Written Answers Nos. 149-168
149. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the prevention of human trafficking will form a part of Ireland’s forthcoming new international development policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1010/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The 2015 foreign policy review, "Global Island - Ireland’s foreign policy for a changing world", recognises that human rights violations undermine development. This commits the Department to promote and protect human rights, with an explicit commitment to combat and prevent human trafficking. Ireland has put in place strong legislative, administrative and operational measures, through a multi-agency approach. Ireland is party to UN and Council of Europe instruments to combat this threat and have fully transposed the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.
Global Island provides the overall foreign policy framework for the recent public consultation paper on international development, part of the process towards a new policy on international development.
That public consultation paper reiterated Ireland’s commitment to upholding human rights and Ireland’s international development actions. As part of the contextual analysis underpinning the new development policy, instability and the threats it poses to human rights are identified, factors which facilitate human trafficking.
In line with our foreign policy, the consultation paper on international development cooperation proposes a focus on protection of poor and vulnerable people living in fragile, crisis and conflict-affected areas, and of people on the move. At recent public consultation meetings there was broad validation of proposals to build on the intersections between Ireland’s peacekeeping and conflict resolution work, political engagement, human rights, development cooperation and humanitarian action to combat instability and protect people. The final drafting of the new policy is nearing completion, with a view to maximising the effectiveness of Ireland's international development programmes in all their aspects.
150. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures Ireland has taken at EU and international level regarding the ongoing civil unrest and humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1051/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra151. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements he has had with the Sudanese ambassador regarding the civil unrest and humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1052/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements Ireland’s ambassador in Sudan is exchanging with state officials with regard to the civil unrest and humanitarian crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1053/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the protest movement in Sudan; his plans to raise opposition to repression of the protest movement; the contact he has had with the Sudanese authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1055/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 153, inclusive, together.
I am deeply concerned about the violence which has accompanied recent protests in Sudan, including credible reports of the use of live fire by the Government of Sudan and of multiple deaths.
Demonstrations, triggered by spiralling costs of living, began in the city of Atbara in the north east of the country on 19 December last year, spreading to over twenty towns and cities. While initially the protests were against the worsening economic situation, they have since developed into calls for President Omar al-Bashir’s resignation.
President Omar al-Bashir has reacted by closing schools and declaring a state of emergency in some regions. Sudanese police have used tear gas and live ammunition in an attempt to disperse crowds. It is reported that almost 1,000 people have been arrested across the country since protests began. The Sudanese Government has said that 19 people have been killed during demonstrations, while Sudanese activists and medical workers say that at least double that number were killed. The use of live fire and arbitrary detention in these circumstances can never be justified.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, fully supports the call on the Government of Sudan, issued by the European External Action Service, to exercise restraint, respect the right to peaceful protest and ensure that all law enforcement and security bodies act under its direct control and in accordance with Sudan's constitutional and international commitments. The Embassy of Ireland in Nairobi, which is accredited to Sudan, continues to monitor the situation closely in close cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union in Khartoum.
In addition to the current unrest, Sudan continues to suffer from a range of humanitarian crises, including protracted conflicts and natural disasters, which feed into the popular disaffection which feed the protests. This humanitarian situation has been further exacerbated by the economic crisis in 2018, leading to severe levels of food insecurity and malnutrition across the country. More than 1.8 million people are internally displaced and Sudan hosts a further 1.2 million refugees that have fled conflict in neighbouring countries, the majority of whom rely on humanitarian aid for their survival. As a result, an estimated 5.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan this year, including 2.6 million children. Ireland is responding to these crises, with almost €26 million in direct humanitarian assistance to Sudan through our UN, NGO and Red Cross partners since 2012.
154. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if EU security issues were discussed at the December 2018 EU General Affairs Council meeting. [53436/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., represented Ireland at the General Affairs Council on 11 December 2018 which prepared the draft Conclusions for the European Council meeting on 13-14 December.
These welcomed progress made in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including reform of EU Civilian CSDP, a longstanding ambition of Ireland. It also reflected the steps that have been taken in the implementation of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); of the European Defence Fund; and of EU-NATO cooperation. In regard to the latter, it is important to note that such cooperation fully respects the decision making autonomy of both organisations and does not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of any Member States. Ministers also discussed the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on disinformation, aspects of which also have a bearing on security issues.
155. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the issue of fisheries was discussed in the context of the draft withdrawal treaty at the most recent EU General Affairs Council meeting last November. [50449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of fisheries, in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, was addressed by Member States during the GAC Article 50 meeting on 19 November 2018.
Fisheries and fish products are not addressed in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement sets the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. However, arrangements on fisheries will be an important aspect of negotiations on the future relationship and, as set out in the Political Declaration agreed in November, both sides are committed to using best endeavours to have agreement on this in place by July 2020.
The EU has been clear in its own negotiating guidelines, adopted by the European Council in March last year, that, in the overall context of the EU-UK Free Trade Agreement, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained.
At the GAC in November, I made clear the importance Ireland attaches to this issue, making clear our view that the EU needs to stick closely to the March European Council guidelines on this issue. Fisheries is a priority for this Government, and we want to ensure we maintain current access to fishing and Ireland’s quota share of fish stocks. We will pursue this as a priority as part of our input on the negotiations on the future relationship.
At home, we continue to provide support to sectors most impacted by Brexit, including fisheries. The funding provided to Departments in Budget 2019 includes a €78m package for farmers, fishermen, food SMEs and to cover additional costs related to Brexit.
156. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the cases of persons (details supplied); if action has been taken at EU or international level to assist these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am familiar with the cases of the persons in question, and remain concerned both about the grounds for their detention and with regard to their treatment by the Bahraini authorities over the past number of years.
Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders, and continually advocates for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment, without repression.
Our concerns relating to human rights in Bahrain are regularly conveyed through the Bahraini Embassy in London and through Ireland’s (non-resident) Ambassador to Bahrain. In February 2018, officials from my Department met with the Ambassador of Bahrain in Dublin and raised Ireland’s concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain.
Ireland has used the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) as a means of keeping human rights issues in Bahrain under examination. Ireland regularly raises the case of human rights in Bahrain at the HRC in Geneva. In fact, Ireland has raised Bahrain in its past eight Item 4 Statements (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention). In Ireland’s most recent Item 4 Statement at the HRC session in September 2018, we expressed concerns about 'the ongoing restrictions on civil society space and the treatment of human rights defenders in Bahrain'. We also called on Bahrain to 'respect freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to a fair trial'. At the previous HRC session in June 2018, Ireland also raised concerns under Item 4. The EU, in its Item 2 Statement (on the reports of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights), also highlighted the deterioration of the human rights situation, with particular reference to the shrinking of political space in Bahrain. Officials from my Department had previously raised ongoing human rights concerns with Bahrain in the context of its Universal Periodic Review, which took place in Geneva in May 2017.
With regard to the rights of prisoners and detainees, Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolution 36/16, which Ireland co-sponsored, calls upon states to ‘investigate promptly, effectively and impartially all alleged human rights violations and abuses suffered by persons deprived of their liberty, in particular cases involving death, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, to provide effective remedies to the victims, and to ensure that detention administrations cooperate fully with the investigating authority and preserve all evidence’. Ireland has also co-sponsored; Resolutions 36/16 and 30/7, concerning human rights in the administration of justice; Resolution 31/31, concerning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and UN General Assembly Resolution 71/188, also concerning human rights in the administration of justice.
My Department will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and will continue to call on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make tangible progress in the human rights sphere. Ireland’s concerns about human rights will continue to be raised directly with the Bahraini authorities, and at EU and international levels, whenever opportunities arise.
158. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times the landbridge project group has met since it was established in October 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1133/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s planning for Brexit has from the start included issues relating to the continued effective use of the UK landbridge. This is a priority for the Government, given the importance of the landbridge in getting Irish products, in particular agrifood products, to market on continental Europe. This is an important issue with regard to protecting the competitiveness of our producers and ensuring continued unhampered access to the EU Single Market.
The importance of maintaining the landbridge has been recognised and agreed through the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland in the draft Withdrawal Agreement which reaffirms the commitment of the UK to facilitate the efficient and timely transit through the UK of goods moving from Ireland to another EU Member State or another country, or vice versa.
To this end, I welcome the EU's agreement that the UK may join the Common Transit Convention upon its departure from the EU, and the number of formal steps taken to allow this to happen on 4 December 2018. The UK’s accession to the Common Travel Convention will play an important role in ensuring Ireland’s access to other EU Member States via the UK landbridge.
The second strand is our work with the European Commission and other affected Member States (Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden) with a view to preparing EU ports to facilitate the transit of EU products through the UK once it becomes a third country through the use of EU rules on internal transit set out under the Union’s Custom Code.
The Landbridge Project Group has been instrumental in ensuring progress has been made in both strands of work. It is chaired by my Department, and involves all relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Health, and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
The Landbridge Project Group has met four times to date in its full format, (9 October 2017, 15 November 2017, 24 May 2018, and 1 October 2018). The group is also operated by e-mail and therefore there is regular and ongoing contact among Members of the group.
In addition to the full meetings of the Project Group where officials from all relevant Departments are present, groups of Departments also meet in smaller formats to discuss specific landbridge issues, where appropriate. Members of the Project Group have also met with other relevant Member States and the European Commission to discuss the landbridge at a technical level.
Relevant Departments have also been tasked by the Government to roll out detailed Action Plans with a view to advancing, as appropriate, the mitigating measures which have been identified in the areas of their responsibility from the planning to the implementation phase. In line with this approach, the Government has already approved a number of key Brexit preparedness measures focused on East-West trade which will also take account of the continued use of the landbridge.
159. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a same-sex parent of a donor-conceived child is required to sign a sole guardian affidavit form AFF 1 in order to obtain a passport for the child in circumstances in which the General Registration Office has registered the child with the surname of both parents on the basis of an acceptance that the child is part of a family unit that includes both parents and that both parents are providing full parental responsibility in respect of the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1156/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passports are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the Act") as amended.
In regards to guardianship, the Passport Service is bound by Section 14 of the Act 2008 (as amended). Section 14 requires the consent of a child’s guardian(s) before a passport can issue to the child, subject to very limited exceptions. In line with Section 2 of the Passports Act, guardianship is a term with a defined legal meaning and there are many circumstances in which a person, whether in the context of a same-sex or opposite-sex relationship, may play a role in the upbringing of a child without being a guardian as defined by law.
In cases where a child has only one guardian within the meaning of the legislation, this guardian is required to complete a Sole Guardian Affidavit to confirm that there is no other person holding guardianship rights in respect of the child applying for a passport. This is necessary in order to verify that the requirements for guardian consent have been satisfied.
It is important to note that the registration of a child’s surname in double-barrelled format on a birth certificate does not in itself confer guardianship or parental responsibility.
160. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the arrangements that can be made to facilitate a contributory pension payment by international bank transfer for a person (details supplied) should he or she decide to move back to Iran after living here for over 30 years further to recently becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1161/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTransfer of funds to and from Iranian financial institutions has been an area of difficulty for individuals and companies for some years. This arose originally because of the role of the relevant Iranian banks in evading international sanctions on sales of weapons and controlled technologies.
This problem had begun to ease following the removal of many sanctions in 2016, but has now come to the fore again following the re-imposition by the United States of national sanctions on Iran. These do not prohibit all financial transfers, but there has been a general chilling effect on the willingness of many European banks to handle funds going to or from Iran. EU sanctions have not been re-imposed.
Work is ongoing at EU level, including in discussion with other states, to devise means to allow such transfers to continue without going through the US financial system. This is a complex and difficult area, but it is being actively and urgently pursued. I have reported to the Dáil from time to time on these efforts.
However, it is not possible for me or my Department to give individual financial advice to persons on how to carry out transfers of funds in relation to funds they may receive in Irish bank accounts. I would suggest that the person concerned might best take this forward by discussing the matter with the body which would be paying such a pension, and with their own bank.
161. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a British passport holder who is married to an Irish person and has lived here for more than 50 years can apply for an Irish passport; and the procedure in this regard. [1233/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is in turn determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which and in general, Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth in certain circumstances, by descent, or by naturalisation.
As no details have been supplied about the UK citizen in question, it is not possible to provide specific guidance on their case. Nonetheless, we can advise on the general rules and procedures that apply to cases such as these.
A person born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005 is an Irish citizen. Citizenship for persons born on the island of Ireland after that date is subject to certain conditions. A person born abroad is automatically an Irish citizen if one of their parents was an Irish citizen born in Ireland. There is an additional requirement of registration in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) for a person born outside Ireland where his/her Irish citizen parent had also been born outside the island of Ireland. In such cases, Irish citizenship commences after inclusion on the FBR.
Individuals who are unable to establish an entitlement to citizenship by descent may still be able to apply for citizenship through naturalisation. Naturalisation comes under the auspices of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service within the Department of Justice and Equality. Details of how to apply for citizenship through naturalisation can be found at: www.inis.gov.ie
Each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement with their passport application. Further information on passport applications, including helpful guidelines for document requirements, can be found on the Passport Service's website DFA.ie/passport
162. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a reply will issue in response to the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding cross-Border workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1240/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe focus of my Department, and of this Government, continues to be on securing ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement. This is the best way to ensure that the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU are maintained post Brexit. This includes the rights of frontier workers.
The Government is acutely conscious of the concerns of border communities and of cross-border workers as a result of Brexit.
The continuation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) is also important in that context.
The Common Travel Area is a long-standing arrangement between Ireland and the UK which means Irish citizens can move freely to live, work, and study in the UK on the same basis as UK citizens and vice versa. It is an arrangement that is valued on both islands and the continuation of this arrangement is a stated commitment of both the Irish and UK Governments. In the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, it is important that any arrangements necessary to maintain the Common Travel Area are made.
The Common Travel Area provides for associated rights and entitlements which enable Irish and UK citizens to move freely between and reside in both jurisdictions. These rights and entitlements include access to employment, healthcare, education, and social benefits, as well as the right to vote in certain elections. The CTA pre-dates Irish and UK membership of the EU and is not dependent on it. It is recognised in Protocol 20 to the EU Treaties and is also acknowledged in the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU which was endorsed by the European Council and the UK Government on 25 November 2018.
The maintenance of the CTA is a bilateral matter. Work is at an advanced stage both with the UK and domestically to ensure that the necessary provisions are made in both jurisdictions so that the CTA continues to function effectively after the UK leaves the EU.
163. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the plans contained within the document on preparing for withdrawal of the the United Kingdom from the European Union are contingent on a hard Brexit or if these plans will be proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's contingency planning and preparedness for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016 and since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017 I have overseen a sustained intensification of these efforts.
At its meeting of 11 December the Government agreed, that while work on Brexit preparedness for the central case scenario should continue, in light of ongoing political uncertainties and the Brexit deadline of 29 March 2019, greater immediate priority must now be give to preparations for a no deal Brexit.
Following this, the Government published its Brexit Contingency Action Plan on 19 December 2018 which sets out the analysis of a no deal Brexit and detailed sectoral analyses and approaches to mitigating the impacts of a no deal Brexit. The shift to preparing for a no deal Brexit requires the acceleration of certain measures already identified and underway, the putting in place of possible temporary solutions which can be rapidly implemented and potential crisis response measures.
Accordingly a number of the actions identified in a no deal scenario will still be required even in a central case scenario, including the Withdrawal Agreement with a transition period and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the political declaration on the future relationship, but with a longer timeframe for implementation.
A no deal Brexit would be highly disruptive and would have profound political, economic and legal implications for Ireland, the rest of the EU and, most significantly, for the UK itself. It is not the outcome we want and our focus continues to be on securing ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement.
164. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the processing times for applications to the foreign births register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1360/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraForeign Birth Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process often involving certificates covering three generations and several jurisdictions. Applications requiring clarification or further documents can take longer to process.
The volume of applications for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration is particularly high at present.
Along with an increase in applications received in 2018 there has also been an increase in the number of incomplete applications. Up to 50% of applications received are not complete.
At present it takes approximately six months to process a complete Foreign Birth Registration application. However, due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration, it may take up to twelve months to process an application.
Expectant parents who are applying to be entered on the Foreign Birth Register and who wish to ensure that their child is eligible to become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration should mark this clearly on their application.
In 2018 88% of complete applications for Foreign Birth Registration were processed within six months.
165. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans for opening a passport office in the north west of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1521/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for submission of passport applications by Irish citizens, at home and abroad. Advice and guidance on these channels and other useful information on passports is available on the Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport.
The award-winning Online Passport Renewal Service was launched in March 2017 and offers the convenience of an online application system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Irish citizens anywhere in the world, without the need for application forms, printed photos or witnesses.
The Online Passport Renewal Service has recently expanded to include the online renewal of children’s passports, to introduce a passport card for children and to expand the cohort of adults eligible to renew online. The service brings significant benefits for citizens with faster turnaround times of 10 working days for all online applications, excluding postage. In addition, the cost of renewing a passport online is significantly cheaper than alternative methods, with fees for all online applications being reduced by €5 across all application types. The expanded service is now available to all adults and children who wish to renew their passport.
Those who cannot, or do not wish to, apply online have the option of applying through their local post office with more than 1000 post offices across the State offering this service. The Northern Ireland Passport Express service offers an equivalent service to those living in Northern Ireland from more than 70 of its post offices.
Bearing in mind the availability of both the online and postal application channels, very few citizens living in the island of Ireland are required to travel a significant distance in order to apply for their passport. In the relatively small number of cases where citizens need to travel very urgently and do not have a valid passport, the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork offer an appointment service.
Therefore taking into account all these circumstances, I am satisfied that the range of options available meets the current needs of passport applicants without the establishment of a further passport office.
166. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on clarifying the EU backstop in the context of Brexit. [1426/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his European counterparts individually or collectively since Christmas 2018 about Brexit or other issues of mutual concern. [1429/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
The Taoiseach, my Government colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners regarding issues arising from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss these, and other matters, with the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, during his visit to Dublin on 9 January.
EU partners remain united behind the Withdrawal Agreement agreed with the UK and have been clear that it is not for reopening.
The European Council in December, which the Taoiseach attended, listened to the concerns raised by Prime Minister May and provided important clarifications and reassurances, regarding the backstop, while reiterating that the Agreement cannot be renegotiated.
Further important reassurances and clarifications were provided in a joint letter from the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to Prime Minister May, in an exchange of letters yesterday, 14 January 2019.
The Conclusions and joint letter reiterate the EU's wish to establish as close as possible a partnership with the UK, and to start negotiations on a future relationship agreement as soon as possible after the UK's withdrawal. Ireland strongly supports this commitment.
They make clear the EU's firm determination to work speedily on an agreement, that establishes alternative arrangements by the end of 2020, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered.
They underline that, if the backstop were triggered, it would apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that a hard border is avoided. In such a case, the EU would use its best endeavours to negotiate and conclude expeditiously a subsequent agreement that would replace the backstop so that the backstop would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary.
This is also clearly reflected in the legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement, as well as the text of the political declaration on the future relationship.
As the Conclusions and joint letter demonstrate, the EU has been responsive to concerns raised by Prime Minister May, and has provided clarifications in order to facilitate the next steps of the process, while being clear that they are not in a position to agree to anything that changes or is inconsistent with the Withdrawal Agreement.
168. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet his Canadian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government engages frequently with the Canadian Government and Canadian elected representatives on all aspects of the Canada-Ireland relationship and on other issues of mutual concern.
There have been strong and sustained Canadian-Irish bilateral contacts in recent years, including the successful state visit by Prime Minister Trudeau in July 2017 and a follow up visit by the Taoiseach to Canada not long after. In 2018, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform met with the Canadian Finance Minister in January, while five Ministerial visits to Canada took place during February and March 2018, including Minister Griffin’s visit to St Johns and Toronto; an agriculture and food export promotion visit to Ottawa and Toronto led by Minister Creed; Minister Kyne’s attendance at a mining conference in Toronto; and St Patrick’s Day visits by Ministers Naughten and O’Donovan. Minister Regina Doherty attended the OECD Ministerial in Montreal in May, and Minister Cannon travelled to Canada twice in autumn last year. I fully expect this level of engagement to continue throughout 2019, including through the St. Patrick’s Day period.
I was delighted to address the Ireland Canada Business Association conference last November, to speak to the historic, and continuing strong and collaborative relations we enjoy with Canada, and the potential of our bilateral relationship in the coming years. While I haven’t as yet met my counterpart, I look forward to travelling to Canada, engaging with the Canadian Government, as well as visiting Ireland’s newly opened Consulate General in Vancouver, in the future.
