi in the matter. However, on hearing of his detention, and notwithstanding the fact that he is not a citizen of Ireland, the Irish Embassy in Athens made contact with the Greek police in an effort to convey the Irish Government’s interest in this case on the basis that he is married to an Irish citizen. It was made clear to our Embassy that the authorities in Crete would not provide them with any information regarding this case as no Irish citizen was involved. To clarify further, our Embassy has certain rights of communication and contact with Irish citizens in Greece to facilitate the exercise of our consular functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). The Embassy has no such rights for other persons, even if they are related to Irish citizens. The wife of the person concerned has met with the former Minister of State in my Department. She has also met with the Irish Ambassador to Greece and his deputy, her husband’s lawyer was also present at this meeting. As a result of concerns raised at these meetings the wife of the above named has also been facilitated by the Consular Services Section of my Department, she has had her documents authenticated as required.

The Embassy is not in a position to attend the appeal proceedings. If the wife of the person in question fears that she will be subject to intimidation at the trial, she should raise this concern with the Greek authorities and, if she does so, our Embassy can then contact the Greek authorities advising that we have been informed of their concerns and request that appropriate assistance/protection be provided to them as witnesses.

My Department through the Embassy in Athens contacted the Albanian Embassy in Athens in September 2010 to inform them of the case and the fact that wife of the person in question was an Irish citizen. The Albanian Embassy did not make any response to this communication. It is a sovereign matter for each country to decide what level of consular assistance it affords its citizens. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the Albanian Embassy’s consular services to their citizens.

Military Aircraft Landings

Ceisteanna (6)

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

6. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of military aircraft that have landed at Shannon Airport to date in 2013; the countries to which they are affiliated; the average length of time spent on the ground; if he is satisfied that each landing complied with the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43232/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. For the period to the 30 September 2013, my Department granted permission for the landing of 366 foreign military aircraft at Shannon Airport. Permission was granted in all cases subject to the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft; namely that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations. The table provides details of the countries involved and the number of times permission was sought to land in Shannon Airport. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not keep a record of the length of time involved on each occasion when a military aircraft lands at Shannon Airport. I am aware of one landing at Shannon Airport during the period in question in which a US military aircraft, contrary to notification, was found to be armed with a fixed weapon and did not, therefore, comply with the normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. This case was raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy. The Embassy official explained that this isolated incident had taken place as a result of an administrative error, and assurances were given that steps had been taken to prevent any recurrence.

Name of State	No. of Landings
Canada	8
Croatia	3
Egypt	3
France	1
Germany	5
Italy	4
Panama	1
Russia	2
Sweden	3
USA	336
Total	366

UN Missions

Ceisteanna (7)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

7. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community has examined the causes of the cholera outbreak in Haiti; the number of persons affected; the number of casualties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43308/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

In October 2010, a cholera epidemic struck Haiti as the country was still coming to grips with the effects of one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history. The January 2010 earthquake killed more than 230,000 people, injured 300,000 others, and left 2.1 million homeless. Even before the spread of the epidemic, the health, water and sanitation infrastructure had been severely affected. The cholera epidemic resulted in the deaths of an estimated 8,300 people and infected more than 650,000 people. Recurrent outbreaks since then have resulted in the deaths of some 1,000 Haitians each year. In response to allegations in December 2010 that the initial outbreak was linked to the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Secretary-General of the United Nations formed an Independent Panel to ‘‘investigate and seek to determine the source of the 2010 cholera outbreak in Haiti’’. The investigation involved epidemiological, water and sanitation, and molecular analyses. The final report concluded that the investigation did ‘‘not present any conclusive scientific evidence linking the outbreak to the MINUSTAH peacekeepers’’. Whatever its source, it is clear that the cholera outbreak represents a further tragedy for the Haitian people. I am aware that a class action lawsuit has recently been filed against the United Nations on behalf of victims of the cholera epidemic. We will continue to follow developments.

In the meantime, Ireland’s response to humanitarian needs in the country has been significant and sustained. Since 2010, the Government has provided more than €14 million in funding for emergency relief in Haiti. Our funding has focused on the most vulnerable populations affected as well as the most pressing needs, such as emergency shelter and reconstruction. More than €2 million of this emergency funding was provided by Irish Aid to agencies involved in the fight against cholera. This year, we have provided €500,000 in funding to Goal in support of its programme to fight community vulnerability to disease outbreaks in Haiti, including cholera.

Certificate of Irish Heritage

Ceisteanna (8)

Seán Kenny

Ceist:

8. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons that have been awarded a certificate of Irish Heritage in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43384/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Since the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in September 2011, 2,123 Certificates have been purchased – 124 in 2011, 1,242 in 2012 and 757 to date in 2013. In addition, 215 promotional Certificates have been presented to various individuals during this time.With the vast majority of the global diaspora not eligible for Irish citizenship, the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced to recognise descendents of previous generations of Irish citizens in an official way and to give greater practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world. It is very clear from the positive reaction of those who have received a Certificate how much their heritage means to them. My Department will continue to work with Fexco (who operate the programme on our behalf) to promote the Certificate of Irish Heritage around the world.

Shannon Airport Facilities

Ceisteanna (9)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

9. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide official figures for the number of foreign military personnel who passed through Shannon to date in 2013; and the nationality of these military personnel. [43469/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. My Department’s records of overflight and landing requests for foreign military aircraft indicate that permission was sought for 366 military aircraft to land in Shannon Airport in the period to 30 September 2013. The table provides details of the countries involved and the number of times permission was sought to land in Shannon Airport. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not keep a record of the number of personnel on board foreign military aircraft landing in Shannon Airport. I am advised that, in most cases, the persons on board these aircraft consist of the crew and, depending on the nature of the flight, a limited number of military personnel. While my Department has primary responsibility under Irish legislation for foreign military aircraft seeking to overfly or land in Ireland, the vast majority of the foreign military personnel transiting Shannon Airport travel on commercial flights. The regulation of civil aviation is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I understand that approximately 45,000 US military personnel passed through Shannon Airport in the period from 1 January to 30 September 2013.

Name of State	No. of Landings
Canada	8
Croatia	3
Egypt	3
France	1
Germany	5
Italy	4
Panama	1
Russia	2
Sweden	3
USA	336
Total	366

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (10)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

10. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of positions available under his Department's recruitment of staff (details supplied); when the recruitment is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43472/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

With the assistance of the Public Appointments Service, my Department is in the process of recruiting graduates to join the Irish Diplomatic Service at Third Secretary level. The competition was advertised on 20 September and applications were to be made online by 10 October. Candidates will be required to take a number of online and assessment centre tests in October and November, with preliminary and second round interviews due to be held in December and January. The number of appointments made will depend on the Department’s overall staffing position during the lifetime of the new panel, having regard to the exigencies of the targets set for the Department under the Government’s Employment Control Framework. I would hope that it will be possible to make at least 10 appointments immediately.

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Ceisteanna (11)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

11. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 8 October 2013, the standards of accountability and transparency that have been set for bilateral assistance which are referred to; the mechanisms in place to measure the IMF and World Bank against these standards; if a copy of the scores for same will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43485/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

The Government’s new development policy, “One World, One Future”, sets out the vision, goals and priorities for our overseas aid programme over the coming four years. The policy includes a clear commitment to accountability and transparency, to the Irish people and to our development partners in what we do, how we work, and what we are achieving. It states clearly that we will also work with our partners - Governments, NGOs, multilateral organisations and others - to ensure that they adhere to similar standards of accountability and transparency. In this way, Irish people will be better able to see where and how their money is being spent and what results are being achieved. Ireland is a strong supporter of multilateral development efforts, recognising that global challenges need global solutions. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, is responsible for Ireland’s participation in the IMF. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which manages the Government’s aid programme, works closely with the World Bank, in cooperation with the Department of Finance. The World Bank Group supports developing countries in their fight against poverty by providing the financial and technical assistance needed to promote trade and investment. As outlined in the reply to the Question referred to, Irish Aid provided some €27.8 million in funding to World Bank-managed trust funds in 2012 for work in developing countries. The funding was provided to programmes focused on the fight against hunger, the provision of basic needs, private sector development, and fragile and conflict- affected states. Full details of all the programmes supported by Ireland, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Finance, are available in the annual report by the Minister for Finance to the Oireachtas on Ireland’s participation in the IMF and the World Bank. Ireland, the IMF and the World Bank, cooperate in the international work to ensure the effectiveness of development aid, as set out clearly in the agreement reached two years ago on the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation in 2011. This emphasises the importance of empowering countries to drive their own development, on the basis of the principle of partnership and of mutual accountability.

In our engagement with the Executive Board of the World Bank Group, Ireland participates in the work to ensure increased effectiveness and better results for people living in poverty. Ireland is also an active participant in the work of the Multilateral Organisation Performance Network, a grouping of 17 donor countries, which carries out joint assessments of the effectiveness of multilateral organisations which deliver international development programmes. These assessments are published online. Both the IMF and the World Bank are engaged in ongoing processes of governance reform, which Ireland strongly supports. We will continue to work to ensure that the IMF and World Bank meet the required standards of accountability and transparency.

Consular Services Remit

Ceisteanna (12)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

12. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will engage on a political level with his political counterpart in Greece in relation to a person (details supplied); if he will speak to the Greek ambassador to Ireland; the formal steps he will take to raise the concerns of the Irish family involved in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43528/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the situation concerning the person referred to by the Deputy. As he is not an Irish citizen it is not possible for my Department to offer him consular assistance. The Greek authorities are under no legal obligation to assist our Embassy with any requests made in connection with this case, as we have no locus standi in the matter. However, on hearing of his detention, and notwithstanding the fact that he is not a citizen of Ireland, the Irish Embassy in Athens made contact with the Greek police in an effort to convey the Irish Government’s interest in this case on the basis that he is married to an Irish citizen. It was made clear to our Embassy that the authorities in Crete would not provide them with any information regarding this case as no Irish citizen was involved. To clarify further, our Embassy has certain rights of communication and contact with Irish citizens in Greece to facilitate the exercise of our consular functions under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). The Embassy has no such rights for other persons, even if they are related to Irish citizens and I have no basis on which to raise this case with my Greek counterpart.

Money Laundering

Ceisteanna (13)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

13. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on any exemptions that may be made for the purchase of prize bonds under the Criminal Justice Act 2010 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42986/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

Officials of my Department are continuing to explore with the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) whether or not exemptions available under the Third Money Laundering Directive (2005/60/EC) and its Implementing Directive (2006/70/EC) may be applied to small value purchases of prize bonds facilitated on behalf of the State by An Post and the Prize Bond Company.

Property Taxation Administration

Ceisteanna (14, 15)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

14. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the reason property tax is not being deducted from the pension of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43163/13]

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

15. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the reason local property tax has not been deducted from a pension of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43165/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the difficulties in both cases arose as a consequence of processing errors. In both cases the persons in question filed their LPT Returns within the specified time limits. However, the returns did not automatically upload to the Property Register because the details supplied did not match the data held on the system for those properties. The returns were subsequently ‘suspended’ and referred to an operator for manual investigation. The operator successfully matched the properties to the persons in question and uploaded the correct details to the Property Register. Unfortunately the preferred payment options of Deduction at Source from Department of Social Protection (DSP) pensions did not upload to the Register due to a processing error. The processing error resulted in the Register incorrectly indicating that the persons had not selected any payment option and for that reason no instruction to commence Deduction at Source was transferred across to DSP for either case.

In regard to Question No. 15, I am further informed that Revenue has recently issued a compliance letter to the person warning of commencement of mandatory deduction at source from a private pension source if a payment arrangement is not put in place within ten days. It is now clear that this letter should not have issued as it was based on inaccurate information held on the Property Register.

I am assured by Revenue that it is making immediate direct contact with both persons to firstly apologise for the errors and to make arrangements for payment in a way that best suits both individuals.

Finally, while any error is unfortunate, Revenue has assured me that vast majority of returns and payments received in regard to approximately 1.59 million properties have been accurately recorded on the Property Register and that the error rate is very small in the overall context of the scale of the 2013 LPT programme.

Universal Social Charge Application

Ceisteanna (16)

Shane Ross

Ceist:

16. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is subject to the universal social charge on their streamed severance pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43676/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

The position is that the Universal Social Charge (USC) was introduced from 1 January 2011 to replace the Income Levy and the Health Levy. It was a necessary measure to widen the tax base, remove poverty traps and raise revenue to reduce the budget deficit. The USC is an annual tax payable on an individual’s total income in a year, subject to a number of exemptions and reliefs. In particular, an individual is not liable to pay USC where his or her total income in the tax year does not exceed €10,036. In addition, payments from the Department of Social Protection such as the State Pension are exempt from the USC and such payments will not be taken in to account in determining if an individual has exceeded the €10,036 threshold.

As the person in question is in receipt of income from her former employer she is liable to pay the USC on that income and on the income she is receiving from her current employment.

I should add that where an individual receives a lump sum “redundancy payment” Universal Social Charge would be payable on any part of the lump sum which is not exempt from income tax.

Tax Code

Ceisteanna (17)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

17. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance his plans to include physiotherapy under health expenses in the context of the Finance Bill 2013 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42985/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

As the Deputy will be aware, it is a long standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment on any tax matters that may be the subject of forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill decisions.