Written Answers Nos 73-93
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which applications for carer's allowance are approved or disallowed in the first instance; the extent to which such cases are reversed on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care. An application for CA can be disallowed because one or more of the qualifying conditions are not satisfied or because insufficient evidence is provided at application stage to establish the full-time care and attention needs of the cared for person or the means of the applicant.
During 2016, 31,881 CA applications were processed. Of these, 19,308 were allowed and 12,573 were disallowed or withdrawn by the applicant. Each decision notice offered the recipient a right of review and appeal.
When a person appeals a decision, the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) who are independent of the Department, send a notice of the appeal to the Department requesting a statement from the deciding officer showing the extent to which the facts and contentions advanced by the appellant are admitted or disputed.
At that stage a different deciding officer reviews in full the original decision which is under appeal and any additional statement or evidence provided as part of the appeal. It is quite often the case that additional information and evidence is supplied by the appellant at this stage, which may require further investigation by a Social Welfare Inspector or an opinion by a Medical Assessor.
This review can sometimes result in a revised decision by the deciding officer which means an appeal is no longer required. In 2016, 815 such cases were successful on review, resulting in the withdrawal of the appeal. Of cases examined by the SWAO in 2016, 1,375 were allowed, 145 were partially allowed and 1,237 were disallowed.
74. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to move to a policy of a living wage to ensure work pays for all those employed in view of the recent report on the prevalence of minimum wage rates among women, the young and migrant workers. [46811/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Low Pay Commission was established through the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015. Its principal function is, once each year, to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay and to make a recommendation to the Minister regarding the rate, ensuring that any recommendations are evidence based, fair and sustainable, and do not create significant adverse consequences for employment or competitiveness.
EUROSTAT data indicates that the minimum wage in Ireland is the second highest in the EU, after Luxembourg. In terms of purchasing power standards, Ireland’s minimum wage currently ranks in 6th position. I have recently signed an Order increasing the national minimum wage to €9.55, with effect from 1 January next, on foot of the Commission’s most recent recommendation.
It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not conflated.
The Living Wage is a voluntary societal initiative centred on the social, business and economic case to ensure that, wherever it can be afforded, employers will pay a rate of pay that provides an income that is sufficient to meet an individual’s basic needs, such as housing, food, clothing, transport and healthcare. The Living Wage is voluntary and has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement. It is different to the National Minimum Wage which is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis.
I have no plans to move away from current policy in relation to the National Minimum Wage.
75. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department received correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the classification of PRSI of Coillte workers; the action she plans to take on foot of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46550/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scope insurability section in my Department makes statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees or the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where appropriate, and the case law from previous court judgements.
A deciding officer in the Department has made a decision on the insurability of employment of a number of employees in Coillte. Coillte, as is their right, has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office performs its statutory functions independently of the Minister for Employment and Social Protection and it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter under appeal.
Separately, the Department has received submissions from Coillte and from the employees’ trade union, IMPACT, in relation to certain aspects of the decision made by the Department. The Department is considering the issues and will revert to the interested parties in due course.
76. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions she is taking to tackle bogus self-employment in the interests of persons that are being left without basic entitlements and the loss to the Social Insurance Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46700/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBogus self-employment is where employees and employers wilfully evade income tax and social insurance liabilities. Departmental social welfare inspectors carry out visits to a wide range of businesses, as part of their ongoing compliance operations. Inspections can be undertaken jointly with other State agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Workplace Relations Commission. Where evidence of non-compliance is detected, this will be pursued.
The Scope insurability section in my Department is responsible for decisions on the insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees or the self-employed may apply to the section to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined.
Where the misclassification of workers as self-employed is detected, the correct insurability status of the person concerned is determined and social insurance arrears are collected.
Under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, there are specific offences in relation to employment contributions, their remittance and the maintenance of prescribed wages and employment records. On conviction, fines and-or imprisonment can ultimately be imposed.
Any worker who has concerns about their employment and PRSI status should contact my Department and the matter will be fully investigated.
My Department is concerned that certain employment structures may be being used to reduce the amount of PRSI and tax being paid, with a subsequent loss to the exchequer and the Social Insurance Fund. An interdepartmental working group, comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners has been examining the issue and I expect to receive a report shortly.
Legitimate self-employed workers pay PRSI at the class S rate and have access to social insurance benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), as well as guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and paternity benefit. They also can access the treatment benefit scheme and, from December 2017, the invalidity pension.
I am committed to maintaining and enhancing the social protection rights of all workers, employees and the self-employed, while ensuring that they make the appropriate contribution to the social insurance fund to pay for these benefits and entitlements.
77. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the legal basis for withholding social welfare payments in circumstances in which a person entitled to such payments fails to register for a public services card; her views on whether the overall Government policy on the public services card and SAFE level two registration limits the statutory discretion of power of her Department in terms of withholding welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46866/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2005, the Government approved a rules-based standard for establishing and authenticating an individual’s identity for the purposes of access to public services. This standard is known as the Standard Authentication Framework environment – or SAFE. A person who successfully completes a SAFE 2 registration process (i.e. verifies their identity to a substantial level of assurance) may be issued with a Public Services Card (PSC). In the case of my Department’s own services, the legislation governing identity verification for existing claimants is set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, viz
- Section 247C(1) of the Act provides that the Minister may require any person receiving a benefit to satisfy the Minister as to his or her identity;
- Section 247C(2) of the Act specifies the consequences of failure to satisfy the Minister in relation to identity as required, specifically that a person shall be disqualified from receiving a benefit; and
- Section 247C(3) of the Act specifies the manner in which the Minister may be so satisfied; in effect, this Section describes the process for registering a person’s identity - this is the SAFE 2 Process.
This legislation requires a person to satisfy the Minister as to their identity and allows disqualification from receipt of a benefit in the event that it is not done. It is not possible for a person to satisfy the Minister as to his or her identity without being SAFE2 registered.
The decision to stop a payment is never made lightly. However, where a customer does not satisfy the Minister in relation to identity, in accordance with the legislative requirements, a payment can be disqualified. In advance of any such disqualification, the Department makes every effort to engage with the customer to explain the legislative basis for the SAFE2 registration process and the consequences of potential disqualification. Where a payment has been disqualified and the customer subsequently successfully completes the SAFE2 registration process, their payment will be reinstated by my Department (assuming they continue to meet all qualifying criteria for that payment) from the date of compliance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
80. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the role of the Pensions Authority with regard to the financial and non-financial assumptions employed for the purposes of the setting of the minimum funding standard for occupational defined benefit schemes; and her views on whether the assumptions used bear no resemblance to reality and this has had a profound negative effect on the continuing demise of occupational defined benefit schemes. [46414/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 34 of the Pensions Act 1990 provides the legislative basis for minimum transfer values for defined benefit schemes. It sets out that regulations may prescribe how the transfer payment is to be calculated in accordance with professional guidance issued by the Society of Actuaries or other person, including the Pensions Authority and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The standard transfer value and elements of its basis are used or referenced for a number of items in addition to voluntary transfer payments including the minimum funding standard liability calculations.
Up until 2013, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland Actuarial Standard of Practice PEN-2, Retirement Benefit Schemes Transfer Values, was the professional guidance underlying the calculation and the basis for setting the level of technical provisions required. This guidance was reviewed and updated regularly by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and changes were subject to ministerial approval. As the standard transfer value basis incorporates assumptions and judgements more appropriate to governmental or regulatory determination there was some concern about the scope of the Society’s role in relation to issues and principles of a public policy nature. It was therefore decided that the regulatory determination of pensions policy aspects would rest more appropriately with the Department and the Pensions Authority with the Society providing technical advice.
In 2014 the Pensions Authority set out in prescribed guidance the pensions policy matters relating to section 34 of the Pensions Act and defined benefit transfer values. This guidance “Prescribed Guidance in Relation to Section 34 of the Pensions Act, 1990” is subject to Ministerial consent and provided for under the Occupational Pension Schemes (Preservation of Benefits) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 -S.I. No. 218 of 2014. The guidance sets out the assumptions which must be used in calculating a transfer payment on a standard basis and is in addition to the Society of Actuaries in Ireland Guidance. The guidance sets out financial and non-financial assumptions.
Earlier this year the Pensions Authority submitted a discussion paper to the Department to assist in its consideration of the funding standard for defined benefit schemes with the aim of examining whether there are changes that could be made to the funding standard to make it easier to comply with, but without compromising its role of ensuring adequate advance funding and oversight of over €60 billion of defined benefit obligations. When this review is complete the Department will make recommendations to me for any changes considered appropriate to the funding standard basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
81. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the unemployment blackspots in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work to ensure that as many of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register.
The Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy continues to prioritise actions for the newly unemployed and also includes a range of measures for the long-term unemployed. This includes the payment-by-results services of JobPath to engage more systematically with the long-term unemployed; providing targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.
The unemployment rate in the South East is still relatively high at 8.1% (Q 2 2017) as compared with the national average of 6.4%; data on the official unemployment rate are not available at the sub-regional level.
In relation to ‘blackspots’ with a high concentration of unemployment, as identified in the Census, it is important to recognise that DSP services through Intreo are focused on unemployed individuals rather than on areas. This means, nonetheless, that those areas where unemployed individuals are most concentrated will also be the areas that receive a greater share of DSP income support payments and activation and employment services.
The Action Plan for Jobs 2017 includes actions aimed at stimulating regional growth, including the progression, monitoring and support of the eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which through public and private sector collaboration seek to build on existing strengths and assets and identify opportunities within each region, and realise the national Action Plan’s regional employment targets.
The South East Action Plan for Jobs is the key policy response for supporting employment growth in the South East region. The Key Targets for the SE RAPJ are as follows:
- Increase employment in the region by 10%-15% over the period to 2020. This will see the creation of 25,000 new jobs in the region.
- Increase the number of IDA investments in the region by 30-40% up to 2019. This will result in a minimum of 44 additional projects for the region by 2019.
- Achieve an increase of at least 25% in the number of start-ups in the region, and a 25% improvement in the survival rate of new businesses.
- Increase jobs in export-led sectors by 20% across the region by 2020.
- Increase the value of agri-food exports by 85% by 2025.
- Develop the South East as a key destination as part of Ireland’s Ancient East experiences, to achieve a target to grow overseas tourism numbers by an extra 300,000 with 5,000 associated jobs being created.
- Establish a new Regional Skills Forum to ensure closer collaboration between employers and the education system in identifying and meeting the skills needs of the region and promoting the range of roles and career paths available in the region.
- Develop Smart Specialisms as new sources of growth in the South East, in particular where the region has both a research base and an enterprise base that can exploit emerging technologies from that research.
Progress Reports on the SE RAPJ are being published twice yearly.
The first progress report for the South East Region was published last December and the second Report was published on 26 June. Both reports show that good progress is being made in the implementation of the Action Plan.
As a result of a focused collaborative approach and a range of reforms delivered in the region over recent years, the unemployment rate in the South East has fallen from 12.8% in 2015 to 8.1% by Q2 2017.
Some 13,000 jobs were created in the South East from the start of 2015 to Q2 2017.
I am confident that the range of measures outlined, and continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in unemployment nationally, regionally, and in the blackspot areas.
82. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to broaden the criteria for the new telephone support allowance by making it available to those persons in receipt of the living alone allowance or the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46610/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) of €2.50 will be paid from June 2018. People in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and also Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. It is expected that approximately 124,000 customers will qualify for the scheme at a cost of €16 million in 2018.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.
The criteria for the TSA are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment ensuring that the TSA payment goes only to people on low income who live alone.
Accordingly, I have no plans at this time to change the criteria for the TLA as suggested by the Deputy.
Any decision to do so would considerably increase the overall cost of the scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
83. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she is taking to limit the arbitrary powers of pension scheme corporate trustees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46415/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll dealings and decisions made by corporate or individual trustees of occupational pension schemes are governed by legislation and enforced through the supervision of the Pensions Authority.
Legislation together with the trust deed and scheme rules set out the trustees’ duties and responsibilities. Trustees of pension schemes must act in the best financial interests of the scheme members and must serve all beneficiaries of the scheme impartially.
The Pensions Authority’s Trustee Handbook lists numerous trustee responsibilities including chapters on payment of contributions; investing a scheme’s assets; payment of benefits; payment of fees; preservation and transfer of benefits; the minimum funding standard; disclosure of information; and equal pension treatment.
The rules governing the role of trustees are constantly being reviewed. The Pensions Authority carried out a public consultation in 2015 on proposals to impose higher standards for trustees.
Last year the Pensions Authority conducted a consultation process on the reform and simplification of pensions, the purpose of which is to impose higher standards on all occupational schemes. The transposition of the new EU IORPS 2 Directive by January 2019 will further advance the duties and supervision of trustees.
The Pensions Authority is the regulatory body charged with the supervision of pension schemes and has the necessary powers under statute to investigate the conduct of a pension scheme should it become aware that the trustees of a scheme are not in compliance with the provisions of the Pensions Act.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
86. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that have chosen to receive their fuel allowance payment in a lump sum and weekly, respectively; her plans to support persons in fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe risk of fuel poverty is influenced by a combination of fuel prices, weather, income and the heat efficiency of housing. My Department will continue to ensure that those on low incomes and those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty are supported through the fuel allowance and the household benefits package.
The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week from October to April, to over 376,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €229 million in 2017. This payment assists these households with the higher energy costs that arise in that period. It is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. In Budget 2018 I announced that the fuel allowance season will be increased by one week to 27 weeks in total.
Households who receive the fuel allowance now have the option to receive their payment in two lump sums – one at the start of the fuel season in October and the second in January. This will enable people to buy fuel in bulk and potentially avail of special offers or discounts on the purchase of the particular fuel that meets their specific needs.
Approximately 51,000 households have opted to receive their fuel payment by lump sum and approximately 325,000 households are still receiving the fuel allowance payment weekly.
My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to over 430,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €232 million in 2017.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances who have special heating needs due to ill health or infirmity. Exceptional needs payments may also be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which a person is unable to meet from his/her own resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
87. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the progress made to date on composing the next census; and his plans to update and-or amend the questionnaire. [46973/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2017 the Government agreed to the taking of a Census of Population in Ireland in 2021.
It is essential that census data remains relevant, up-to-date and reflective of modern Ireland. To fulfil this obligation, and as part of the preparatory phase for the census, the CSO is conducting a public consultation on the content of the 2021 questionnaire. A notice to this effect was published in the national press and on the CSO website in early October 2017 seeking submissions, and all Government departments together with public bodies and interested individuals were contacted for their input. Submissions could be made online, by email or by post.
A Census Advisory Group made up of representatives of Government departments, public bodies, universities, the social partners and CSO personnel will now consider the submissions and make recommendations on the questions to be tested in a census pilot which will be undertaken in September 2018. The purpose of the pilot is to test new questions, changes to existing questions, and new field methodology in a selection of areas across the country.
The expert group will then assess the results of the Pilot and make recommendations on the content of the Census 2021 questionnaire. This final content of the questionnaire will be submitted for Government approval in early 2019.
88. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach the estimates for the potential change to the general Government deficit and debt of the reclassification of approved housing bodies from non-profit to General government under the European system of accounts (details supplied). [47133/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe classification of the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is currently being reviewed by the CSO in response to an action point arising from the 2017 EDP Dialogue Visit to Ireland by EUROSTAT. This work is still in progress with priority being given to the larger AHBs - comprising Tier 3 of the voluntary regulatory structure. Part of this review is the compilation of data on the finances of the AHBs. Until this work is complete it is not possible to estimate the potential impact of any reclassification. Any potential impact on the government deficit and debt should a reclassification take place would be confined to that arising from private sources of financing to the AHBs as any financing of these organisations by government is already reflected in the government deficit and debt figures.
89. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of times he has met the senior staff member of the strategic communications unit since it was set up. [46347/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when his attention was drawn to the director of the strategic communications unit addressing the PRII. [45690/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if an assessment has been carried out in his Department regarding the amount needed to invest in a one Government portal. [45693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if each Department has been briefed in full regarding the intentions behind the strategic communications unit; the format these briefings took; if reservations were made; and if notes will be released. [45695/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his departmental officials requested or sought information from their counterparts in the UK regarding its strategic communications unit or its equivalent and the cost of running it; and if they sought information regarding the costs of setting up a one-for-all Government website. [46501/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his departmental officials requested or sought information from their counterparts in New Zealand regarding its strategic communications unit or its equivalent and the cost of running it; and if they sought information regarding the costs of setting up a one-for-all Government website. [46502/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his departmental officials requested or sought information from their counterparts in the Netherlands regarding its strategic communications unit or its equivalent and the cost of running it; and if they sought information regarding the costs of setting up a one-for-all Government website. [46503/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his departmental officials requested information from another country regarding its strategic communications unit or its equivalent and the cost of running it; and if they sought information regarding the costs of setting up a one-for-all Government website. [46504/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the research that was carried out in his Department regarding a strategic communications unit being set up; and if he will make this research available. [46507/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 95, 97, 99, 121 to 124, inclusive, and 127 together.
The Director of the Strategic Communications Unit informed the Secretary General of my Department that he was invited by the PRII to address its members.
As part of the Government's eGovernment strategy 2017- 2020 the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been working on the development of a Digital Service Gateway - a single digital point where citizens can easily access information about the Government services that are available to them. This work, which began at the beginning of this year is ongoing and will involve the rationalisation of existing Government websites and online services over time. The project will be managed and developed by existing resources within the civil service.
A series of meetings between the Director and Staff in the SCU with Ministers, Secretaries General and officials across departments have taken place over the past month.
At the meetings, it has been noted that the the Director of the SCU briefed the Minister and Secretaries General on the work of the Unit and the role it will play in improving effectiveness, efficiency and cross Government cooperation to foster and develop a whole of Government approach to communications.
I meet with the Director of the Strategic Communications Unit as part of a sub group of the Civil Service management board on a regular basis.
As part of the planning process in setting up The Strategic Communications Unit and to emulate international best practice the Director and staff of the Unit consulted with their counterparts in the UK, and the Netherlands to learn how those countries go about communicating the work of Government to their citizens in a cohesive and whole of Government way and will continue to consult with international counterparts to seek to adhere to international best practice.
The decision to set up the SCU was informed by a need to streamline how Government communicates with its citizens.
As an initial step, my Department conducted some research on existing communications activities, including the range of campaigns, brands and channels of communication used by different agencies, and which have built up over many years, under successive governments. This research is ongoing and will be used by civil service management to help frame the work plan for the new unit. The results of that research will be published upon completion.
90. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussions at the October EU Council on the ongoing situation in Madrid following the referendum in Catalonia; if triggering Article 155 was discussed. [45684/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met with or spoke to the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel in or around the October 2017 EU Council meeting. [45685/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he spoke with or met French President Emmanuel Macron at the October 2017 EU Council meeting; and the issues that were discussed. [45686/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met with Prime Minister May at the October 2017 EU Council meeting; and the issues they discussed, in particular, if Northern Ireland was discussed. [45688/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met Chancellor Merkel when he attended the October 2017 EU Council meeting. [46508/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussion at the October 2017 EU Council meeting regarding the international nuclear agreement and Iran. [46509/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 93, inclusive, 128 and 129 together.
I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 October. The agenda included Migration; Digital Europe; Security and Defence; and External Relations. The Future of Europe was discussed over breakfast on Friday. There was then a European Council Article 50 - without the UK - which discussed progress in the Brexit negotiations.
Iran was discussed as part of the the external relations items on Thursday evening. France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the EEAS all voiced their strong support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and confirmed that it continues to function. This is a key element of the nuclear non-proliferation global architecture, and is crucial for the security of the region. Ireland together with all other Member States has re-affirmed our commitment to all parts of the JCPOA, and to its continued full implementation.
Neither the situation in Catalonia nor Article 155 of the Spanish constitution was discussed.
I was invited, along with the Dutch Prime Minister, to join the leaders of the Nordic and Baltic countries - Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - for a meeting ahead of the European Council discussions. Although Ireland is not part of a formal group in the EU, as a small northern European nation with an open economy, we have similar positions on many issues, particularly economic issues. I was very pleased therefore to attend this meeting with like-minded partners and to have the opportunity to share our views, including on the future of Europe debate.
I had no bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Michel, President Macron, Chancellor Merkel or Prime Minister May in the margins of the October European Council although I did, of course, greet and interact with these and other colleagues over the course of the European Council itself.
The Future of Europe was discussed over breakfast on Friday 20 October. This came in the context of an ongoing process, and discussions at a series of informal Summits in Bratislava, Valletta, Rome and Tallinn.
President Juncker and President Macron have also recently made useful contributions to the debate on the Future of Europe and possible EU reforms. At the meeting on Friday 20 October, it was agreed that the unity of the EU is particularly important and there was general support for the process proposed by President Tusk, on the basis of his ‘Leader’s Agenda.’
I expressed strong support for this approach and thanked President Tusk for taking the time to speak informally to all the 28 Heads of State or Government in advance of the meeting.
It is important that we approach the debate on the future of Europe in a positive way - membership of the European Union has been and will remain very important to Ireland. I will continue to engage actively and to seek to use our influence to shape this debate in a way that reflects our priorities and concerns.
