Written Answers Nos 169-176
169. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the sanctions which have been taken against current members of the human rights council that have been found to be in violation of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22343/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRestrictive measures (sanctions) are currently in place against some current members of the Human Rights Council. There are measures in place against Burundi in respect of human rights violations. There are also restrictive measures in place against Tunisia, Egypt and Iraq.
Restrictive measures are adopted by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, or through decisions taken at European Union level. Sanctions measures adopted by the United Nations are binding on all United Nations Member States. In addition to implementing UN sanctions, the EU also adopts restrictive measures of its own. A consolidated list of EU restrictive measures, which encompasses UN restrictive measures, is publically available at: http://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf.
170. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Saudi Arabia has vetoed investigations into human rights abuses in its own country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22344/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland regularly discusses human rights issues with Saudi Arabia. I met with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nizar Madani, when I visited the Kingdom last November. We had a discussion around human rights, including the position of women in society and the use of the death penalty. The Irish Embassy in Riyadh raises human rights issues directly with the Saudi authorities including, most recently, issues around religious freedom and the death penalty. We also raise human rights matters in conjunction with other EU missions in Saudi Arabia. Further, officials from my Department here in Dublin raise specific human rights cases with the Saudi Embassy in Dublin when the need arises.
This year, Saudi Arabia has had a visit from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson QC, and also from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Prof. Philip Alston. Both Special Rapporteurs highlighted a number of human rights issues that they identified during their respective visits, made recommendations to enable Saudi Arabia better comply with its international human rights obligations, and thanked the Kingdom for facilitating the visits.
Ireland, as a member of the United Nations, will support Saudi Arabia in so far as possible in implementing the recommendations of these two Special Rapporteurs. As indicated above, this includes highlighting deficiencies and problems when we see them.
I am not aware of any recent instances where Saudi Arabia vetoed investigations into human rights abuses in their own country. However, if the Deputy has information on any specific instances, I would be happy to receive and consider any details he may be able to provide.
171. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the proceeds of the national lottery are distributed; the procedures in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the National Lottery Act 2013 and under the terms of the National Lottery Licence, 65 per cent of the gross gaming revenue, that is total sales less the prizes awarded, is provided to fund "Good Causes". The remainder is returned to the lottery operator, out of which all costs of operating the national lottery must be met.
The sectoral areas funded under the Good Causes provision of the Act are:
- sport and recreation;
- national culture and heritage (including the Irish language);
- the arts (within the meaning of the Arts Act 2003);
- health of the community;
- youth, welfare and amenities; and
- the natural environment.
The Act also provides that the proceeds may be applied to such other purposes, if any, as the Government may determine from time to time.
A breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported through National Lottery proceeds is set out in Appendix 1 of the Annual Revised Estimates for Public Services. Decisions on funding of Good Causes are taken as part of the normal Budgetary process in line with Government decisions on overall expenditure and Departmental priorities.
172. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will be represented in the Irish delegation to the UNFCCC meetings of the UNFCCC SBI and SBSTA in Bonn in May 2017 and if officials from his Department will attend the side event on scaling up green energy finance and swapping fossil fuel subsidies for sustainable energy solutions. [22351/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment will be leading the Irish delegation to the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference that is taking place in Bonn from 8-18 May 2017. While my Department will not form part of the Irish delegation, officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment will feed back relevant material to officials in my Department as appropriate.
173. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his capital spend review will include consideration of additional funding for investment in marine harbours and ports owned and managed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22394/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubmissions in relation to the ongoing review of the Capital Plan and the additional funding available for allocation were sought from Departments in January and are currently being reviewed by my Department. The Deputy will appreciate that it is a matter for each Department, in the first instance, to identify its sectoral priorities in its submission for additional funding under the review. In light of the constraints on the level of additional capital resources available for allocation under the review, the assessments and recommendations made by each Department in this respect will play an important role in ensuring that the additional funding is aligned with priorities in terms, for example, of overall economic and social returns from increased public capital investment.
A public consultation process was also held to ascertain the views of the public and key stakeholders on what our national infrastructure priorities should be and to seek views on infrastructure investment priorities beyond the period of the current Capital Plan, which will help formulate a longer term Capital Plan for the next 10 years.
My Department's assessment of the submissions received on the Capital Review will be based on, for example, updated analysis of infrastructure capacity and demand as well as the new National Planning Framework due to be published later this year, in order to ensure that the additional capital resources are targeted on priority public capital infrastructure required to support Ireland's medium-term growth potential and underpin social cohesion.
It is expected that the review process will be completed in Quarter 3 of 2017, to enable the Government to make final decisions in due course on how the remaining additional capital funding should be allocated.
174. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress being made in advancing flood defences in the Upper Lee catchment area. [21884/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Lee Flood Risk Management Plan, developed under the Lee Pilot Study and finalised in 2014, made a number of recommendations specific to the Upper Lee (upstream of Inniscarra Dam). The preferred option for the design of the Ballymakeera scheme is being finalised. Design options for the Crookstown scheme are being reviewed.
A review of the measures for Macroom set out in the Lee CFRAM study is being undertaken currently by the OPW. This involves a more detailed assessment of the costs of such measures with a view to determining if an economically viable measure may in fact exist that could justify the progression of the measures to full project-level assessment.
The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme made a number of additional recommendations in relation to the Upper Lee catchment. This is the core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding. It is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) including 90 coastal areas. It is the principal vehicle for implementing the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy.
Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary are included in the areas identified as Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) under the Programme.
The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans.
The OPW is finalising the Flood Risk Management Plans that will then be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his approval.
Funding of €45,000 was approved in 2016 for projects in the Upper Lee area of County Cork under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme. Approval details from 2009-2017 are available on the website at www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworks.
As part of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, a flood forecasting system is being developed in the Upper Lee catchment to inform flows into the Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra Reservoirs.
175. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will approve funding for flood relief works at the grotto in Curraheen, County Cork. [21885/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that an application under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme has been received from Cork County Council for a project at Curraheen, Co Cork. Further information to support the application has been received and is currently being assessed. The assessment will be completed as quickly as possible and the Council will be notified when the process is complete.
176. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the monitoring committee of the Action Plan for Rural Development has been set up; when the group will meet; the persons appointed to the group; if the monitoring process for the action plan has begun; the priority actions and milestones that have been identified for the first six-month segment as outlined in the action plan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development has been established and held its first meeting on 23 March 2017. The membership of the Monitoring Committee, which I chair, includes senior representatives from key Government Departments and agencies, other public bodies and rural stakeholders, as well as representatives from the business community. The full list of organisations represented on the Monitoring Committee is provided in the table.
The role of the Monitoring Committee is to monitor progress on all of the commitments in the Action Plan for Rural Development and to identify, and suggest solutions to, any potential obstacles to the delivery of the Action Plan. Progress reports on the implementation of the actions will be published every six months.
My Department is engaging with the organisations responsible for the delivery of the actions in the Plan on an ongoing basis, including in identifying the actions to be delivered in the first six months of this year which will be the focus of the first Progress Report to be published in July.
Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development
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Chair and Vice-Chair Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Heather Humphreys, T.D.) (Chair) Minister of State for Regional Economic Development (Michael Ring, T.D.) (Vice-Chair) Government Departments Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Department of Education and Skills Department of Housing, Planning Community and Local Government Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Department of Justice and Equality Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Department of Health Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Department of Social Protection Department of An Taoiseach Office of Public Works Public bodies Arts Council Enterprise Ireland Fáilte Ireland County & City Managers Association Regional Assemblies Údarás na Gaeltachta Western Development Commission Teagasc Rural Stakeholders Pat Spillane (Ambassador for the Action Plan) Irish Rural Link Irish Farmers Association Macra na Feirme Irish Countrywomen's Association Representative from Fisheries Local Action Groups Irish Local Development Network Rural Development research expert GAA Rural entrepreneur Rural Social Enterprise representative Business Community Chambers Ireland IBEC ISME Irish League of Credit Unions Secretariat Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
