Written Answers Nos. 50-57
50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if further assistance under the Irish Aid programme will be provided before the end of this year to assist with the humanitarian issues arising from the typhoon in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54703/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTyphoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, hit the Philippines on 8 November with devastating effects. Current estimates indicate that the Typhoon affected more than 14 million people, with almost 4 million remaining displaced, including approximately 1.5 million children. The full human toll of this disaster remains unclear but over 6,000 lives have been lost to date. Ireland was amongst the first to respond to this disaster, providing immediate, life-saving assistance. Our contribution to date stands at over €3.6 million making us one of the most generous contributors to this relief effort on a per capita basis. Over €2.6million in funding has been provided through our key NGO partners. This funding is being used for the provision of emergency food and non-food items; water, sanitation and hygiene; emergency health care and, protection of vulnerable women and children. Ireland’s support will benefit up to 50,000 households. Ireland is making a real difference on the ground.
To date, Ireland has authorised four airlifts of essential relief items from our emergency pre-positioned stocks, the most recent of which arrived in the Philippines on Monday, 2 December. This brings the total amount of essential relief items provided by Ireland to 166 tonnes, valued at approximately €967,000 in total. According to the latest figures, Ireland is the second largest contributor of emergency stocks through the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Humanitarian Response Depot system (second only to the World Food Programme itself). In addition, Ireland deployed five members of its Rapid Response Corps to the Philippines to assist UN relief teams there.
I authorised the deployment of the Government's technical mission which arrived in the Philippines on Thursday 28 November. The purpose of this mission is to obtain a detailed analysis of the longer-term needs of the worst affected regions and to explore ways in which Ireland can most effectively contribute to the recovery process and rebuild for the future.
The team has returned to Dublin and is formulating its recommendations on how best Ireland can assist the Philippines recover from this terrible disaster in the medium to long term. Further financial assistance in 2014 will be considered on the basis of this technical team report.
51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised at the recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union the horrific and unacceptable actions of the North Korean Administration in the execution of Jang Song-thaek; if he has asked High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton, to pursue this matter with the North Korean authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54741/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra52. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the bilateral communications he has had with the North Korean authorities, if any, in raising the serious human rights abuses in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54742/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
I am deeply concerned by the recent summary execution of Jang Song Thaek in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is adamantly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and accordingly seeks its universal abolition. We are aware of concerns expressed by the President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) that these actions may lead to uncertainty in the political situation on the Korean peninsula. Ireland is monitoring the situation closely through our Embassy in Seoul, which is also accredited to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Ireland together with our international partners in the EU and UN have on numerous occasions condemned the current human rights situation in the DPRK and strongly urge the Government there to immediately put an end to the human rights violations in the country.
In February, my Department conveyed directly to the North Korean authorities Ireland’s strong condemnation of their nuclear and ballistic missile testing activities, and urged North Korea to re-engage with the international community as expressed in my statement on the matter.
During a visit to the DPRK in June 2013, the Deputy Head of Mission to Ireland’s Embassy in Seoul raised the issues of human rights and access to the DRPK by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK and other UN treaty monitoring agencies.
In March 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights abuses in the DRPK. The Commission has heard testimonies from victims who have suffered human rights abuses in the DPRK and will report to the UNHRC in March 2014. It is disappointing that the DPRK will not cooperate with the Commission of inquiry. Ireland stands by the resolutions passed by the UN Human Rights Council which calls upon the DPRK to cooperate with the UN and its human rights mechanisms.In November 2013, during the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Ireland supported the adoption of a resolution concerning the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This resolution highlighted the systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic and social and cultural rights in the DPRK. It also expressed serious concern at the absence of due process and the rule of law, including fair trial guarantees and an independent judiciary, and the use of extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions.
Ireland will continue to monitor the situation closely through our Embassy in Seoul, and will remain in close contact at the EU and UN on these matters.
53. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the names and amount by which each programme manager and special adviser in his Department has exceeded the relevant pay guidelines as laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54752/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Guidelines on Ministerial Appointments issued in March 2011 state that Special Advisers are to be placed on the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €75,674 - €92,550. Appointments will be on the first point of the scale, except where the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctions a higher salary rate. I have four Special Advisers in my Department. Salary details for each of them are set out in the following table.
|
Name |
Position held |
Annual Salary |
|
Mark Garrett |
Chief Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste |
€156,380 |
|
Colm O’Reardon |
Economic Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste |
€144,550 |
|
Jean O’Mahony |
Special Adviser - Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
€81,676 |
|
Niamh Sweeney |
Special Adviser – Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
€78,670 |
54. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of revenue raised from the property tax in 2013; the amount of money being invested in local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54508/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe amount received into the Exchequer at end-November 2013 under the heading Local Property Tax was €287 million. Section 157 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, as amended, provides that, in each financial year commencing with 2014, the Minister shall pay from the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax, including any interest paid thereon, paid into the Central Fund during that year.
Accordingly, receipts from the Local Property Tax received in 2013 will remain in the Exchequer and will be used to meet the many expenditure obligations faced by the State. The allocation to the Local Government Fund for 2013 had already been decided before the Local Property Tax commenced.
55. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce codentity in view of the increase in cigarette smuggling here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54720/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the introduction in Ireland of a system of the type indicated by the Deputy would be unlikely to assist in tackling the problem of cigarette smuggling in Ireland. As the Deputy notes, this is type of track and trace system which seems to be applicable to legitimate production and may be more relevant in countries where cigarettes are manufactured. The tax status of cigarettes in Ireland, regardless of where they are produced, is identifiable immediately by the presence or absence of the proper tax stamp on the packet. This system works very effectively in relation to legitimate supplies of cigarettes in Ireland. Cigarette smuggling is a global problem estimated to account for some 11% of consumption world-wide and it is not clear how the introduction of further controls in the domestic market alone would assist in tackling the illegal distribution of untaxed cigarettes smuggled from a variety of source countries.
The Deputy may wish to note that the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Protocol against the illicit trade in tobacco products, agreed in November 2012 and shortly to be signed by Ireland is designed to offer a global approach to tackling the illegal trade, through strict rules and controls on the supply and movement of tobacco products.
It stipulates that all those engaged in the tobacco supply chain must conduct due diligence on their customers. The aim is to ensure that sales reflect a real and legitimate demand, and to eliminate the creation of excess supply which could be used in the black market. It is further expected that a global tracking and tracing regime for all tobacco products will be set up within five years of the Protocol's implementation.
56. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of all of the resources, salaries, vehicles, fuel, and ancillary costs of the Revenue Commissioners, used in the efforts to prevent, counter and fight the importation and sale of illegal cigarettes for the year 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54484/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue is an integrated Tax and Customs administration, and all Revenue staff are available for assignment to any required functions in accordance with currently identified priorities and risks. At the end of 2012 Revenue had approximately 2,000 staff engaged directly in activities that are dedicated to target and confront non-compliance. These front-line activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection. The related cost of salaries, overtime and other expenses for the year for these staff was approximately €108m. The Revenue Commissioners attach a high priority to dealing with this criminal activity." Revenue's Strategy on Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011-2013)", which is published on the Revenue website (www.revenue.ie), includes a range of measures designed to complement each other in targeting the supply and demand sides of the market for illicit tobacco products.
This multifaceted strategy includes ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem, developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, ongoing review of operational policies, use of analytics and detection technologies, and optimum deployment of resources at points of importation and inland to intercept and seize contraband products and to prosecute those involved.
Interception of illicit tobacco products at importation is achieved through a combination of risk analysis, profiling, intelligence and the screening of cargo, vehicles, baggage and postal packages. Revenue officers also target the illicit trade at the post-importation level by carrying out intelligence-based operations and random checks at retail outlets, markets and private and commercial premises.
In carrying out this important work Revenue works in close cooperation with other relevant agencies, both nationally and internationally. There is extensive cooperation in this jurisdiction between Revenue and An Garda Síochána and the agencies in the State and in Northern Ireland work closely together, through a cross-border group on tobacco enforcement, to combat the organised crime groups that are responsible for a large proportion of the illegal tobacco market. In addition, cooperation takes place with other Revenue administrations and with the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, in the ongoing efforts to tackle the illicit trade in tobacco products at international level.
57. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons who were granted a primary certificate from 2010 to date that were receiving dialysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54511/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary Medical Certificates, which certify that a person is a severely and permanently disabled person for the purposes of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Regulations 1994, are issued by the Health Services Executive (HSE). Accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy is a matter for the HSE in the first instance. In order to be granted the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must satisfy one of the following conditions: a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; b) be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs; c) be without both hands or without both arms; d) be without one or both legs; e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg; f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
