Written Answers Nos. 237 - 255
237. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the stage at which a person must make a disclosure in respect of property which is expected to be inherited but which is currently under probate administration for the purposes of calculating the means of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33770/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn assessing means for social assistance payments, account is taken of the income and the value of property, including capital, of the claimant and his or her spouse/partner. Social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of property (including capital) owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessable for means testing purposes. Such property includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. However, it does not include property such as the family home a person is personally using or enjoying i.e. residing in or, for example, a premises used by the claimant in carrying out a business.
In order for property to be assessable for means purposes, it must be owned by a claimant (or his or his spouse/partner, where applicable). In this regard, a property which is under probate administration is not assessable for means testing purposes. A claimant should advise the Department of any increase in their means as soon as probate is granted.
However, where a person is in beneficial occupation of a property and is carrying out a business thereon e.g. farming, the income from such a business may be assessable despite the fact that probate has not as yet been granted. Claimants should notify the Department where this is the case.
238. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps the Government is taking to actively promote the expansion of personal micro-credit, PMC, schemes to all credit unions and, in particular, the reason there has been little or no advertisement or publicity given to same as Christmas is approaching, in view of the high success of the pilot scheme with the credit union movement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33863/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new credit unions which have signed up to the personal micro credit pilot scheme; if there has been a slowdown, the delays and obstacles that exist; the way in which they are being addressed by his department; the position on the limit on the number of loans a person can take out which appears to prevent a customer from taking out a third loan notwithstanding that such a customer would have repaid their earlier loans (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33864/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.
A Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans were drawn down under the Scheme during the pilot with an overall value of over €720,000. The average individual loan value drawn down was €500. The focus of the pilot scheme was social welfare recipients who availed of the loans from their Credit Union and were facilitated, with their consent, in the repayment of such loans through the Household Budgeting facility, operated by An Post. The deductions from their weekly social welfare payments were then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the rollout and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises all relevant stakeholders, is working towards this aim.
Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the Personal Micro Credit Scheme through efforts to recruit Credit Unions to participate in the scheme. To help with this I have written to all Credit Union Chairpersons and Managers to encourage their participation. This is being followed up with engagement with the Credit Union representative bodies and individual credit unions.
Almost 80 Credit Unions are currently signed up to participate in the scheme, which will result in the availability of the It Makes Sense loan in almost 150 local Credit Union offices. While coverage is increasing, planned Credit Union mergers and internal resource constraints are impacting on the decision or timing of some Credit Unions joining the scheme.
While the pilot scheme was targeted towards social welfare customers with access to the Household Budgeting facility, the scheme has been extended to social welfare recipients who receive their payment electronically into accounts in financial institutions, provided the loan repayments are made by direct debit or standing order to the credit union.
A number of other enhancements to the scheme are under consideration, including extension of the Household Budgeting facility to borrowers transitioning to small loans under the credit unions’ normal lending policies. The Implementation Group is working through these enhancements and they will be incorporated into the scheme when finalised and the appropriate structures are in place.
In regard to advertising, the Implementation Group has decided that the most appropriate approach is to promote the availability of the It Makes Sense loan at a local level, in the areas where Credit Unions are participating in the scheme. The Irish League of Credit Unions, which has representation on the Implementation Group, is actively supporting local Credit Unions in marketing the scheme through the provision of posters, leaflets and raising awareness in local media. The availability of the scheme is also promoted at a local level by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service and St. Vincent de Paul which also have representation on the Implementation Group.
The list of participating Credit Unions is updated regularly on the website for the It Makes Sense loan scheme at www.itmakessenseloan.ie/participating-credit-unions and on the It Makes Sense Facebook page.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
240. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his officials have met or requested a meeting with the Russian ambassador. [33245/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI met the Russian Ambassador on 24 October to convey my grave concerns at the appalling events in Syria and Aleppo in particular. During the meeting, I urged that Russia use all its influence to end the bombardment of Aleppo and to make every effort to ensure that civilians in Syria are granted full protection of their rights.
I also expressed my disappointment at the lack of progress in the recent Lausanne talks and reaffirmed Ireland’s support for a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process to end the conflict.
I asked Ambassador Peshkov to relay these concerns to his authorities in Moscow.
In addition to my meeting, at my direction, two senior officials in my Department met with the Ambassador on 27 September and again on 10 October. On both occasions they conveyed to him in the clearest terms Ireland’s serious concerns over the horrific situation in Syria.
241. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department have sought legal advice from the Attorney General's office on the impact of the Brexit referendum result on the Good Friday Agreement. [33248/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement are upheld is a major priority for the Government and this forms a key part of our continuing preparations for the EU-UK negotiations. The potential impacts on the Good Friday Agreement are being considered from legal and other perspectives as part of this ongoing work, with advice and assistance by the Attorney General’s Office and my own Department’s Legal Division as required.
242. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government has detailed its exact objectives with regard to north south trade, cooperation and movement of persons; and if the government detailed its exact objectives with regard to east west trade, cooperation and movement of persons. [32849/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has always been clear that our priority going forward is to ensure the best possible outcome for our citizens, for the economy, for Northern Ireland and for the Common Travel Area. This naturally has implications for how we approach trade, cooperation, and the movement of persons, both north-south and east-west.
Regarding trade, we are all acutely conscious of the importance of the UK market to Irish exporters – let me assure you that every effort is being made to protect existing trade and to continue to grow it. Furthermore, in my role as Minister for Trade, I am also intensifying our efforts on other markets, near and far. I believe we have the capacity for much greater market penetration in other EU member states. But we are also looking beyond Europe’s borders. Indeed, at a meeting of the Export Trade Council on 18 October there was a strong focus on markets in Asia in particular. In September I attended the UN General Assembly where I had a series of bilateral meetings with countries from the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes. I gave the strong message that Ireland will remain at the heart of Europe; we will continue to be an English speaking gateway to a market of 500 million people; and we will continue to offer a business friendly environment and a talented and adaptable workforce.
The Government continues to work closely and cooperatively with the Northern Ireland Executive, and at the last North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in July, it was agreed that the Irish Government and the Northern Irish Executive would work together to ensure that the Peace Process is protected. It was also agreed that how we cooperate north-south has to be fully recognised in any new arrangements. An agreed work programme of ten clear actions was agreed, and these issues will be discussed again at the next NSMC on 18 November. Regarding east-west relations, contacts between the Irish and British governments are ongoing at a political and official level, and the next British Irish Council summit will take place in Cardiff later this month.
As part of our commitment to working cooperatively and collaboratively, the Government also held the inaugural All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit on 2 November in order to hear from people from all parts of the Island, with representatives from a broad range of civil society groups, trade unions, business groups, non-governmental organisations and representatives from political parties. Both north-south and east-west issues were discussed in detail, and the Government plans to deepen the analysis and build on the insights generated by this dialogue.
Regarding the movement of people, the Irish Government has been clear throughout all our discussions with our UK and EU counterparts that we are committed to maintaining the open and effectively invisible border and protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA is an important feature of the close relationship between Ireland and the UK with long-established benefits for trade and tourism between our two countries, both north-south and east-west. The CTA allows for free movement between Ireland and the UK, but it also facilitates voting rights and access to social welfare for our respective citizens.
243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if national lottery funding is available at present through his Department to support the work of community groups; if so, if there are specific programmes eligible for grant assistance; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33273/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received any funding from the National Lottery Fund to support the work of community groups.
244. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the killing and persecution of Christians in Mosul, Iraq generally and throughout the Middle East, by Islamic State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33323/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe protection of Christian and other religious minorities in Mosul, Iraq and across the Middle East from terrorism and religious extremism is a core objective for Ireland’s human rights policies.
Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred.
In cooperation with our EU partners, we consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.
I have repeatedly condemned the horrific crimes by Daesh against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq. Daesh has boasted of its use of murder, torture, mass sexual violence and forced religious conversion in areas under its control and has committed grave crimes against members of all religious denominations in Syria and Iraq.
Removing the threat to Christian communities and other religious minorities requires effective action at EU and UN levels to prevent and counter international terrorism, especially the actions of Daesh, in line with international law and human rights.
International terrorism has featured high on the EU agenda in the past 18 months. In discussing international terrorism, the Council has given particular priority to countering the actions of Daesh. Comprehensive conclusions on a ‘Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Daesh threat ’ were adopted by the Council in May 2016. As has been underlined previously by the Council, there will be no resolution of the conflict in Syria in the absence a political solution.
The EU’s approach is guided by and consistent with the approach taken by the UN to countering Daesh. Last January, the UN Secretary General issued a report on the threat posed by Daesh, and the measures being taken against them, such as countering their financing, preventing and disrupting the travel of foreign terrorist fighters, countering recruitment and preventing violent extremism.
245. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the extremely tense and difficult environment for human rights defenders in Honduras currently; if his attention has been further drawn to the concern that an organisation (details supplied) has regarding the events that took place during a peaceful demonstration on 20 October 2016 in Tegucigalpa; and if he will contact his Honduran counterpart to express his concern regarding this incident. [33447/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the difficult situation which currently pertains for human rights defenders in Honduras. I condemn unreservedly any use of force against peaceful protestors. Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in Honduras, but my officials have raised the incident referred to by the Deputy with the European External Action Service and requested an update from the EU Delegation in Tegucigalpa. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Officials from my Department are in regular contact with the organisation mentioned by the Deputy, as well as other organisations active in the Central American region, in order to listen to their concerns regarding the context they face on the ground. We value and appreciate that engagement.
On 3 March 2016, Ms. Berta Cáceres, a leading human rights defender and environmentalist, was killed in Honduras. Her colleague, Mr. Nelson García, was killed just days afterwards. Ireland raised those cases and the difficulties facing human rights defenders in Honduras in public statements at the UN Human Rights Council and at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Senior officials also discussed the situation faced by human rights defenders in Central America with the Executive Director of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights during his visit to Dublin earlier this year.
My officials raised further instances of threats against human rights defenders at a discussion on Honduras at the EU Working Group on Latin America and the Caribbean in May 2016.
Honduras was last reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review mechanism in May 2015. Ireland intervened to express its concern at the climate of violence and insecurity in which human rights defenders operate in Honduras, and recommended that adequate financial and human resources were allocated to ensure the implementation of legislation protecting human rights defenders and journalists.
In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we will continue to raise our concerns regarding threats against human rights defenders in discussions on Honduras at EU and international level.
246. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that the Israeli finance ministry has approved plans for the construction of 1,600 homes in the illegal Israeli settlement of Katzrin in the occupied Syrian Golan; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal under international law; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that meanwhile discriminatory land, housing and development policies mean that Syrian residential areas are severely overcrowded; if he will condemn these latest moves to build new settlement houses; and if he will raise the issue with his Israeli counterpart. [33449/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have repeatedly made clear my view that the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements is a major impediment to the achievement of peace in the Israeli-Arab conflict. We have conveyed these concerns to the Israeli authorities, and worked to focus EU attention on them. My Department cannot, however, attempt to track and take action on every report of decisions involved in this process.
Our concerns over these policies are most acute in relation to the West Bank, where they are making impossible the achievement of a peace agreement and the establishment of a Palestinian state. By contrast, it is generally acknowledged that any comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab states will involve the return of the Golan area to Syria.
My primary focus in relation to Syria at present is on the appalling violence, destruction and slaughter afflicting the Syrian people across much of the rest of the country.
247. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish citizens imprisoned abroad, by country; and the number of those Irish prisoners in receipt of consular assistance on an ongoing basis. [33565/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 4 November 2016, the number of Irish citizens imprisoned abroad that have been brought to my Department’s attention was 332. This figure includes 61 new prisoner cases recorded in the 12 month period to 4 November 2016. The following table provides details of the 15 foreign jurisdictions where these Irish citizens have been imprisoned. In addition to the 61 new prisoner cases during the past year, there were 352 cases of arrests of Irish citizens in the same period.
My Department’s policy is to provide consular assistance to any Irish prisoner that requests it. Such assistance is provided in a non-judgemental way, irrespective of the alleged offence.
Consular support provided by my Department to Irish prisoners abroad includes: helping the prisoner to keep in contact with family or friends back home; providing information about prison arrangements; arranging for funds sent by the family to be transferred to the prisoner (in line with prison arrangements); seeking to ensure that the prisoner is not discriminated against in any way on account of his/her nationality; seeking to ensure access to appropriate legal representation; and that the authorities in the country where he/she is being imprisoned fulfil their obligations in relation to ensuring the citizen’s health and wellbeing.
Requests from detained Irish citizens for a prison visit by a consular officer are facilitated in a timely way, insofar as the resources of the particular Embassy or Consulate and local conditions permit.
My Department also provides contacts for relevant non-governmental organisations, including the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas, whose excellent work my Department funds.
It is important to remember that under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a detainee may decline an offer of consular support from their Foreign Ministry. My Department fully respects the right of an Irish prisoner to refuse an offer of support or assistance.
In the interests of transparency, since 21 October 2016 my Department has made its overall consular statistics available on its website www.dfa.ie (covering the period from 1st January to 30th September 2016). It is intended that these statistics will be updated on a regular basis in the future. In addition, the Deputy is welcome to contact consular staff in our Consular Assistance section in Dublin at 01 - 4082527 for any further information.
No. of new prisoner cases 01/11/2015 to 04/11/2016
|
Country of Imprisonment |
Number of Prisoners |
|
Australia |
14 |
|
USA |
10 |
|
France |
8 |
|
Spain |
6 |
|
Great Britain |
4 |
|
Denmark |
3 |
|
Belgium |
3 |
|
Malta |
3 |
|
Netherlands |
2 |
|
New Zealand |
2 |
|
Germany |
2 |
|
Finland |
1 |
|
Brazil |
1 |
|
China |
1 |
|
UAE |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
61 |
248. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current number of certain properties (details supplied) that remain in public ownership; if there are plans for their sale on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33787/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are nine former coastguard cottages in Crosshaven, Co. Cork in State ownership, seven of which have been identified for disposal.
The necessary legal documentation has been submitted to the Chief State Solicitor's Office who are preparing the Contracts for Sale. The properties will be sold by public auction during the first half of 2017.
249. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Croke Park agreement was in operation in February 2012; if he will provide the terms and conditions of this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33287/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Croke Park Agreement 2010 to 2014 was in effect in February 2012. It was a collective agreement between the then Government, and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and other associations representing public service staff. It secured a commitment by public servants to deliver savings, cooperate with reforms and maintain industrial peace in return for no further pay cuts and no compulsory redundancies. The absolute requirement to address and reduce the general government deficit to less than 3% in 2015, required a further contribution of €1bn from the public service pay and pensions bill and a successor Agreement was negotiated, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 to 2016 known as the Haddington Road Agreement. This latter agreement was extended out to September 2018 under the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
Details of the terms and conditions of the Croke Park Agreement are available on the Implementation Body website:
http://implementationbody.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Public-Service-Agreement-2010-2014-Final-for-print-June-2010.pdf
250. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of an application made by the Veterinary Officers' Association to his Department in February 2016 seeking to have civil service grades of veterinary inspector and research officer listed as grades meriting professional, technical and specialist added years; if his Department has yet sought further information from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine in connection with the application; when a decision will be made on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33349/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials of my Department have been in contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine in relation to this matter. Careful consideration is being given to the application by the Veterinary Officers Association (VOA) in the context of overall Government policy in respect of professional, technical and specialist added years. A decision will be communicated to the VOA in due course.
251. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide comparable responses across all Departments to the 2015 Civil Service employee engagement survey to the 24 themes of questions posed to staff, in tabular form. [33437/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe results of the Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey 2015 were published on 28 January 2016 and the report is available on my Department s website on http://www.per.gov.ie/en/civil-service-employee-engagement-survey/. This report summarises the results of the survey for the Civil Service and includes comparative analysis across Departments on employee engagement; commitment; well-being and capability. As part of the process, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also prepared individual reports for each particpiating organisation and these have been conveyed to each organisation. The data that the deputy has requested in tabular form is not available from my Department.
252. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will recommend to Government that the €780 in pension restoration due on 1 January 2018 to public service pensioners be brought forward to 1 January 2017 and paid together with the €500 due on that date (details supplied); if he will bring forward the date for full restoration of all public service pensions to 1 January 2018 in view of the fact that Teachtaí Dála will have become entitled to further pay restoration of in excess of €5,400 by that date and that 60% of public service pensioners currently living will have died by 2021; if he will base the pension award to survivors of deceased public servants on the pension of the deceased as if it had been fully restored before the date of death; if he will ensure that this measure will come into effect from 8 November 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33555/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pension restoration amounts of €500 and €780 on 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018 respectively are the maximum gains on those dates attainable by persons whose public service pensions have been affected by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) under the financial emergency legislation.
These pension restoration adjustments are provided for in law under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2015. When fully rolled-out from 1 January 2018, the changes involved will mean that all public service pensions with pre-PSPR values of up to €34,132 will be fully exempt from PSPR, while those pensioners not fully removed from the reach of PSPR will, in the majority of cases, benefit by €1,680 per year. The cost of these changes is estimated at about €90 million on a full-year basis from 2018. This substantial PSPR amelioration, delivered via a three-stage restoration schedule under FEMPI 2015, provides PSPR-affected pensioners with a significant measure of reversal of the originally imposed reductions.
Pensions paid to survivors of deceased public servants are based on the pre-PSPR value of the corresponding member pension, with any PSPR then applied. Survivor's are in most cases equal to half the corresponding member pension. Where a higher ratio than half applies, as is the case for most 1995-2012-hired members of the mainstream civil and public service pension schemes, the cash value of the corresponding member pension tends to be low because of shorter service and the Contributory State Pension offset used in the integrated occupational pension calculation.
In terms of the survivor's pension itself, PSPR does not apply in all cases of pre-PSPR value up to €18,700 at present, €26,000 from 1 January 2017 and €34,132 from 1 January 2018. These thresholds are considerably higher in cases where the member pension award date is after 29 February 2012.
253. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the OPW will advise on the affordable alternatives for the construction of a coastguard station at Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33567/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the options for affordable alternatives being considered for the construction of a coastguard station at Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33568/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.
I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that they are working closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) on identifying alternative options for the building of a coast guard station in Greystones that will be acceptable to the Department from a funding perspective. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific options under consideration at this stage.
255. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has produced a new statement of strategy since May 2016; and if so, the measures in it to support persons with disabilities. [33635/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of a three-year Statement of Strategy is a requirement of every Government Department under the Public Service Management Act, 1997. Under this legislation, a new Statement of Strategy must be submitted to a Minister within six months of their appointment.
The process to develop a new Statement of Strategy 2016-2019 for my Department is very substantially advanced and I have approved a draft Statement, which was submitted to the Taoiseach at the end of October in line with the guidance issued by the Department of the Taoiseach during the Summer. Once feedback has been received from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Statement of Strategy will be submitted to Government, translated into Irish and published.
The production of the Statement of Strategy has, of course, been informed by the priorities set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government (PfPG), the overall economic, budgetary and fiscal context as well as submissions received from other Departments and civil society. I can confirm that while the nature and length of the Statement of Strategy is such that it is not possible to reflect each of these submissions in detail, it does reflect, at a high-level, the Public Sector Duty obligation imposed by Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of the Department's employees and everyone affected by its functions and services.
