Written Answers Nos 41-50
41. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a case (details supplied) is the only instance during the lifetime of the Government in which the official side has refused to honour the findings of an adjudication process administered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; if his Department will reconsider its position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21776/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra42. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on correspondence sent by his Department to an organisation (details supplied) on 14 December 2016 in which it indicates its refusal to honour the arbitration outcome citing FEMPI and section 5.3 of the Lansdowne Road agreement despite the fact that these grounds for not paying the allowance were cited during the adjudication process and rejected by the adjudicator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21778/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
The Department of Defence has not refused to honour the findings of the adjudication process. The position is that there are a number of outstanding Adjudication findings, across the Public Service, which cannot be implemented at this time having regard to the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009-2015. This includes the adjudication on the NCO account holder allowance.
Paragraph 5.21 of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 provides that the parties will commit to entering into a process to conclude by end-September 2018 which will involve engagement in relation to an appropriate, time-bound process for addressing any outstanding adjudications, having due regard to the question of their continued validity and cost implications. The review mechanism is the subject of ongoing consideration in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
43. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if centenary medals will be awarded to former Defence Forces members of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21815/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government provided for the award of a commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded as a commemorative medal, personal to an individual’s service in the Defence Forces in the course of 2016.
There are no plans to award the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to former members of the Defence Forces. Since the foundation of the State many thousands of personnel have served in the Defence Forces. It would not be administratively possible within the resources of the Department to identify and contact all of these persons, decide on eligibility and, in the case of infirm or deceased former members, resolve who should get the medal on their behalf.
At my request, however, discussions took place between the Department and the Veterans’ Associations - the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO) - to explore alternative means of recognition of the contribution of veterans to the centenary commemorative events in 2016.
Following these discussions, it was agreed that a single presentation would be made to each of the Veterans Associations of a framed medal with an accompanying citation in recognition of the significant contribution of members of the three organisations to the 1916 centenary commemorative events and their service to the State. The medal has a bar with the term Veteran inscribed on it. I agreed that a plaque would be given to each of IUNVA’s 21 Posts and to each of O.N.E.’s 41 Branches. I presented one plaque to each of the three Veterans’ Associations at last year's Defence Forces’ Veterans’ Day which took place in the Defence Forces Training Centre, the Curragh, on Sunday 8th October 2017. The other plaques were presented separately.
44. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for citizenship through the foreign birth register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department takes very seriously its responsibilities in relation to determining entitlement to Irish citizenship. The volume of applications for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration is particularly high and applications generally take 5-6 months to process, with more complex applications sometimes taking longer.
Following receipt of an application, applicants do not normally receive any communication from my Department until the processing of the application has been completed, unless there are problems with the information or documentation submitted. Applications are processed in the order that they are received. The application in question is under consideration and the applicant will be notified once a determination in the case has been made.
45. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent meeting with the French Foreign Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21843/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Sunday, 13 May I hosted Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, for a working dinner in Dublin.
We discussed the current state of play in the Brexit negotiations and I reiterated our appreciation for the solidarity shown by France on the Irish-specific issues.
We took stock of recent developments in the Middle East Peace Process and explored the prospects for progress in the coming months. Our meeting occurred before the tragic events which took place the following day.
Minister Le Drian briefed me on France’s approach to the maintenance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, in light of the decision by President Trump to withdraw from the deal.
The meeting included a discussion on EU-Africa relations and, in particular, how to enhance dialogue between Europe and Africa in order to ensure both sides can engage better on tackling challenges such as terrorism, climate change, migration and poverty.
The meeting confirmed that the bilateral relationship between us is excellent. Ireland and France have a shared, or similar, analysis of many of the foreign policy challenges we face together as members of the European Union. We also have strong historical, cultural and economic ties, and we discussed progress on the proposed electricity interconnector between the two countries. I greatly appreciate the close working relationship which Minister Le Drian and I have developed.
46. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the decision by the United States and other countries to relocate their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; the effect this will have on achieving a two-state solution; the efforts being made by the Government and the EU to restart peace talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my statement of 6 December I set out the Government’s view of the US decision to move its Embassy to Jerusalem. This was that the announcement was premature and ill-advised, and would be unhelpful to efforts to reach a resolution of the Middle East Peace Process, something which is very urgently needed. I conveyed to the US Government ahead of its announcement my concern about reports of US intentions, and I know that very many leaders around the world did the same. The announcement, when it was made, was thus very disappointing and difficult to understand.
My view that this move is mistaken and divisive remains unchanged, following the formal transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem this week. This involved essentially the move of the Ambassador’s official location to the existing US Consulate building in Jerusalem. The actual transfer of the bulk of Embassy functions will await the construction of a new Embassy premises, which may be a lengthy process.
Thus far only three Central and South American countries have announced that they will follow the US move.
Ireland looks forward in due course to establishing Embassies in Jerusalem to both Israel and the future Palestinian state, following the conclusion of a peace agreement and in accordance with international law. Until then, our Embassy to Israel will remain in Tel Aviv.
Efforts to restart the peace process are currently centred on the initiative being developed by the United States. I have spoken at the Foreign Affairs Council to urge EU partners to engage with the US to encourage this initiative and to seek to shape it and ensure that it is in line with the key parameters for a settlement. I have myself met with the US team a number of times in this regard.
The US move on Jerusalem has unfortunately made this initiative more difficult, by damaging the trust of Palestinians in their approach. I hope that this can be overcome.
47. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the impact that increased US sanctions on Iran will have; the estimated impact of such sanctions on Ireland in terms of trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21845/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe United States has begun the process of reimposing those US sanctions on Iran which had been suspended under the nuclear agreement with Iran, the JCPOA, from which the US has regrettably withdrawn. They will come back into force over a period of three to six months. The US Government has also stated an intention to impose additional sanctions.
It is difficult to estimate the impact these actions will have, at this early stage.
The JCPOA was a multilateral agreement which remains in operation despite the US decision, and which retains the full support of Ireland and the EU. All the other parties to the agreement have said that they intend to continue to implement it. The UN and EU sanctions on Iran, which were directly in force in this country and which were removed under the JCPOA, will therefore not be reimposed.
The US sanctions which had caused the most difficulty for Irish firms seeking to do business in Iran were those in the financial sector, and for the most part these were not suspended under the JCPOA and had remained in operation. This had led to a continued reluctance of many European banks, including Irish banks, to handle funds originating in Iran. This had undoubtedly slowed the regrowth of trade with Iran following the JCPOA. This will continue to be a factor.
The effect of any new US sanctions cannot be estimated until they are known, but there is certainly concern at EU level over possible extra-territorial impact of US sanctions on EU firms doing business with Iran. This has already been discussed with Iran by EU Ministers this week, and will be an issue which will be followed closely at EU level in the period ahead.
48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in implementing the Stormont House Agreement; the status of the institutions proposed to deal with legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21858/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra49. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the activation of the legacy issues aspects of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21902/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the Troubles is of the utmost importance to the Government.
The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, including a specific reference to implementation of the institutional framework on the past, as provided for under the Stormont House Agreement 2014.
In the discussions at Stormont Castle on outstanding commitments that took place between March and June last year, my predecessor and I engaged extensively with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and all of the political parties to seek a way forward to implement the Stormont House legacy framework. This built on the progress made on legacy issues during the talks in 2015 that led to the Fresh Start Agreement.
In our recent discussions, the Secretary of State and I have agreed on the importance and urgency of achieving a definitive move forward with the establishment of the Stormont House legacy framework.
Victims and survivors have had to wait for far too long already for a suitable and effective system in Northern Ireland for dealing with legacy issues from the Troubles. In this regard, I welcomed the launch on 11 May of a public consultation by the British Government on their draft legislation to establish the legacy bodies provided for in the Stormont House Agreement.
I have also emphasised in discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties the need to ensure that legacy inquests are properly resourced and I continue to raise this issue with the Secretary of State. I have urged all with responsibilities in relation to legacy inquests to move forward as quickly as possible to implement the helpful proposals of the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland.
Legislation will also be required in this jurisdiction to provide for cooperation with the Stormont House legacy bodies. The preparation of legislative proposals for consideration by the Government and the Oireachtas is being advanced by the Department of Justice and Equality in consultation with my Department.
The Government remains determined to see that there is progress in the period ahead on the Stormont House Agreement institutions, on legacy inquests in Northern Ireland and on other outstanding legacy issues, including the three all-Party Motions adopted by this House on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
The Government will continue to engage with the British Government and the political parties to seek an urgent move forward on these legacy issues to meet the legitimate needs and expectations of victims and survivors, and contribute to broader societal reconciliation as an integral part of the Peace Process.
50. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which pay demands in the public and private sectors are likely to impact on the growing economy to a negative or positive extent in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21924/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the 2018 Stability Programme Update (SPU), my Department forecast growth in the overall pay bill (private and public combined) of 5.7 per cent in 2018. This is made up of growth in average pay of 2.6 per cent, with the remainder due to growth in the number of employees. Pay bill growth is projected to average 5.1 per cent per annum thereafter, with average pay expected to grow at around 3.0 per cent per annum.
To the extent that wage pressures exceed these projections, this could be expected to boost consumption and overall price levels in the near term. However, to the extent that such higher pay rates result in a loss of competitiveness, any positive impact will be offset by lower overall economic activity and lower numbers employed.
Work published previously by my Department titled 'Quantification of the economic impacts of selected structural reform in Ireland' (www.finance.gov.ie/updates/quantification-of-the-economic-impacts-of-selected-structural-reforms-in-ireland/) indicates that a 1 percentage point wage shock which is not offset by a corresponding rise in productivity could be expected to reduce the level of real output (GDP) by ¼ percentage point (pp) within 7 years, add 1pp to the rate of unemployment, and reduce the number of people employed by some 0.4 percentage points.
Insofar as the public service is concerned, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 negotiated last year between Government as employer and public service unions and associations provides the framework for affordable adjustments in pay and industrial relations stability. The Agreement provides for the phased unwinding of FEMPI measures on a sustainable basis over the 3-year period 2018-2020 with benefits for public servants ranging from 6 to 7.4 per cent over the period - an average of 2 to 2.5 per cent per annum.
Given downside risks within the international context, it is imperative that wage developments should be commensurate with trends in productivity (output per person employed) over the coming years, in order to avoid a deterioration in Ireland's competitiveness. We will therefore continue to monitor the wage outlook, and labour market and productivity developments.
