Written Answers Nos. 671-689
671. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 30 May 2017, the number of additional staff that have been deployed to embassies and consulates since 23 June 2016 to date in 2017, by embassy and consulate, in tabular form; the number of new hires in embassies and consulates in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26845/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff approved and the number of staff hired for Brexit related tasks in Brussels, the permanent representation and each embassy, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26912/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 673 together.
In his response to Question 62 of 30 May 2016, my predecessor Minister Flanagan provided a comprehensive overview of the additional capabilities and resources that have been assigned across my Department to address issues arising from the complex process of the UK exit from the EU.
As Minister Flanagan noted in that response, additional posts have been assigned to our Embassies in London, Paris and Berlin as well as the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. The Passport team in Embassy London has also been augmented in response to an increased demand for passports. The posts are detailed in the following table.
|
Location |
Posts Sanctioned |
Posts Filled |
|
Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU, Brussels |
1 Counsellor 1 First Secretary 1 Third Secretary |
3 |
|
Embassy of Ireland, Paris |
1 Counsellor |
Officer to take up duty in August 2017 |
|
Embassy of Ireland, Berlin |
1 Counsellor |
1 |
|
1 First Secretary |
1 |
|
|
2 Third Secretaries |
Officers to take up duty in August 2017 |
|
|
1 Higher Executive Officer |
Officer to take up duty in August 2017 |
|
|
Embassy of Ireland, London |
1 Executive Officer |
Officer to take up duty in August 2017 |
672. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the threats identified by his Department with regard to the responsibilities of his Department as a result of no deal being reached in Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26904/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 2nd May, the Government published a comprehensive document on Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This document sets out the approach of the Government to the forthcoming negotiations, following the successful campaign to have key Irish issues recognised in the EU negotiation position. Following on from this publication, work is underway to prepare a further paper on economic implications of the Brexit challenge. This will draw on the work to date across Departments, which will be developed to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders (especially through the government’s All-Island Civic Dialogue process), and will reflect the core economic themes of the Taoiseach's speech to the IIEA on 15 February last.
Ireland’s economic interests lie firmly in a strong and well-functioning EU with continued and unfettered access to the single market. There is a lot of negotiation to be done around trading arrangements. Our contingency work is examining all scenarios and we cannot pre-empt the outcome at this stage. We are not under any illusions about the complexity of these negotiations and are engaged in detailed planning to prepare for these. As Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, I will have special responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit, including developing and setting out Ireland’s approach to the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. I will be building on the excellent work carried out over recent months, which has ensured that Ireland’s interests – as set out in the comprehensive document – have been fully reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. Protecting the gains of the peace process is a key priority for the Government in dealing with Brexit. This includes ensuring that all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement are fully respected and upheld, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area.
In order to ensure that these specific concerns are recognised, the Government has undertaken an intensive campaign of engagement with our EU partners and the EU Institutions. This approach has delivered for Ireland and I look forward to continuing the efforts of my predecessor in this regard. I have already taken to opportunity to speak directly with a number of my EU colleagues since assuming my new responsibilities.
I welcome that the Negotiating Guidelines adopted by the European Council on 29 April and the more detailed negotiating directives adopted by the General Affairs Council on 22 May deliver on the Government’s objectives. There is a strong acknowledgement of the Ireland’s unique concerns and priorities, including protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, avoiding a hard border through imaginative and flexible solutions and recognition of the need to continue bilateral agreements and arrangements with the UK, including the CTA.
I am happy that the formal negotiations were launched yesterday and I will be taking stock of this first round of discussions with the EU negotiator M. Barnier and with my EU colleagues at the General Affairs Council today. It is vital that in these opening discussions a positive tone is struck and that momentum in created so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators. It is essential that a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK is concluded. Not to reach such an agreement would be, I believe, a disaster for the EU and for the UK and most particularly for Ireland. It is therefore incumbent on all sides to act responsibly and to approach these negotiations in a constructive, positive and ambitious frame of mind with a willingness for compromise.
These negotiations will be complex and difficult and my Department will continue its work with colleagues across Government to ensure that solutions are advanced that reach our objectives under a range of different scenarios.
A dedicated unit on the EU-UK negotiations has been established in our EU Division, and the Department’s Ireland, UK and Americas Division, Legal Division and Trade Division have been reinforced. Specific additional senior diplomatic posts have also been assigned to our Embassies in London, Berlin and Paris as well as the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels.
Brexit will also have implications for a broad range of policy areas that fall under the responsibility of my Department. We have cooperated closely with the UK within the EU on a number of these important areas, including in the area of foreign and development policy. A key priority for my Department is therefore to build on our partnerships with the remaining EU Member States and develop new alliances within the EU and engage more proactively with the EU institutions. This work is already underway. Discussions with EU partners have revealed that they too are very mindful of the need to intensify alliances post-Brexit and are also looking at how best to do so.
We have already seen the implications that Brexit has had for our consular and passport services. There has been a marked increase in demand for passports and citizenship via foreign birth registration from applicants in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In this regard, the Passport Service in Dublin, Cork and London as well as Consular Division have recruited a number of additional temporary and fulltime officers to meet increased Passport and Foreign Birth Registration demands including increased demand as a result of Brexit.
It is also the Government’s objective to exploit fully any opportunities arising from the UK’s decision to leave the EU and my Department, in collaboration with other Government Departments and State Agencies, is working to support Irish businesses to identify new opportunities for their products and services by diversifying into new markets as well as intensifying efforts in existing markets. The work is being taken forward through the Export Trade Council which I chair.
674. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Defence Forces personnel that were on duty at Shannon airport on 25 April 2017 took steps to ascertain whether aircraft (details supplied) were fully in compliance with conditions related to permission to land, in view of the fact that these two aircraft were en route from a US airbase in the USA to a war zone in the Middle East when they were refuelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26943/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra675. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Garda and the Defence Forces personnel that were on duty at Shannon airport on 25 April 2017 took steps or were asked to take steps to ascertain whether two aircraft (details supplied) were fully in compliance with conditions related to permission to land in view of the fact that these two aircraft were en route from a US airbase in the USA to a war zone in the Middle East when they were refuelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26944/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 674 and 675 together. Regarding the former aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was sought in advance by the US Embassy from my Department. The US Embassy confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering and that the flight in question did not form part of a military exercise or operation and that the aircraft’s destination was Greece.
In relation to the latter aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was not sought in advance from my Department. The US Embassy explained that it was necessary for this aircraft to land at Shannon Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Later that day, the Embassy confirmed in writing that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; was not engaged in intelligence-gathering; and that the flight in question did not form part of a military exercise or operation. The Embassy also confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was crew rest and that the aircraft’s destination was Italy.
The Government views breaches of the procedures set down for the granting of permission for landings by foreign military aircraft with the utmost seriousness. The US Embassy has informed my Department that they will review their procedures to ensure that timely notification of requests for military aircraft to land in Irish territory is provided in all future instances. My officials will remain in contact with the US Embassy regarding this matter.
Details provided by diplomatic missions (including written confirmation that aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, and are not engaged in intelligence gathering or form part of military exercises or operations) are accepted in good faith as being accurate.
In accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft which are granted permission to land in Ireland are not subject to inspection. Sovereign immunity, a long-standing principle of customary international law, means that a State may not exercise its jurisdiction in respect of another State or its property, including State or military aircraft.
676. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26973/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.
677. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contribution made by Ireland to the least developed countries fund in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Least Developed Countries Fund was established to support Least Developed Countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as they carry out the preparation and implementation of the required National Adaptation Programmes of Action and National Adaptation Plans. This is in accordance with mandates of the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Ireland has supported the Least Developed Countries Fund since 2003. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to continue contributions to the Fund. At the meeting of the Conference of the Parties in December 2015, Ireland, along with a number of other donors, pledged additional funding to the Fund. Ireland, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, provided a grant of €1 million to the Fund in 2017, based on the Taoiseach’s commitment that Ireland would provide at least €6 million for the Fund by 2020.
678. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of Ireland's contribution to the EU trust fund for Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has committed to providing €3 million to the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa over the period 2016-2020. This involves five annual payments of €600,000 to the Trust Fund. Our contribution is earmarked for the Horn of Africa Region, which includes Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, key partner countries for our development programme. The Trust Fund was launched in November 2015 at the EU-Africa Summit on migration in Valletta, as a response to the development challenges in migrants’ home countries.
The Trust Fund is implemented through economic programmes that create employment opportunities, support resilience in terms of food security, livelihoods and basic services for local populations, and improve migration management, including by combatting human trafficking and smuggling. It also works to support vital improvements in overall governance.
The level of our contribution entitles Ireland to membership of the Board of the Trust Fund and of the Operational Committee for the Trust Fund’s Horn of Africa window, which considers and approves programming under the Trust Fund for the Horn of Africa Region.
Ireland consistently advocates for the Trust Fund to focus primarily on addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, not least because it is financed overwhelmingly from the development and humanitarian budgets of the EU and of its Member States. We will continue to work to ensure that this emphasis is maintained to the greatest extent possible.
679. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value of current expenditure on the peace and reconciliation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart of the Government’s work in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is promoting reconciliation on the island of Ireland. A significant expression of this is the Reconciliation Fund, which is administered by my Department.
The Fund’s aim is to enable organisations to pursue projects promoting genuine and lasting reconciliation and building sustainable community relations. It forms part of the Government’s overall efforts to help overcome the legacy of the past and to meet the challenge of building a genuinely reconciled society based on values of mutual respect and understanding. Between the establishment of the Fund in 1982 and the end of 2016 over €48 million in funding has been allocated to over 2,000 projects.
The signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 committed parties to “positively examine the case for enhanced financial assistance for the work of reconciliation”, leading to a significant increase in funding for the Reconciliation Fund by the Government at the time. As part of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the Government committed itself to guaranteeing the continued allocation of €2.7 million annually to the Reconciliation Fund.
Last year, the Reconciliation Fund made grants to over 120 projects, supporting organisations across the community and voluntary sector. These groups are building meaningful links across communities, addressing the issues that are impacting on their lives, including sectarianism, and are working to create better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.
Detailed lists of the grants awarded are available on the Department’s website
www.dfa.ie/about-us/funding/reconciliation-fund/
680. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the annual average cost of maintaining an embassy and consulate respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
The work of our embassy and consulate network around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our Embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests includes:
- Promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts.
- Supporting trade missions and other trade-focussed high-level visits, record numbers of which have taken place in the last five years.
- Directly assisting Irish companies with advice, introductions and working to resolve regulatory or market access issues, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.-
- Providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas.
- Influencing and negotiating for Ireland on issues that could impact our interests and priorities.
The average cost of running an Embassy in 2016 was just over €1m while the average cost of a Consulate in the same year was €930k. In consideration of these figures regards has to be taken to the range of Embassies from a one person operation such as Riga in Latvia to much larger scale Embassies such as London.
681. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure on the passport office service; the cost of maintaining offices in counties Cork and Dublin; the number of staff employed in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of operating the Passport Service in 2016 was €31.6 million. Revenue from passport book and card fees in the same period amounted to €46.9m.
Any properties occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are rented and maintained by the Office of Public Works.
As of 1 January 2017, 301.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department were assigned to the Passport Service. In addition, the Passport Service has received sanction for 230 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) for 26 weeks in 2017. The number employed at any given time fluctuates as recruitment is phased and TCOs may terminate their employment in order to take up other positions. It is expected that close to the full sanction of TCO weeks will be used this year.
682. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial contributions made by his Department to date in 2017 to assist in the ongoing refugee crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27111/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently more than 65 million people displaced from their homes worldwide, a greater number than at any time since the Second World War. More than 21 million are refugees and more than half of all refugees are children. A further 41 million people are internally displaced inside their own countries.
Ireland partners with two of the UN agencies most closely involved in addressing the urgent needs of refugees and displaced people globally: UNHCR and UNICEF. By the end of the first quarter of 2017, we had provided €7.5 million in core support to both UNHCR and UNICEF. Early disbursement of core funding to UN organisations provides them with the financial basis to plan their responses for the year ahead. Ireland has provided a total of €36.8 million in core support to UNHCR since 2012 and €46.2 million to UNICEF.
Ireland’s humanitarian funding to our UN, Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGO partners enables them to continue to respond to the critical and growing needs of refugees in crisis situations. These include Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia and Uganda, Burundian refugees in Tanzania, and Central African refugees in Chad and DRC.
Through our contributions to EU institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s comprehensive humanitarian response to the needs of forcibly displaced populations, which in 2015 alone amounted to more than €1 billion.
In addition, over the period 2016-2019, Ireland will contribute almost €23 million to the EU’s Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which aims to meet immediate humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees and to bring about sustainable improvements in their health, education and self-reliance. Over the 2016-2020 period, Ireland will also provide €3 million to the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, which aims to address the root causes of instability and forced displacement.
Earlier this month UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Mr. Volker Turk, visited Dublin and commended Ireland’s comprehensive response to the refugee crisis, our willingness to engage internationally on refugee issues, and our search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Ireland will maintain this commitment and will continue to respond to the needs of refugees globally, while contributing constructively to innovative long-term solutions to the many crises driving displacement in the world today.
683. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has undertaken a review into the way in which Ireland allocates its ODA to multilateral organisations in view of the Government's announcement that it expects its annual contribution to a bank (details supplied) to count towards its overseas development assistance (ODA), the impact of such allocations and his plans to improve accountability and transparency in this regard; if so, the outcomes of such a review; and if not, if his Department will undertake such a review. [27114/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. My Department is committed to the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the most effective way, providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger, including through working with multilateral partners.
Funding to and through multilateral organisations is kept under regular review by the Department, to ensure that it is provided to partners which can contribute most effectively to delivering the priorities of our foreign policy and our development policy, as set out in the Global Island and in One World, One Future, and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ireland is currently a member of several Multilateral Development Banks, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Multilateral Development Banks are important contributors to economic and social development, and membership is valuable in building inter-regional relations and contributing to development results in the fight against global poverty and hunger.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) came into operation in January 2016 and aims to foster economic development and regional integration in Asia, primarily through investment in infrastructure. Ireland’s application for membership of the AIIB, which was primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance, was accepted on 23 March 2017, and is seen as a means of both strengthening our ties with the fast-growing Asia region and contributing to its sustainable development. We hope that Ireland will join the Bank in the near future subject to the passage of the necessary domestic legislation.
The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD is the body with responsibility for granting eligibility for Official Development Assistance (ODA) to countries and International Financial Institutions. While it remains to be formally decided whether the AIIB will be declared by the OECD as being eligible for ODA, indications are positive that the AIIB, or certain activities of the AIIB, will be deemed to be so. In December 2016, the DAC Secretariat recommended that the AIIB be included on its list. It is likely that a coefficient will be agreed, which will determine how much of the contributions to the AIIB will count toward ODA.
The President of the AIIB, Mr. Jin Liqun, visited Dublin in January 2017 to deliver a keynote address at the European Financial Forum. During his visit, President Jin met with then Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D., then Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan, T.D and then Minister for State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D. At these meetings, the role of the Bank, Ireland’s development programme and ways to identify areas for possible future cooperation were discussed.
684. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland met the UN target of spending at least 0.15% of its gross national income on overseas development assistance to less development countries in 2015 and 2016; and if it is expected to reach this target in 2017 and 2018. [27115/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. We are proud of its international reputation, with its sharp focus on reducing poverty, eradicating hunger and responding effectively to humanitarian crises. The geographic focus of the programme is on Sub-Saharan Africa, where we work with the poorest communities, particularly in our key partner countries. We are delivering real and sustainable improvements to the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people in the areas of basic health, education, agriculture, and food production.
Each year the OECD Development Assistance Committee publishes detailed statistical information for each country’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows to developing countries. For 2015, the most recent year for which comprehensive figures were published, the OECD estimate that almost 50% of Ireland’s total ODA was directed to least developed countries. This amounts to just over 0.15 % of Gross National Income, ensuring Ireland met the UN target. Ireland is playing a leading role internationally in focusing on the needs and role of the least developed countries.
Final figures for 2016 will be published by the OECD later this year. Based on current indications and the increased level of overall spending on ODA in 2016, I am confident Ireland will again meet this target.
685. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the Sri Lankan Government's active suppression of the right of Tamil war survivors and families of victims to remember those that died in the recent conflict on that island; if his attention has been further drawn to the continued police harassment of a person (detail supplied); if he will condemn the Sri Lankan Government's suppression of memorial activities such as this; and if he will raise the issue with his Sri Lankan counterpart. [27127/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I am also aware of the allegations of police harassment against him. I condemn any such actions. Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka, which ended in 2009, caused the internal displacement of tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many of whom are members of the Tamil population. This remains an issue to the present day.
Given our own history, we are very much aware that reconciliation is an ongoing process and requires consistent engagement by all involved. It can take time to build trust and for the positive developments fostered by the reconciliation process to become evident.
Ireland continues to monitor developments in Sri Lanka. Under the terms of a resolution (No. 30/1) adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on 1st October 2015, the Council welcomed the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to undertake a comprehensive approach to dealing with the past. Ireland warmly welcomed the co-sponsoring of this resolution by Sri Lanka, which signalled the determination of the Government to ensure justice and strengthen human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
We are very pleased also to note the constructive engagement of the Government of Sri Lanka with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) since then and the steps taken by the Government to implement Resolution 30/1. We welcome the progress made in constitutional reform and in the situation of human rights, although more remains to be done.
In our statement to the Human Rights Council on 22 March 2017 during discussions on an OHCHR report on Sri Lanka, we recalled the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government, including in Resolution 30/1, to address challenges facing civil society and human rights defenders in Sri Lanka and urged continuing and strengthened attention by the authorities to this issue.
We will continue to monitor the case in question including through our Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka. Our Ambassador in New Delhi, maintains regular contact with the Sri Lankan authorities and regularly visits Sri Lanka for discussions there.
686. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; if there is a responsibility to employ persons with disabilities to a quota of 3% of its workforce; if this quota has now been exceeded; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to this quota; if not, the reason therefor; the dates and details of such competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27138/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies
- to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities
- to comply with any statutory Code of Practice
- to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities
- to report every year on achievement of these obligations
The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with this 3% target. In its latest published report for the calendar year 2015, the NDA noted that in this Department, 3.5% of staff had declared a disability. At the end of May 2017, this number has risen to 3.65% of the Department’s workforce.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) was launched by the Government on 2 October 2015.
The Government has already taken a number of key decisions as recommended in the Strategy:
- the public service employment target for people with disabilities will be increased on a phased basis as set out in the Strategy from 3% to 6%.
- special public service competitions and alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities will be arranged.
These and other recommendations of the Strategy are being considered by a cross-party group chaired by Mr. Fergus Finlay.
687. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the Colombian Government regarding the ongoing violence and intimidation of local communities in Putumayo by armed gangs operating unmolested by either the Colombian army or police force. [27234/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncidences of violence and intimidation against local communities in the Department of Putumayo and elsewhere in Colombia, as well as the presence of armed groups in such communities, is a matter of great concern. I condemn unreservedly any intimidation, violence, or discrimination perpetrated against those seeking to defend their rights, whether in Colombia or elsewhere.
As well as ongoing exchanges with Colombian authorities at Government-level, officials of my Department engage regularly with human rights defenders and civil society leaders active in Colombia, including those working in some of the communities most affected by conflict. An important and valued aspect of these contacts relates to Irish and Colombian people sharing experiences of peacebuilding.
In this regard, I am pleased that my Department could support a two-day visit to the marginalised and conflict-affected region of Putumayo last November by a group of women from Northern Ireland. Gender-based violence was a particular focus of their programme of meetings that was organised by the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights with community organisations as well as with the Governor and some public representatives of the region. An Embassy official accompanied them during their visit, and the Embassy will continue to support peacebuilding work in Colombia.
As well as important projects such as the experience sharing work involved in the recent visit to Putamayo, I am pleased that Ireland is a founder member and one of the largest contributors to the EU Trust Fund for Colombia. We have committed to providing €3 million in funding over the lifetime of the Fund, which aims to support the implementation of the peace agreement, and in discussions regarding the Fund’s strategic direction Ireland has advocated for a strong human rights perspective.
Furthermore, Ireland has this year pledged to provide €400,000 to the UN Trust Fund for Colombia and €300,000 to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist in carrying out their vital work in Colombia.
I firmly believe that the Colombian peace process, which aims to create a virtuous circle between peacebuilding and respect for human rights, provides the framework in which the endemic violence and impunity which has afflicted Colombian society can successfully be addressed. As we know from our own experience in Ireland, peace processes are complex, challenging and can suffer unexpected setbacks. In this regard, I would like to commend the commitment of the Government in Colombia and all parties, in particular in civil society, who are working to support the implementation of the peace accords. Ireland will continue to support their efforts.
688. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention was drawn to the planned arrival of a plane (details supplied) before it landed; the way in which assurances can be given that there were no weapons on board and that it was not involved in military operations; the details of the plane's activities here and in Irish airspace; the destination of the plane after leaving Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27364/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding the aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was sought in advance by the US Embassy from my Department. The US Embassy confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the aircraft was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering. The Embassy also confirmed in writing that the flight in question did not form part of a military exercise or operation and that the aircraft’s destination was Germany.
689. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention was drawn to the planned arrival of two planes (details supplied) before they landed; the way in which assurances can be given that there were no weapons on board and that they were not involved in military operations; the planes' activities here and in Irish airspace; the destination of the planes after leaving Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27365/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding the former aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was sought in advance by the US Embassy from my Department. The US Embassy confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering; that the flight in question did not form part of a military exercise or operation and that the aircraft’s destination was Greece.
In relation to the latter aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was not sought in advance from my Department. The US Embassy explained that it was necessary for this aircraft to land at Shannon Airport due to adverse weather conditions. Later that day, the Embassy confirmed in writing that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; was not engaged in intelligence-gathering; and that the flight in question did not form part of a military exercise or operation. The Embassy also confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was crew rest and that the aircraft’s destination was Italy.
The Government views breaches of the procedures set down for the granting of permission for landings by foreign military aircraft with the utmost seriousness. The US Embassy has informed my Department that they will review their procedures to ensure that timely notification of requests for military aircraft to land in Irish territory is provided in all future instances. My officials will remain in contact with the US Embassy regarding this matter.
