Written Answers Nos. 143-148
143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Philip Hammond, and with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, in relation to the forthcoming referendum on British membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45605/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn discussions with all British ministers, I always stress the particular value we attach to the UK’s membership of the European Union. That was the case when I last met Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London on 23 November. I explained to him why the UK’s place in the EU matters as much as it does to us and outlined our determination to be as helpful as we can be in the negotiations that lay ahead. This meeting was the third formal meeting between us in the last 12 months, with the previous two meetings having taken place in Dublin. We also meet more informally at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers and in other fora.
The British Government understands our approach to their relationship with the European Union. The subject regularly arises not just in my discussions with my UK counterpart but also in exchanges between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron and between our Minister of State for European Affairs and his British counterpart. Both the Taoiseach and I have also spoken publically in Britain about the potential negative implications for Ireland of a UK withdrawal from the Union to influential audiences such as the British Irish Association, the Confederation of British Industry and Chatham House.
We are working hard as well to ensure that the Northern Ireland dimension to this debate is taken fully into account by the UK government. That is because the Government believes that the EU has been a real force for good for everyone in the North, whether in terms of supporting the peace process or by helping to create jobs and growth. I have made this point in discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, with whom I have worked closely since the summer of 2014. Earlier this month I also spoke at a conference at Queen’s University Belfast along with the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel, Arlene Foster. At that conference, I outlined why the uncertainty of a UK withdrawal from the EU would be bad not just for the North but for Ireland as a whole.
The immediate challenge – including at tomorrow’s European Council – is to work with both the UK and our other 26 EU partners to reach an agreement that both addresses UK concerns and is acceptable to every EU Member State. While a deal is unlikely to be reached this week, we hope that the foundations can be put in place so that a solution can be achieved in early 2016.
The question of the UK’s future within the European Union will, however, ultimately be decided by the British people. While Ireland has much at stake – and the Government will continue to make its voice heard in the debate – we need to remain respectful of the democratic process underway in our neighbouring country.
144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he and his European Union counterparts have made in relation to the plight of refugees fleeing the Middle East and North Africa; the progress on developing an adequate and comprehensive European Union response programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45608/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scale of the migration challenge facing the international community is enormous. The conflict in Syria - the biggest driver behind this year’s migrant flows - has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. But the problem is bigger than Syria. An estimated 60 million displaced people worldwide are on the move, the highest since World War II. They are coming not just from Syria but from such places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza and a dozen or so countries in sub-Saharan and North Africa.
For most of this year Migration has been at the very top of the EU agenda. There have been no fewer than five special meetings of Justice and Home Affairs ministers devoted to migration while Heads of State and Government have debated the issue in three special councils. I and my foreign minister colleagues have also addressed the issue many times this year.
In June, the Foreign Affairs Council launched EUNAVFOR Med, the EU’s naval operation to disrupt the dangerous activities of people smugglers in the Mediterranean, which have tragically resulted in the loss of many lives. As the Deputy will know, the crews of the L.E. Niamh, Eithne and Samuel Beckett have done sterling work in saving more than 8,500 lives.
In September, the Government decided accept up to 4,000 asylum seekers and refugees as part of the European Commission’s comprehensive plan to address the migration crisis.
As part of its efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the refugee crisis, the EU organised two high level conferences earlier this year. On 8 October, a conference focusing on migration flows into the EU through the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans route took place in Luxembourg attended by both JHA and Foreign Ministers. The Conference issued a Declaration endorsing a five-pronged approach to addressing the migration challenge.
On 11/12 November EU Heads of State and Government met their African counterparts at a migration summit in Valletta. They agreed to establish a Trust Fund to address the root causes of migration in Africa. The €1.8 billion Fund is to be augmented by EU member state contributions. Ireland is contributing €3m.
On 29 November, there was a key meeting of EU Heads of Government with Turkey in Brussels at which the EU agreed to provide a financial package worth €3 billion to help Turkey accommodate the more than two million refugees residing in the country. As part of the agreement there is to be a concerted effort by Turkey to stem the flow of irregular migrants through its territory. This agreement – or Joint Plan of Action – presents a real opportunity to stem the flow of such migrants into the EU.
145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide additional funding for humanitarian aid for Syria and adjoining areas in view of the ongoing conflict, the appalling loss of life and the urgent need to get essential humanitarian aid to persons living in desperate conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45615/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council the need for the European Union to provide additional funding to Syria and that region given the ongoing conflict, the appalling loss of lives and the urgent need to get humanitarian aid to persons living in desperate conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45616/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
The world now faces unprecedented levels of humanitarian crisis, driven by conflict, chronic instability, and economic and environmental shocks. Globally, there are now more than 59 million people displaced, more than at any time since the Second World War.
Ireland is firmly committed to responding to the humanitarian needs of those affected by these crises. Our most significant humanitarian contribution in recent years has been for the people affected by the appalling conflict in Syria, which has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed, 6.6 million people are displaced within Syria, and over 4.2 million have had to flee the country in search of safety. Some 13.5 million people, well over half of Syria’s population, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
Ireland is particularly mindful of the impact of the crisis on Syria’s immediate neighbours – Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq – which have been generous hosts to huge numbers of desperate people, putting huge strain on their own resources.
We have been supporting efforts to assist refugees affected by the Syria crisis, providing needs-based humanitarian assistance since 2012.
Ireland’s humanitarian aid is implemented by our UN, NGO and Red Cross partners, and has helped to provide food, shelter and medical care to those who need it.
At the Pledging Conference in Kuwait in March 2015, Ireland pledged €12 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syrian crisis this year. Earlier this week, I announced an additional package of €2.95 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region, bringing the total given in 2015 to €13 million.
With the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance within Syria greatly exceeding the number of refugees who have fled their home country, I have ensured that half of this package is focused on their needs.
With more than 2 million children in Syria, and 700,000 across the region not in school, there is a high risk of creating a generation of under-qualified and disaffected youth. To support the No Lost Generation initiative, which supports education, child protection and engagement of adolescents in their communities, €1 million goes to UNICEF.
Additionally, €500,000 goes to UNICEF in Jordan for water and sanitation work in the Azraq refugee camp, improving living conditions for Syrian refugees there, and increasing sustainability in this long drawn out crisis.
By the end of 2015, Ireland will have provided over €42 million to the Syrian people since the beginning of the crisis. I am determined that Ireland will continue to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.
The Syria crisis remains high on the European agenda. On 23 September last, an Emergency European Council was held to address the crisis, resulting in further funding being given. Since then, the European Council of 15 October, and the informal European Council of 15 November have discussed the crisis in the context of migration. The Foreign Affairs Councils of 12 October and 16 November both featured Syria prominently on their agendas.
The EU, collectively, is the world’s largest humanitarian donor, and has been a leading donor in response to the Syrian crisis. The EU (European Commission and Member States) has provided some €4.4 billion in humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people since the beginning of this crisis. This crisis will remain on the EU’s agenda, and will remain a humanitarian priority for the EU, as it is for Ireland.
147. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the publication of Innovation 2020, the amount of her 2016 departmental budget which she will allocate to basic research under the new frontier research fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45521/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the publication of Innovation 2020, the persons who will be allowed to apply under the new frontier research fund; when applications will open and close; the amount of moneys that have been allocated for this fund over the course of the strategy, by year; the maximum grant amount that can be drawn down per year; the type of grants that will be dispersed, including Ph.D and post-doctoral research; the scientific disciplines which will be accommodated for grant funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45524/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
Under Innovation 2020 a new competitive fund to support researchers to undertake project-based frontier research, and to develop as Principal Investigators, is to be established by the Irish Research Council. Funding will be awarded on the basis of the excellence of the research proposals, assessed through a rigorous and international peer-review process. It will be open to all disciplines and career stages post PhD over the implementation of the programme. In 2016, the IRC will begin developing the parameters of the programme along with its terms and conditions, with the intention to launching the first call for proposals in the latter half of 2016. Given the timeframe from the call issue to the award of grants, no funding implications arise in 2016. The funding requirements for the IRC, including the new research frontiers programme, will be agreed in the context of the 2017 estimates process.
