Written Answers Nos. 318-345
318. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will encourage the EU to have member states increase resettlement and family reunification places for Syrian refugees based in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5328/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he is taking to insist the European Union and the United States of America increase resettlement and family reunification of Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5677/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 332 together.
Syria is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the twenty first Century. Within Syria itself, more than 11 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, while over five million Syrians are refugees, mainly in neighbouring countries.
At the most recent meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee in October 2020, I reasserted Ireland's continued commitment to resettlement as a vital protection tool and an expression of solidarity to these populations in need.
In total over 3,000 persons with Syrian nationality have begun new lives in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP).
In December 2019, the Government committed to welcoming a further 2900 refugees between 2020 and 2023 through a combination of community sponsorship and resettlement, with a focus on Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.
Ireland also supports resettlement and family reunification through core funding to UNHCR and International Organisation for Migration. The IOM is the leading inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. Ireland is one of a small group of countries which provides unearmarked core funding support to IOM, giving the Organisation the flexibility to operate where needs are greatest. Our support increased to €1 million in 2020.
Ireland fully supports the efforts of the efforts of the UNHCR which is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees worldwide and safeguard their rights and well-being. Ireland’s contributions to UNHCR for 2020 were over €18.5 million, which includes unearmarked core funding of €9 million, as well as crisis specific responses including the Syria crisis.
Ireland also welcomes any action by the EU or the United States of America to support resettlement and family reunification. Since 2017, more than 40 per cent of refugees resettled through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have found new homes in Europe. At the Global Refugee Forum in December 2019, EU countries pledged a total of 30,000 resettlement places for 2020. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the practical challenges it has posed for resettlement, the European Commission’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, released in September 2020, proposes to extend both the EU target quota of 30,000 as well as the ad hoc pledges Member States made for 2020 into 2021.
320. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Irish and EU humanitarian assistance for Syria can be provided directly to Syrian and non-Syrian humanitarian and human rights organisations in order that priority will be given to projects that will enable Syrian refugees sustain themselves in the long term and defend their rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2012, Ireland has provided over €168 million in humanitarian aid, including over €25 million provided in 2020, to those affected by the conflict in Syria and the region. This is our largest ever response to any single crisis. Funding is provided through implementing organisations including non-governmental organisations, UN organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Each of these partners has specific qualities, areas of focus, and comparative advantage that allows us to reach a broad range of recipients. Support through these partners meets the high levels of accountability and strict standards of propriety which are in place for all implementing organisations.
Our key implementing partners in the Syria region are:
- The UN, which is often the lead actor in many major humanitarian crises, has a strong overview of overall needs, and coordinates the various actors involved in the response.
- The ICRC, whose speciality is working in conflict, and which is sometimes the only humanitarian actor present in some particularly challenging contexts.
- Irish NGOs, whose programmes are both addressing immediate life-saving needs of the most vulnerable communities affected by the Syria crisis and advocating for their protection from human rights abuses.
Crucially, each of these partners works in close cooperation and partnership with local community organisations. For example, the UN’s Syria Cross Border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), to which Ireland provided €2.5m in 2020, supports recipients that include Syrian and international NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements and UN agencies. One of the Fund’s key objectives is to maximise engagement with local, national and diaspora Syrian NGOs to ensure better access to the people in need. As a result, over the past few years, the SCHF has grown into a critical funding mechanism for Syrian NGOs with a large part of its funding allocated to local partners.
In addition, Ireland is a significant contributor to EU humanitarian budgets. Through its annual contributions to the EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s response. The EU has mobilised more than €20 billion since 2012 for assistance to support Syrians inside the country and in the region. Since its establishment in 2014, a significant share of the EU's support for Syrian refugees and Syria's neighbouring countries has been provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. The Fund primarily addresses educational, economic, social and health needs of Syrian refugees, while also supporting overstretched local communities and their administrations.
321. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of his engagement with the Chinese Government with regard to the treatment of the Uighurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5407/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, including in relation to reports of arbitrary detention, forced labour, forced sterilisations, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in the province of Xinjiang.
We have been active in raising our concerns in relation to this matter. On 6 October 2020, Ireland was one of 39 countries to support a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee which reiterates our grave concern and recalls the exceptional letter of concern issued by 50 UN Special Procedures mandate holders, which called on China to respect human rights and allow, immediate, meaningful, and unfettered access to Xinjiang.
Ireland also raised this matter during our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September, where we urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ireland has also previously supported a number of statements at the UN Human Rights Council, in June 2020 and July 2019, and at the UN Third Committee in October 2019. These statements, among other things, urged China to urgently implement the eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, and to uphold its international obligations and respect human rights in Xinjiang. They also called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide regular information on the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.
In addition to this, the EU has raised this matter with Chinese authorities directly on a number of occasions. The deterioration of the human rights situation, including the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang, was raised by EU leaders with China on 14 September, and also during the EU-China Summit on 22 June.
The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora to address our concerns.
322. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of his engagement with the Chinese Government with regard to the protests and arrests that took place during and after the 2019-2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5408/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Government is closely following the situation in Hong Kong, particularly in relation to a series of arrests that have been made since the introduction of a National Security Law in the region.
The EU has been active in raising its concerns in relation to the situation in Hong Kong, both via statements and by raising our concerns directly with Chinese authorities, particularly at the most recent EU-China Summit and EU-China Leader's Meeting.
Ireland fully supports the most recent statement made by the EU in relation to this matter on 7 January, following the mass arrest of over 50 former opposition lawmakers and civil society activists. This statement called for the immediate release of those arrested, and urged the authorities to respect Hong Kong's rule of law, human rights, democratic principles and high degree of autonomy under the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. Almost all of those arrested were later released on bail.
In addition to this, on 28 July 2020 the Council of the EU adopted Conclusions on Hong Kong which set out a coordinated package of response measures in various fields, including the operation of Member States' extradition agreements and other relevant agreements with Hong Kong. In line with these Conclusions, the Government agreed on 13 October to suspend Ireland's Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong.
This matter was discussed most recently by Member States at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 25 January, where it was agreed to continue with the implementation of the measures outlined in the Council Conclusions.
Ireland, along with our EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation and raise our concerns with Chinese and Hong Kong authorities as appropriate.
324. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress in the meetings of the UN-facilitated constitutional committee in Geneva; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5410/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland supports all efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria. Building on the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) established a framework for a political solution.
Under that framework, a UN facilitated but Syrian owned and led Constitutional Committee comprised of representatives of the Syrian Government, opposition and civil society has been meeting in Geneva with the goal of drafting a new Constitution ahead of free and fair elections. Five meetings of the Committee have taken place since the autumn of 2019.
While we welcome the meetings that have taken place to date, the pace of progress has not been sufficient to meet the expectations of the people of Syria.
Speaking to the Security Council on 20 January, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, noted the importance of the latest session commencing on 25 January and said that the time had come for the Committee to begin to move from preparing a constitutional reform to drafting one. He noted the need to unlock progress along the path of resolution 2254 and the dangers to Syria’s civilians, to Syria as a state, to its society, and to the region if this does not happen. I fully share this view.
Ireland calls on all parties to engage urgently and seriously with the work of the Special Envoy, and make sustained progress towards the end of the conflict.
325. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to engage with the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock, regarding the pending risk of large-scale famine in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, is the principal cause of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, affecting its capacity to address other serious problems such as flooding, cholera and COVID 19. Along with the UN and the EU, Ireland believes that the only way to bring about a long-term sustainable improvement in Yemen is through a negotiated end to the conflict. The UN has been warning for some months of the risk of famine in Yemen, underlining the seriousness of the situation there and the urgency that is needed to address it.
Ireland is in regular contact with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Mr. Lowcock heads, from Dublin as well as through our Missions in Geneva and New York. We rank as one of the top 20 donors to OCHA’s core activities over recent years. Ireland also provides core funding to the OCHA-managed humanitarian pooled funds - the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Yemen Humanitarian Fund.
Mr. Lowcock briefed the UN Security Council on 14 January when, along with the World Food Programme Executive Director, Mr. David Beasley, he again warned of the threat of famine. Ireland’s Permanent Representative told the Council that, faced with this catastrophe, the international community must spare no effort to ensure protection and humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable, including internally displaced persons and marginalised groups.
Given the deteriorating situation, Ireland in December provided an additional €1 million to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, which is managed by OCHA, because of the urgency and scale of the humanitarian needs in Yemen. In 2020, Ireland provided €6 million in funding to this Yemen Fund, which mobilises and channels funding to NGOs and UN agencies that are best placed to deliver lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable. In total, Ireland has contributed over €28 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen since 2015.
Ireland also provides significant humanitarian funding at the global level, including to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). In 2020, the CERF provided almost €54 million in funding to Yemen. As an EU Member State, Ireland also contributes to the EU response to the crisis in Yemen. Since 2015, the EU has allocated over €554 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen.
326. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has engaged with Her Excellency Ms Geraldine Byrne Nason on her work as chair of the Somalia sanctions committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5412/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a long history of engagement on Somalia, from our contribution to peacekeeping in the 1990s to today’s participation in EU civilian capacity building missions and support to humanitarian response. Over the next two years, Somalia will continue to undergo a fragile transition, and will face many peace and security challenges. Minister Coveney, along with officials from the Department, continue to engage with relevant actors, and monitor the situation closely.
On the Security Council Ireland's focus will be on actions which contribute to building long term peace, justice and stability in Somalia, including promoting peacebuilding under the National Reconciliation Framework and ensuring inclusive political participation—particularly of women and marginalised communities.
It is against this backdrop, that Ireland has taken up the role of chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee, one of the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies. These bodies are chaired by the Permanent Representatives of elected Council members, with Ambassador Byrne Nason chairing the Somalia Sanctions Committee.
The mandate of the Somalia Sanctions Committee is to oversee implementation of relevant Council Resolutions, which provide for a targeted arms embargo, a travel ban, and assets freeze, along with its important humanitarian carve-out. As Chair, Ireland will seek to facilitate agreement on fulfilling the Committee’s mandate, including improved compliance with the arms embargo, addressing Al-Shabaab financing, and advancing the human rights and accountability elements of the mandate.
Ireland will also focus on leveraging sanctions as a preventative tool against threats to the peace, security and stability of Somalia, including through violations of International Humanitarian Law.
In Ireland's broader work on the Council, we are committed to ensuring that voices from the region are clearly heard and heeded: we will encourage deeper dialogue between the Council, the African Union and African Member States on the security transition in Somalia—including the implications for the broader Horn of Africa.
The Minister receives regular briefings from officials in the Department in Dublin and New York on all aspects of Ireland's Council membership, including the Ambassador, and provides policy direction as required.
327. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of negotiations with the UK Government in respect of asserting the rights of Irish fishers to fish within the 12-mile limit around Rockall. [5464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI continue to work closely with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on Rockall. We, along with our respective officials, are considering all options for further engagement on the issues involved.
The Government has been in contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities on Rockall over recent years, and intensively since the beginning of the year.
The issue was raised in the context of my meeting with my Scottish counterpart, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, Michael Russell, on 14 January 2021. We agreed to keep in contact on the issue.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021 and Irish officials also remain in ongoing contact with the European Commission on all matters relating to the Agreement, including fisheries.
Through the range of engagements set out, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the longstanding fisheries tradition in the area.
While this continues, there remains an increased risk of enforcement action being taken by Scottish fisheries control authorities against Irish vessels operating in the waters around Rockall at present.
Ireland has never made any claims to Rockall, which is a small uninhabitable granite rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and some 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. Nor has Ireland ever recognised British sovereignty claims over Rockall, and accordingly has not recognised a 12 nautical mile territorial sea around it either. This remains the position of the Government.
329. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a new recruitment campaign for the rapid response roster will be carried out by the end of the first quarter of 2021. [5512/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through Irish Aid, oversees the Rapid Response Corps which is a central feature of Ireland’s humanitarian programme. The most recent recruitment took place in 2018 and the Corps currently contains a large cohort of experienced personnel available to deploy at short notice in response to severe crises and emergencies. In light of this, it is not envisaged that a recruitment campaign will be carried in 2021.
Irish Aid is in regular dialogue with the UN Standby Partners, with whom Ireland has formal bilateral Standby Agreements, and with the Standby Partnership Network on issues relating to the deployment of personnel from our Rapid Response Corps. In this context, a key consideration, as we plan future recruitment campaigns, will be to ensure that our Roster contains personnel with the evolving range of skillsets required by our UN partners so that we can continue to respond quickly and effectively to sudden onset crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer opportunities for physical deployments from Ireland’s Rapid Response Roster over the past year. Irish Aid will continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on the operation of the Roster and on our next recruitment campaign which we expect to launch in 2022.
334. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he is taking to ensure the international community provides direct humanitarian assistance to organisations assisting Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5679/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMarch 2021 will mark the tenth year of the Syrian conflict that has seen hundreds of thousands lose their lives, and over half the population flee their homes. More than 13 million people are in humanitarian need inside Syria and six million of these have been internally displaced. The war has also caused the biggest refugee movement from a single conflict in a generation, with almost seven million people having fled the country with over 80% staying within the region.
The unprecedented political, economic and social situation across the region, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, has underscored the need for sustained support for refugees. Despite the challenges brought by these trends, throughout nearly a decade of displacement, host countries, institutions, and communities continue to provide asylum and services to Syrian refugees, and refugees of other nationalities.
In the period 2012-2020, Ireland has provided over €168 million in humanitarian aid, including over €25 million provided in 2020, to those affected by the conflict in Syria and the region - our largest ever response to any single crisis. In 2021 we will continue our strong commitment in support of Syrian refugees.
Ireland’s support is channelled through a range of partners including non-governmental organisations, UN organisations and the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. These partners provide those most in need with humanitarian supplies and access to urgently-needed health, education, water, and sanitation services to ensure that Syrians affected by the crisis, including those who have been forced to flee their homes, are supported to meet their own critical needs. Through our annual contributions to the EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response; the EU has mobilised more than €20 billion since 2012 for assistance to support Syrians inside the country and in the region.
As a member of the Security Council since 1 January, Ireland has a specific responsibility regarding Syria, leading on the humanitarian file along with Norway. We will work to ensure that the critical humanitarian assistance, provided by the UN and its partners, continues to reach all those most in need and at the required level.
335. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland’s overseas aid commitments; if these commitments have been impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2021 the Government allocated over €868 million for official development aid (ODA), an increase of four per cent on 2020. This also represents an increase in the proportion of GNI allocated to ODA, from 0.31 to 0.32% - a small but important progression towards the target of 0.7% by 2030. This year the priority will be to ensure the effective use of the Irish Aid international development programme to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the most vulnerable. This will include an increase in Irish funding for global health and food security initiatives, for access to education, for climate action, and for humanitarian relief.
Last year, the OECD published a review of Ireland's development cooperation policy, programme and systems in 2019/2020 which found Ireland to be a strong development partner, with many areas of excellence, and the quality and impact of Ireland’s development cooperation programme to be high. Also last year, a leading global development think tank, the Overseas Development Institute, ranked Ireland as the most principled donor, reflecting the quality of Ireland's approach to development cooperation.
336. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when passport applications for first-time applicants will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5881/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas.
The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or because the applicant requires emergency medical treatment.
First time applications can only be processed in cases of emergency.
Applicants who require a passport for emergency purposes, or to travel for urgent reasons, should contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.
The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan in place to resume all services, in line with the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. When operations resume at Level 4, all applications received via Passport Online will be processed. The Passport Service is confident that any backlog will be cleared quickly. When the Passport Service resumed operations in June 2020, the backlog was cleared in four weeks. It was similar in December 2020 with the majority of the backlog cleared within three weeks.
The Passport Service plans to resume processing of routine paper based applications such as Passport Express, Northern Ireland Passport Express and applications for Foreign Birth Registrations at Level 3 of the framework.
337. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if travellers coming into the country via ports or airports who have to restrict their movements will be provided with secure transport from the airport to their residence or accommodation in order to avoid risking the spread of Covid-19 on public transport. [5961/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that these issues are for consideration by the Department of Health and the Department of Transport, in the context of Government policy regarding transport in the State and COVID-19 public health guidelines.
338. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the breakdown of the 529 Irish troops serving in UN peacekeeping operations by the location they are stationed in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5413/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are currently involved; the number of personnel involved in each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5525/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 343 together.
As of 5 January 2021, Ireland is contributing 586 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 350 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 personnel.
The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment and on 15 May 2020 the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12 month period. Irish troops are currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Polish Battalion in UNIFIL.
In relation to UNDOF, Defence Forces personnel are currently based in Camp Faouar on the Syrian side of the area of separation. On 12 June 2020, the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNDOF for a 12 month period up to June 2021.
Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed in the tabular statement below.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 05 JANUARY 2021
|
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQUNIFIL 117th Infantry BattalionUNIFIL Sector West HQ |
93374 |
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria |
11 |
|
MINUSMA (United Nations mission in MALI) |
14 |
|
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
1 |
|
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic of the Congo) |
3 |
|
UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side)UNDOF 62nd Infantry Group (Camp Faouar - Bravo side) |
9129 |
|
TOTAL |
517 |
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
|
|
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
5 |
|
EUTM Mali (EU-led Training Mission) |
20 |
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
13 |
|
Naval Service EU Mission (Op Irini HQ) |
3 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
558 |
|
|
|
|
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna |
1 |
|
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
6 |
|
EU BATTLE GROUP |
|
|
German Led Battle Group 2020-2, FHQ, Stadtallendorf |
10 |
|
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
|
|
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
Military Representative in PSC Delegation (Brussels) |
4 |
|
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
3 |
|
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
586 |
339. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 December 2020; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5521/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra341. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits to the Permanent Defence Force in 2020 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5523/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 341 together.
The linked table outlines the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), as at 31 December 2020, broken down by service and gender.
A total of 538 personnel were inducted to PDF in 2020 comprised of 385 General Service recruits, 69 cadets, 20 Air Corps apprentices, 7 Direct Entry personnel, 42 re-enlisted personnel and 15 re-commissioned officers.
The table below contains the requested breakdown of the 385 General Service recruits:
|
Branch |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Army |
299 |
26 |
325 |
|
Navy |
54 |
6 |
60 |
|
General Service Recruits Total* |
353 |
32 |
385 |
*Air Corps do not recruit directly but transfer recruits from the Army
With the support of the Chief of Staff, I remain committed to maximising recruitment of both men and women to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government, both at home and abroad.
340. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 December 2020; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5522/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).
As of 31 December 2020, the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) combined, is 1,588, and is set out in the table below:
|
|
LT COL |
COMDT |
CAPT |
LT |
TOTAL OFFR |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
TOTAL NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
AR |
5 |
46 |
76 |
98 |
225 |
1 |
4 |
24 |
40 |
245 |
248 |
562 |
676 |
1463 |
|
NR |
0 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
23 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
13 |
13 |
35 |
67 |
125 |
The breakdown of female Officers, NCOs and Privates in the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, 213 in total as of 31 December 2020, is as follows:
|
|
LT COL |
COMDT |
CAPT |
LT |
TOTAL OFFR |
SM |
BQMS |
CS |
CQMS |
SGT |
CPL |
TOTAL NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
AR |
0 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
43 |
66 |
95 |
192 |
|
NSR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
21 |
The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) as of 31 December 2020 is as follows:
|
OFFR |
NCO |
PTE |
TOTAL |
|
|
Army |
- |
14 |
118 |
132 |
|
Air Corps |
- |
4 |
20 |
24 |
|
Naval Service |
3 |
16 |
87 |
106 |
|
TOTAL |
3 |
34 |
225 |
262 |
*The gender breakdown of the FLR is not available
342. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits to the Reserve Defence Force in 2020 with regard to all three services; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5524/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ability to conduct inductions into the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve during 2020 was severely impacted by the Covid 19 public health pandemic. Notwithstanding the difficulties associated with Covid 19 restrictions, 69 additional new members were inducted during the year, as set out in the table below:
|
Service |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Army Reserve |
54 |
8 |
62 |
|
Naval Service Reserve |
5 |
2 |
7 |
|
|
59 |
10 |
69 |
344. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the involvement of the Permanent Defence Force in the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the number of personnel involved; the locations they provided support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5530/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is made available for deployments, within current means and capabilities, as the need arises.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. It has the authority to draw together, in a joint manner, the contribution of all of the elements of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve, etc. This was provided for in a Defence Forces Regulation signed by and under the authority of the Minister for Defence.
The Defence Forces Joint Task Force is based in McKee Barracks and its priority from the beginning has been to provide support to the HSE, while retaining, at all times, a contingent capacity to provide Aid to the Civil Power support. The wide range of supports that the Defence Forces have provided to the HSE, as coordinated by the Joint Task Force during the COVID-19 crisis include:
- operation of the COVID-19 testing centre at the Aviva stadium;
- support for contact tracing efforts;
- transportation by the Air Corps of COVID-19 tests to Germany;
- collection of PPE from more than 260 cargo flights and the ongoing storage and distribution of this PPE to various HSE sites;
- support for HSE testing efforts including through deployment of Naval Service vessels to Dublin, Cork and Galway;
- PPE training to workers at Cork and Waterford harbours by Naval service personnel;
- provision of tentage and marshalling support at various HSE testing sites around the country;
- transportation of patients for testing;
- assistance with the fit out of temporary facilities for the HSE (for example, the HSE facilities at City West and the University of Limerick);
- production and assembly of PPE using 3D printing facilities; and
- the use of lands at Ballymullen Barracks as a COVID-19 testing facility and contact tracing hub.
In addition to supporting the HSE, the Defence Forces have also provided a broad range of supports to other Departments and Agencies. Provision of this support was also coordinated by the Joint Task Force. Examples include:
- Support has been provided to the National Ambulance Service through Defence Forces ambulance and crew supports along with tele-triage supports.
- Support to the Office of Government Procurement through assistance with storage and distribution of PPE.
- Support to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government through the use of lands at Sarsfields Barracks for the location of one of the National Temporary Body Storage Facilities. The Defence Forces were also on standby to provide support if required at the Dublin based National Temporary Body Storage Facility at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
With regard to the involvement of the Defence Forces in the Covid19 vaccination programme, the Defence Forces are represented on the High Level Task Force for Covid-19 Vaccination, providing logistical and operational planning advice for the national vaccination programme.
A number of Defence Forces Medical Officers have completed the HSE vaccination training for the MODERNA & PFIZER vaccines and were involved in dispensing vaccinations recently at three centres, Cork, Dublin and Portlaoise and a number of Long Term Residential Care settings.
The Defence Forces have also developed a training protocol for other Defence Forces doctors, nurses and qualified medics so that they too will be able to participate in dispensing vaccinations, if requested to do so by the HSE.
Through the Joint Task Force, the Defence Forces has also supported the rollout of the vaccination programme through:
- Marshalling and security supports at a vaccination site
- Secure storage supports
- Transportation of vaccinators in adverse weather conditions
- Transportation of vaccines by air at the request of the National Ambulance Service.
With regard to vaccination of Defence Forces personnel, subject to the availability of the vaccine and in line with the national vaccination prioritisation list, where the Defence Forces have frontline staff working alongside the HSE, these DF personnel will be vaccinated in tandem with the HSE personnel.
345. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the involvement of the Reserve Defence Force in the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the number of personnel involved; the locations they provided support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies. In this regard, a total of 1,457 days were served by members of the Reserve involved in authorised Covid related duties in 2020.
The Defence Forces are also represented on the High Level Task Force for Covid-19 Vaccination and continue to provide transportation and logistical supports to the HSE in the rollout of the Covid 19 vaccination programme. A number of Defence Forces Medical Officers have completed the HSE vaccination training for the MODERNA & PFIZER vaccines and have been involved in dispensing vaccinations, including one Army Reserve Medical Officer who recently vaccinated residents at a HSE Residential Care Facility in Co. Kildare.
