Terence Flanagan
Ceist:162. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the fair deal scheme; if participant costs will be increasing soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7622/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNursing Homes Support Scheme
Ceisteanna (162)
Freagraí scríofa
The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is expected to be finalised at the end of this quarter after which it will be made publicly available. Among other issues, the Review is examining the on-going sustainability of the Scheme and it will make recommendations for the future management and operation of the Scheme. However, it should be pointed out when contributions towards the cost of nursing home care increased in the past, the increases only applied to new applicants to the Scheme.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (163)
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:163. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the roll-out of free general practitioner care for children under six years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7628/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees, as set out in the Programme for Government. The Government has commenced this process in respect of all children under 6 years. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, which provides an entitlement for all children aged under 6 to a GP service without fees, was enacted on 25 July 2014.
Under a Framework Agreement, the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO are engaged intensively on the introduction of GP services without fees for children aged under 6. The aim is to have the under-6's phase implemented by Quarter 2, 2015, subject to the conclusion of those discussions and the conclusion of the fee-setting process.
Diplomatic Representation
Ceisteanna (164, 165, 167)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:164. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the protocols or agreements that are in place to allow for the entry into Irish controlled air space, or Irish sovereign air space of British military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7471/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:165. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Russian response to Irish concerns over the recent episode involving the flight of a Russian bomber off the west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7525/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Smith
Ceist:167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Russian Ambassador, or the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the circumstances where two Russian military aircraft entered Irish-controlled airspace in January 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these aircraft were going to enter-Irish controlled airspace; the details he knew of this situation at the time; the details regarding the episode now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 165 and 167 together.
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 and in Irish airspace. However, as the aircraft in question did not at any time enter Irish sovereign airspace there was no requirement to seek permission in accordance with the Order.
The aircraft were in an area for which the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has responsibility for the provision, operation and management of air navigation services for civil aviation. In the discharge of its operational mandate, pursuant to the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993, issues relating to entry into Irish controlled airspace are accordingly a matter for the IAA, which operates under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Given this mandate and the potential impact of this incident on civil aviation, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the IAA monitored this incident closely.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has since relayed its concerns about the incident to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. It is emphasised that the IAA coordinated closely with its UK counterparts at all stages during the incident so as to avoid a risk to any civil aircraft during the incident. Although there was no such risk on this occasion, such non-notified and non-controlled flight activity is not acceptable.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport consulted with me and with other members of the Government in relation to the incident and on the development of an agreed response.
As part of that agreed response, and at my instruction, a senior official from my Department met with the Russian Ambassador. The official conveyed the serious concerns of the Government about the unacceptable safety risk which could be posed by non-notified and non-controlled flight activity. The Ambassador undertook to bring the concerns expressed to the attention of his authorities in Moscow.
Consular Services Representations
Ceisteanna (166)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:166. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number and location of representations made to the State's embassies and consulates, between 9 and 16 February 2015, seeking an end to the arrest of those who attended a protest in Jobstown in Tallaght, Dublin 24 in November 2014. [7442/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Between 9 and 16 February 2015, three Irish missions abroad received letters of protest relating to the policing response to incidents at a protest at Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
These were our Embassies in London and Stockholm and our Consulate General in Edinburgh. In addition, a peaceful protest was held outside the Embassy of Ireland in Vienna.
Question No. 167 answered with Question No. 164.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (168)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost of producing the Global Island policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Together with the Taoiseach, I launched the Government's review of Foreign Policy The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World on 13 January 2015 at the conference organised by my Department on “Representing the Global Island”. The purpose of the review was to provide a progressive and forward looking statement of Ireland's foreign policy written in clear and accessible language. The document includes features which communicate simply and effectively what is delivered across Government to achieve Ireland's foreign policy goals.
As I outlined in my foreword to the review, through our foreign policy we safeguard our peace, security and economic prosperity, and promote reconciliation and cooperation at home. At the core of this foreign policy are the protection of our citizens and the promotion of our values abroad. The Global Island considers the challenges and opportunities for Ireland's foreign policy under five interconnected themes: Our People, Our Values, Our Prosperity, Our Place in Europe and Our Influence.
The Global Island is the result of a wide-ranging process of consultation involving other Departments, State agencies, the Oireachtas, civil society and members of the public. I will be bringing forward a series of initiatives to implement the vision and goals set out in review in the period ahead.
The electronic version of the review was prioritised both to reduce costs and ensure broad accessibility, including overseas. This version was made available from the launch date in accessible electronic formats in both official languages and eReader versions will be available shortly. A limited print run of The Global Island was commissioned and is being distributed to key contacts and decision-makers at home and abroad.
The total cost for the production of the Foreign Policy Review is estimated at €40,069. This includes design, layout and preparation of both English and Irish versions as well as printing, translation and electronic versions in both official languages. As some items have yet to be invoiced, the cost outlined is approximate at this stage.
International Terrorism
Ceisteanna (169)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:169. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the attacks on Chad, by the group called Boko Haram, from Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7475/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Boko Haram carried out its first reported terrorist attack in Chad on 13 February. The attack took place in the village of Ngouboua, on the shores of Lake Chad. Reports suggest that the militants killed and wounded a number of Chadians and destroyed most of the village before being pushed back by the Chadian army.
I utterly condemn the appalling acts of violence being perpetrated in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries by Boko Haram. These include the recent killing of a large number of civilians in an attack by militants in the north-eastern state of Borno in Nigeria. I share the horror at reports of the group's use of innocent young children to carry primed explosives. I have previously also condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok last April.
The attack in Chad, as well as the recent attacks on Kerawa in Cameroon and Diffa in Niger, confirm the regional nature of the threat now posed by Boko Haram and the need to tackle it on a regional basis. The EU Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Brussels last week, noted that the responsibility to address the immediate security challenge lies primarily with the countries most affected, and called upon them to urgently intensify cooperation and coordination. The Council commended the Chadian army's recent assistance to the Cameroonian forces already engaged in the fight against Boko Haram. We also welcomed the decision of the States in the region, endorsed by the African Union, to deploy a multinational force, which will also be endorsed by the UN Security Council. Experts from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin met at Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 5-7 February to finalise operational issues for the multinational force.
The Council also expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the Boko Haram attacks on Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and pledged to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase supports at regional level. Ireland provided €1 million in December 2014 to the UNHCR to support its work for Nigerian refugees in Chad.