Written Answers Nos. 411-430
411. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with his British counterparts regarding the objective of maintaining the common travel area after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36244/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra413. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with the EU Commission regarding the objective of maintaining the common travel area after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36246/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 413 together.
The maintenance of the Common Travel Area following the UK withdrawal from the EU is a priority for both the Irish and UK Governments. The Common Travel Area pre-dates Irish and UK membership of the EU and is not dependent on EU membership. The Common Travel Area is particularly important in underpinning the Northern Ireland peace process and relations on the island of Ireland. The EU Negotiation Guidelines and negotiating directives provide for the recognition of existing agreements and arrangements between Ireland and the UK, such as the Common Travel Area, which are in conformity with EU law.
The UK Government notification letter which formally triggered Article 50 placed a strong emphasis on the “unique relationship” between these two islands. The letter confirmed that the UK Government wishes to avoid a return to a hard Border, to maintain the Common Travel Area, and to uphold the Good Friday Agreement.
As agreed, the Irish-specific issues were discussed as part of the second round of negotiations between the EU and the UK which took place last week. This included an exchange on the Common Travel Area. The discussion centred on assessing the extent of common understanding on the issues, with agreement to do further work ahead of the next round of talks. I am satisfied with the direction of the discussions. My officials continue to be in good and close contact with the EU Task Force.
As part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that the issues unique to Ireland are prioritised in the Brexit negotiations, I have held bilateral meetings with a number of my EU colleagues since assuming my new role, including with the EU’s lead negotiator, Michel Barnier, as well with my Estonian, Luxembourg, French, Slovak, Belgian and Spanish counterparts. I also welcomed the Finnish Foreign Minister to Ireland earlier this month and my officials are currently finalising the details for further engagements in the autumn. I have met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, in London on 6 July. I have also held a bilateral with the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 July.
With my colleagues across Government, I will continue to work to ensure that Ireland’s priorities in these negotiations – minimising the impact on our trade and economy, protecting the peace process, maintaining the CTA and its associated rights, and securing the future of the EU – are delivered.
412. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with his British counterparts regarding the objective of protecting the Good Friday Agreement after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra417. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with specific reference to Brexit and its impact on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36421/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 417 together.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I lead on coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and to our preparations for Brexit, with a view to mitigating the impacts to the maximum extent possible and securing the best possible outcome for Ireland.
In this role, I intend to build further on the excellent work carried out over recent months, which has ensured that Ireland’s key interests – as set out in the Government’s comprehensive document of 2 May on our approach to the Brexit negotiations – have been fully reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. Protecting the gains of the peace process is a central 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.
Engagement with the UK is part of this work. In this regard, I met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, in London on 6 July and I held a bilateral with the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 July. I have also discussed the challenges that Brexit presents for the Peace Process and Northern Ireland, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire and with the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland.
In all of these engagements, I have laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and the need to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected through the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall integrity of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The Government will continue to work to ensure that all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement are respected in the EU-UK negotiations, and will be proactive in working to mitigate all impacts of Brexit on the island of Ireland, consulting and working closely with civil society, North and South.
414. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with the EU Commission regarding the objective of protecting the Good Friday Agreement after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36247/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) on Tuesday 20 June. At this meeting, Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator, informed Ministers of the outcome of the first round of the negotiations with the UK on its withdrawal from the EU.
I also met with Mr Barnier for a bilateral exchange on Brexit and on the EU’s position on the issues specific to Ireland as set out in the European Council Guidelines of 29 April and the negotiating Directives of 22 May. I thanked Mr Barnier for his recent visit to Ireland, which included travelling to the border region, and for his continuing support and understanding.
We had a very positive and constructive discussion which clearly confirmed that addressing issues unique to Ireland will be a key EU priority in the negotiations. I reiterated the Government’s position in relation to protecting the gains of the peace process and ensuring that all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement are fully respected and upheld. In particular, I emphasised the importance of the European Council’s recognition that “in view of the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, flexible and imaginative solutions will be required, including with the aim of avoiding a hard border, while respecting the integrity of the Union legal order.”
During our discussion, I expressed my support for the handling of Irish issues as set out in the Terms of Reference agreed between the EU and the UK on 19 June whereby the issues unique to Ireland will be the subject of a dialogue at the level of the two most senior members of the respective negotiating teams. This again underlines the urgency and importance with which Irish issues are being addressed. I also underlined my willingness and that of my officials to continue constructive and regular engagement with Mr. Barnier and his team at the European Commission as these complex negotiations progress.
As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to ensure that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected through the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall integrity of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union.
As a result of the intensive political and diplomatic engagement by the Government over the last year and more, all of our EU partners and the EU institutions are fully aware and supportive of the importance of respecting the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and of supporting and protecting the achievements, benefits and commitments of the peace process. This is expressly reflected in the European Council’s Guidelines and the Negotiating Directives to the Commission for the EU-UK negotiations.
Protecting the gains of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts was reaffirmed as a key priority for both sides in the negotiations, by Michel Barnier, on behalf of the European Commission, and by David Davis, on behalf of the British Government, on the conclusion of the second round of the EU-UK negotiations on 20 July. Constructive engagement and a strong political willingness on all sides, will remain essential to achieving this shared objective through the withdrawal agreement.
The Government will continue to work very closely with Michel Barnier and his team at the European Commission, to ensure that sufficient progress is made on the Peace Process and the other Irish specific issues in phase one of the negotiations.
Together with my colleagues across Government, I will continue to work to ensure that Ireland’s priorities in these negotiations – including in relation to the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement – are delivered .
415. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reopen an embassy in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36283/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present, Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 61 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions, 11 Consulates General and one Representative office. The configuration and scale of the State’s diplomatic network is kept under ongoing review by the Government.
The Government is of course conscious of the political, economic, trade and other factors that might warrant the opening of a resident diplomatic mission in Iran – as in a number of other countries. However, resource constraints do not allow us to have resident representation in all the locations that might objectively justify it having regard to those factors.
Ireland’s bilateral relationship with Iran is sustained and promoted through the Embassy of Ireland in Ankara on a concurrent basis. Ireland is also represented in Iran by an Honorary Consul.
416. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has commenced planning in the event of a no deal scenario with regard to Brexit; if so, the detail of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36420/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have 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.
The conclusion of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK is a key priority for the Government. A failure to reach such an agreement, resulting in a disorderly withdrawal, would, as I believe is now almost universally accepted, be hugely damaging for the UK and for the EU, most particularly 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 to compromise.
My focus is on working with our EU partners and the EU institutions to ensure that the negotiations proceed in a positive manner, with a view to making sufficient progress on the withdrawal issues so that we can move on to discussing in parallel the future EU-UK relationship, including as regards trade. The need for effective transitional arrangements is also now very broadly understood.
That said, the negotiations will be complex and difficult. As a priority my Department and I will continue to work with colleagues across Government to develop solutions that protect our interests to the maximum possible extent under a range of different scenarios. These scenarios include one where no agreement is reached.
418. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent meetings he has had with EU counterparts on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to ensure that Ireland’s key priorities and concerns in regard to Brexit are understood by our partners, the Government undertook an intensive campaign of engagement with our EU partners and the EU Institutions in the period leading up to the adoption by the European Council of the guidelines for the negotiations. This approach delivered for Ireland, with our unique issues placed on the agenda for the first phase of the EU-UK negotiations.
I am continuing these efforts. I have already held bilateral meetings with a number of my EU colleagues since assuming my new role, including with the EU’s lead negotiator, Michel Barnier, as well as with my Estonian, Luxembourg, French, Slovak, Belgian and Spanish counterparts. I also welcomed the Finnish Foreign Minister to Ireland earlier this month and my officials are currently finalising the details of further engagements in the autumn.
In these meetings, I have laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. I have strongly emphasised the need for an imaginative and flexible political solution. In so doing, I have been equally clear that we will only pursue solutions that are compatible with our aim of protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it.
It was important to use these opportunities to also acknowledge the support of our partners in agreeing to the inclusion in the EU’s negotiating position of elements addressing the particular challenges faced by Ireland.
I have also stressed the importance of ensuring that the positive momentum from the early rounds of EU-UK negotiations is maintained so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators. It is important to make sufficient progress on the exit issues, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Irish specific issues, in phase one of the negotiations so that we can move to opening discussions with the UK on the future relationship issues, as well as on effective transitional arrangements, as soon as possible.
I should add that my Department and our Embassies are also continuing to engage with their counterparts, as are colleagues in government, including the Minister of State for European Affairs.
419. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will be publishing a detailed sectoral plan for Brexit as committed to in a Government publication on Ireland's approach to the negotiations published in May 2017; if so, if this analysis has started; the expected publication date for this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36423/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication on 2 May of the comprehensive document setting out the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations, which drew on the findings of sectoral dialogues held to date in the framework of the Civic Dialogue, as well as on analysis by individual Departments, work is underway across Government to prepare adaptive Sectoral Brexit Response Plans to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders, and will encompass the following themes:
- Sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- Policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- Prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- Realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;
- Making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Although not directly responsible for any one Sectoral Response Plan, my Department and I will have a key role to play in working with other Ministers and Departments to identify how to mitigate sectoral challenges that are identified across Government.
My Department has lead responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and it will continue to work closely with all Departments in this context to work towards ensuring that Ireland’s priorities – including in relation to sectoral issues – are appropriately reflected in the EU’s negotiating position as the process evolves.
My Department also has a wider role and responsibility with regard to promoting Ireland internationally. This will only increase in importance across the range of our sectoral interests, especially where mitigating measures foresee a diversification of trade and investment patterns, particularly in markets and regions where awareness of Ireland may be less developed than in our longer established markets.
To this end, 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.
420. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met with his British counterpart to discuss Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36424/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I lead on co-ordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and to our preparations for Brexit, with a view to mitigating the impacts to the maximum extent possible and securing the best possible outcome for Ireland.
In this role, I intend to build further on the excellent work carried out over recent months, which has ensured that Ireland’s key interests – as set out in the Government’s comprehensive document of 2 May on our approach to the Brexit negotiations – have been fully reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. Protecting the gains of the peace process is a central 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.
Engagement with the UK is part of this work. In this regard, I met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, in London on 6 July and I held a bilateral with the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 July. I have also discussed the challenges that Brexit presents for the Peace Process and Northern Ireland, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire and with the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland.
In all of these engagements, I have laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and the need to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
I have also stressed the importance of ensuring that the positive momentum from the early rounds of EU-UK negotiations is maintained so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators. It is important to make sufficient progress on the exit issues, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Irish specific issues, in phase one of the negotiations so that parallel discussions can begin in phase two on the EU’s future relationship with the UK, including on trade, as well as on effective transitional arrangements.
I will continue these efforts to ensure that the unique issues for Ireland in the context of the Brexit continue to be prioritised throughout the negotiations.
421. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with the Export Trade Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36425/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Export Trade Council was last convened on 7 February by my predecessor Minister Charles Flanagan TD. On that occasion the agenda featured discussions on Brexit related developments, the new Trade, Investment and Tourism Strategy, Ireland Connected, and a review of Local Market Team plans submitted by Local Market Teams in priority markets.
I had hoped to chair a further meeting of the Council on 27 June. However my involvement in the talks in Northern Ireland necessitated the rescheduling of this meeting at short notice.
The next meeting will most likely take place in the autumn at a date to be determined.
422. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the second round of Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36426/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second round of EU-UK negotiations, which took place last week, allowed for the first substantial discussions to take place on the issues that are being addressed in this first phase of the negotiations, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, ‘separation’ issues, and of course Irish issues. While some good progress was made last week, including clarification from both sides on the areas of agreement and divergence in regard to citizens’ rights, it is clear that many difficult and complex issues remain, above all in regard to the financial settlement. These issues must be addressed in a constructive spirit as the negotiations progress if the European Council is to be able in October to judge that sufficient progress has been made to allow for the opening of parallel discussions on the framework for future relations.
Michel Barnier, the Chief Negotiator for the EU27, and his team are well prepared for these negotiations, based on the negotiating guidelines and directives agreed in the spring and the extensive and ongoing consultations they are holding with all member States. My officials and I have been working very closely with Mr Barnier and his team to ensure that Ireland’s positions were fully reflected in this round and we will continue to engage in the coming weeks ahead.
On the Irish specific issues, I am satisfied with the direction of the discussions, which were held between the coordinators of the EU Task Force and UK Officials on 18 July, as agreed. The specific topics covered were those previously agreed for the agenda going into this round - maintaining the Common Travel Area and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. The discussion centred on assessing the extent of common understanding on the two sets of issues, with both sides agreeing to do further work ahead of the next round of talks.
While the border and related issues were not the subject of detailed discussions in this round’s exchange, the focus in this round on protecting the gains of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is of course directly relevant to the crucial objective of avoiding a hard border.
423. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a forthcoming referendum on independence in Kurdistan; if he is supportive of autonomy and independence for the persons of Kurdistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36454/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the referendum on independence announced last month by the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.
424. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent developments regarding a person (details supplied); if he will raise these issues with the government of Iran; and if he will publicly call for their release. [36536/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not been contacted by anyone connected with this case and I have no information on it other than open media reports. In view of this, I do not, at this point, have any plans to raise the case with the government of Iran.
425. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the latest profiles in value and outruns forecasted in his Department for the end of December 2017 and any variances that may arise based on his Department’s performance against profile in gross voted expenditure at the end of June 2017. [36568/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn an overall basis to end June 2017 my Department is showing a relatively small behind profile spend of €6 million (2%) on gross expenditure compared to profiled gross expenditure of €349 million. This is due to timing differenced in expected expenditure. The Department expects that the voted gross expenditure budget allocation for 2017 will be fully spent at year end.
426. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to join UN special rapporteurs regarding human rights defenders and call on Israel to drop charges against a person (details supplied) [36576/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been closely following this person’s case, and an Irish diplomatic representative was present at his most recent hearing on 9 July, along with other international representatives. The Irish representative Office in Ramallah has also been in close contact with him.
I agree with the view that these charges seem to be part of an increasing pattern of using the military justice system to harass and subdue those engaged in legitimate protest. My understanding is that the person in this case is looking forward to a full trial, in order to make clear the nature of the case.
427. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the active deployment of Irish volunteer election observers to elections and referendums overseas; his plans to match or exceed in 2017 the number of deployments that took place in 2016; the staffing level by grade that manages the roster; if sufficient levels of experienced staff are available to promote Irish observers with such fora as the EU and OSCE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36580/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that have been taken to replace the current election observation roster established in 2013; the date a call for fresh applications will be published; if it will be open to all lawful residents here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36581/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions 427 and 428 together.
International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers a roster of election observers so that Ireland can be represented at an appropriate level in international election observation missions organised, in the main, by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The current roster was established in May 2013 for a period of five years following a review of the previous roster and a public call for applicants.
The number of observers deployed on missions varies from year to year, depending on the number of elections, the interest in participating, and the number of Irish nominees selected for EU missions. All Irish nominations for OSCE missions are normally selected. In 2015, for instance, 46 observers were deployed on 15 missions. In 2016, 68 were deployed on 16 missions. To date in 2017, 18 have been deployed on 6 missions. Given the pattern of elections for the rest of the year, it is unlikely that the total number deployed in 2017 will be as high as in 2016.
The roster is administered by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Irish Focal Points are an Assistant Principal and an Executive Officer who are in regular contact with the OSCE and EU election Focal Points and also participate in the European Observation network, which brings together election observation Focal Points from all EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and Canada. The network facilities the exchange of information on all aspects of election rosters and missions.
Officials will shortly begin working on the details relating to the criteria and methodology in respect of the call for applications for the new election observation roster. They will consult nationally and internationally, including with other election Focal Points. It is anticipated that this work will be finalised before the end of the year and a public call for new applicants will issue shortly thereafter. Details will be published on the Irish Aid website (www.irishaid.ie) and existing roster members and a wide range of people who have expressed an interest in receiving details about the next roster will also be advised.
429. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff in his Department who are suspended from work on full pay; the reason in each case; the length of time in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36731/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that there is one such case in my Department. It would not be appropriate for my Department to provide additional details as so doing could potentially identify the individual in question. My Department applies the provisions of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars in relation to disciplinary and underperformance matters including that all civil servants must be treated in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
430. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there will be an underspend in his Department's current or capital budget for 2017; if so, the subheads that are now below profile and those that may come in below profile at the end of the calendar year; if underspends in his Department will be available to the Exchequer at year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn an overall basis to end June 2017 my Department is showing a relatively small behind profile spend of €6 million (just under 2%) on gross expenditure compared to profiled gross expenditure of €349 million. This is due to timing differenced in expected expenditure. The Department expects that the voted gross expenditure budget allocation will be fully spent in 2017 and a surplus amount at the year end is not anticipated.
