Wednesday, 4 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 140-147

Electric Vehicles

Ceisteanna (140)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

140. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at his Department building and other buildings used by his Department. [28903/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department is located in one building - Government Buildings on Merrion Street - which is managed by the Office of Public Works. There are no e-car charging ports or parking bays provided in Government Buildings. No property is owned, part-owned or under the control of my Department.

Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 135.

Strategic Communications Unit

Ceisteanna (142)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

142. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when the staff of the strategic communications unit will be transferred. [29050/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

Following the report into the operation of the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) conducted in March last, it was agreed that the SCU should be wound down and that my Department would revert to a reformed GIS model, with a smaller budget and less staff. It was agreed that surplus staff would be redeployed, either within the Department of the Taoiseach or in other Departments or agencies; these decisions to be made by the management of the Department in consultation with the staff impacted. The report further provided for a transition period which was to end in July. The majority of staff transfers have now been made, with the remainder to conclude by the end of July 2018.

Exports Data

Ceisteanna (143)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

143. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if figures have been compiled regarding the number of goods and services exported to Europe overland through the United Kingdom but which were not used, bought or sold within the UK in 2017; the number of goods and services exported to Europe directly but not transported through the UK in 2017; the type of goods and services; the value of goods and services; and the mode of transport used, in tabular form. [29266/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The data requested by the Deputy is not available in CSO statistics.

The value of goods and service exports with a breakdown by country of destination is shown in the Statistical Yearbook of Ireland. The following table is from the latest edition which contains data for 2016.

For Balance of Payments and National Accounts purposes the data include conceptual adjustments for goods exports which relate to the recognition of a change of economic ownership taking place. The mode of transport used is not available.

EU Exports of Goods and Services 2016

Country	€ million
Austria	-1,045
Belgium	19,612
Bulgaria	183
Croatia	127
Cyprus	-49
Czech Republic	833
Denmark	2,716
Estonia	81
Finland	1,746
France	14,375
Germany	23,869
Greece	653
Hungary	1,812
Italy	11,465
Latvia	127
Lithuania	147
Luxembourg	-3,029
Malta	160
Netherlands	13,602
Poland	2,864
Portugal	1,835
Romania	380
Slovakia	176
Slovenia	168
Spain	8,643
United Kingdom	42,882
Total	144,333

Source:The Statistical Yearbook of Ireland Table 16.2

Goods Export statistics published by the CSO are compiled from a survey of exporting businesses carried out by the VIMA (VIES, Intrastat, Mutual Assistance) division of the Revenue Commissioners. The traders report in this survey the country of destination of the goods they export. Any country or countries through which the goods might pass en route to their final destination are not reported.

If goods are exported to Great Britain, and are subsequently exported again by a British trader to a third country, the CSO data will show these goods as having been exported to Great Britain.

Data on mode of transport is not available.

The following table shows Goods Exports to the EU for 2017

Table A: Goods Exports to EU by division 2017

Country	Food and live animals	Beverages and tobacco	Crude materials, inedible, except fuels	Mineral fuels, lubricants and related products	Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes	€m Chemicals and related products nes
Austria	21	4	10	0	0	200
Belgium	261	12	30	2	12	12,325
Bulgaria	4	9	0	0	0	48
Croatia	1	0	0	0	0	31
Cyprus	3	2	0	0	0	9
Czech Republic	41	17	1	0	0	120
Denmark	126	9	3	1	0	324
Estonia	1	1	0	0	0	5
Finland	9	3	145	0	0	74
France	786	51	255	43	1	3,046
Germany	650	65	72	1	2	5,060
Great Britain	4,002	212	398	365	14	4,889
Greece	20	4	1	0	0	284
Hungary	11	2	0	0	0	106
Italy	308	11	48	5	0	1,757
Latvia	1	41	0	0	0	18
Lithuania	3	1	0	0	0	7
Luxembourg	4	0	0	51	0	8
Malta	15	0	0	0	0	12
Netherlands	806	22	152	114	49	1,362
Northern Ireland	611	78	70	56	7	350
Poland	149	14	12	0	0	712
Portugal	32	6	38	0	1	307
Romania	11	4	4	0	0	241
Slovakia	3	2	0	0	0	20
Slovenia	1	2	36	0	0	37
Spain	235	16	34	2	0	1,810
Sweden	155	9	64	0	0	219
Unknown EU	0	0	0	0	0	0
Grand Total	8,269	599	1,374	641	87	33,382

Table A cont'd: Goods Exports to EU by division 2017

Country	Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material	Machinery and transport equipment	Miscellaneous manufactured articles	Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere	Total €m
Austria	31	71	26	3	366
Belgium	46	223	416	10	13,337
Bulgaria	7	11	4	0	84
Croatia	1	2	1	0	37
Cyprus	0	7	2	1	25
Czech Republic	10	194	25	5	413
Denmark	12	131	33	7	646
Estonia	2	11	1	0	22
Finland	12	71	8	2	324
France	52	719	335	28	5,316
Germany	193	3,174	836	46	10,098
Great Britain	959	2,164	1,163	318	14,486
Greece	1	9	8	1	328
Hungary	6	82	78	3	289
Italy	62	249	151	14	2,605
Latvia	0	2	2	0	64
Lithuania	0	9	1	0	23
Luxembourg	1	54	1	0	120
Malta	0	2	0	1	32
Netherlands	61	444	2,888	24	5,921
Northern Ireland	261	146	190	155	1,925
Poland	21	287	123	8	1,326
Portugal	2	50	18	2	455
Romania	2	39	9	2	312
Slovakia	4	22	6	1	58
Slovenia	0	5	2	0	84
Spain	47	299	142	13	2,598
Sweden	51	183	61	5	746
Unknown EU	0	608	0	98	706
Grand Total	1,845	9,268	6,532	750	62,747

The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), in conjunction with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, has undertaken a study into the use of the UK landbridge by Irish importers and exporters. The purpose of this research is to establish the volume of traffic using the UK landbridge at present, the potential consequences that Brexit will have on landbridge usage and the various alternative options that may be viable. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advise that this Study is expected to be finalised and published shortly.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (144)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

144. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of times his Department has engaged polling companies or Irish market researchers to conduct research on its behalf in each of the past two years; the names of such companies; and the costs associated with same. [29581/18]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department engaged a market research company, Behaviour and Attitudes, on one occasion in 2017. The market research for which they were engaged has not yet been undertaken on behalf of the Department.

Military Medals

Ceisteanna (145)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

145. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when a person (details supplied) will receive their 1916-2016 commemorative medal as a member of the Defence Forces. [29513/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I am advised by the military authorities that the individual mentioned in the Deputy's question is on a list of persons yet to receive their medal.

I am also informed that staff of the Naval Service Headquarters (NSHQ) have made efforts to contact all those retired/discharged persons who were due to receive medals.  They will endeavour to contact the individual named with a view to arranging the presentation of the 1916 Commemorative medal at the earliest opportunity.

Defence Forces Personnel

Ceisteanna (146)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

146. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason Defence Forces Regulation A.11 paragraph 16 was altered; if he will engage with the representative organisations in contravention of paragraph 24(2) of Defence Forces Regulation S.6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29516/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

Defence Force Regulation A.11 provides for matters concerning leave in the Defence Forces. The recent amendment to Paragraph 16 increases to four working weeks from 19 days, the amount of carry over leave allowed to members of the Permanent Defence Force in circumstances where the member could not take annual leave due to being on certified sick leave, adoptive leave or maternity leave. This measure will bring procedures in such cases into line with the requirements of the Working Time Directive.  The Representative Associations were given notice of the amended Regulation.

Work is underway in both the Department of Defence and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in relation to the removal of the blanket exclusion of members of the Defence Forces from the scope of the Working Time Directive. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have undertaken significant work in examining the nature of the duties of the Defence Forces and how the Working Time Directive can be applied to the members of the Defence Forces.

As part of this process, my Department will engage through the Conciliation and Arbitration process with the Defence Forces Representative Associations, to discuss the application of the provisions of the Working Time Directive to the Defence Forces.

Defence Forces Personnel

Ceisteanna (147)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

147. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of cases settled by his Department with members of the Defence Forces who have taken court cases for infringements of the working time directive; the amount the legal fees and settlements will ultimately cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29517/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

My Department has settled one case taken by a member of the Defence Forces in relation to the carryover of her annual leave entitlements.

This case was listed for hearing in the High Court on 14 and 15 June but the matter was settled on consent of the parties to the proceedings in respect of one specific aspect of the individual's claim in so far as it related to the carryover of the plaintiff's annual leave.  An Order was made by the Court in respect of limited relief that was agreed between the parties.  

Proceedings have been served in a number of other cases.  Given that matters are sub judice, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment in relation to this ongoing litigation or matters relating to legal costs.

However, I have previously informed the House that the Government Decision dated 18 November 2016 approved the drafting of the Heads of Bill to amend the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. This will remove the blanket exclusion of An Garda Síochána and members of the Defence Forces from its scope. This will be subject to the application of the appropriate exclusions/derogations permitted by Directive 2003/88/EC. Work is underway in both the Department of Defence and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in relation to this decision.