Wednesday, 31 Mar 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1-51

Cabinet Committees

Ceisteanna (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

21. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and Investment will next meet. [13104/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the economy will next meet. [13267/21]

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

23. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the economy will next meet. [13270/21]

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the economy will next meet. [13273/21]

Mick Barry

Ceist:

25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Cabinet committee dealing with economic affairs. [13299/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 25, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment has been established and first met on 8 July. It has met a total of ten times, most recently on 1 March. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 April.

Question No. 26 resubmitted.

Shared Island Unit

Ceisteanna (27, 28, 29, 30)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

27. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the priorities of the shared island unit of his Department. [13098/21]

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

28. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Taoiseach the status of the activities of the shared island unit of his Department. [13099/21]

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

29. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the priorities of the shared island unit specifically in relation to new initiatives regarding north-south schemes. [13249/21]

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

30. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Britain and Northern Ireland division of his Department. [13101/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 to 30, inclusive, together.

The Britain and Northern Ireland Division supports my work and the work of the Government in relation to ongoing implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and all aspects of North-South and British-Irish relations

The Division supports my participation in the North South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council as key institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and also supports my role in broader political engagement in Northern Ireland and in all-island co-operation. This includes supporting my engagement with the Prime Minister of the UK and with the heads of the devolved administrations.

The Division also supports the work of the Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland, as required.

There are five staff in the Britain and Northern Ireland Division, headed by an Assistant Secretary General who is also responsible for the Shared Island unit, which was established in my Department in September last year.

The Shared Island unit currently has four members of staff with further appointments planned. The unit is tasked with driving and coordinating implementation of the Shared Island initiative as a whole of Government priority.

On 22 October, I set out the Government’s vision and priorities on Shared Island in an online event at Dublin Castle. In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with €500m being made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects. This provides significant, new capital funding for strategic investment in collaborative North/South projects that will support the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Government will work in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the British Government to progress existing and new cross-border investment projects. The Government’s priorities for such investment are set out in the Programme for Government.

Progressing cross-border investment projects was a key focus of our discussions at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary on 18 December, and in December, over €6m in funding from the Shared Island Fund was approved by the Government to launch the delivery of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal.

As part of the Shared Island initiative, the unit is progressing a comprehensive research programme, working with the National Economic and Social Council, ESRI and other partners, with research outputs being published through 2021 and in subsequent years. Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South are key objectives of this work.

I have also launched the Shared Island Dialogue series to foster constructive and inclusive civic dialogue on a shared future on the island. So far, three dialogues have been held:

- I addressed a Dialogue with young people on 26 November, on the theme of “New Generations and New Voices on the Good Friday Agreement;

- On 5 February, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications participated in a Dialogue on climate and environment on the island; and,

- On 25 March, a Dialogue on civil society engagement on the island was held, with participation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Dialogue series will continue through this year, including a focus on Health, Education and Economy, and on civic provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.

Finally, on local authority engagement, I warmly welcome the increased focus and ambition for cross-border cooperation at local authority and regional levels, including through the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor launch on 24 March, the framework of regional priorities of the Irish Central Border Area Network also launched on 24 March, and the North West Regional Development Group’s recently agreed statement of updated regional priorities.

I and a number of Government Ministers have engaged directly with these important cross-border initiatives in recent weeks to affirm the Government’s support for their work and readiness to collaborate with them, taking account of overall regional development strategies and the commitments and objectives on the Shared Island initiative that are set out in the Programme for Government.

The Shared Island unit in my Department, is actively engaging with Local Authorities and the cross-border Local Authority forums in follow up.

Questions Nos. 31 to 34, inclusive, resubmitted.

Cabinet Committees

Ceisteanna (35)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

35. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Europe will next meet. [13105/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Europe oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union and related issues.

It last met on 22 March 2021, in advance of the meeting by videoconference of the Members of the European Council on 25 March. It discussed the agenda for that meeting, including Covid-19; Single Market, industrial policy, digital and the economy; relations with Russia; and relations with Turkey.

The Cabinet Committee also discussed the agenda for the Euro Summit, which focussed on the international role of the Euro and took place on the same date as the meeting of Members of the European Council. In addition, it discussed the Conference on the Future of Europe, which will be launched on 9 May.

Previous meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Europe took place on 16 July 2020, 8 October 2020 & 8 December 2020.

It will continue to meet as appropriate, including to discuss issues on the agenda of the European Council.

Questions Nos. 36 and 37 resubmitted.

Northern Ireland

Ceisteanna (38)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

38. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when he will meet with the families of victims of the Glenanne gang. [13194/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

As I outlined to Deputy Tóibín in the House on 7th October 2020, I would be happy to meet with the families of victims of the Glenanne Gang. Prior to being appointed Taoiseach, I met with victims and the families of victims of the Glenanne gang. What the Glenanne gang did was the worst possible manifestation of evil by any gang, perpetrated on innocent people.

However, due to restrictions related to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic an opportunity for such a meeting has not yet arisen. I hope to meet these families as soon as circumstances allow.

I have been clear that all victims and survivors of the Troubles deserve access to truth and justice. It is why it is vital that we put in place a comprehensive framework to address all cases.

The Stormont House Agreement framework is the way forward on these issues. It was agreed by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and it must be implemented.

The Government is committed to working with the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to address the painful legacy of the Troubles. We will do this as agreed through the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement framework, in order to support wider societal reconciliation, build greater community confidence in policing and meet the legitimate needs of victims and survivors in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland.

We will continue to press the British Government on the implementation of the agreed, collective, framework.

Only through a collective approach can we hope to deal with these issues comprehensively and fairly, and in a way that responds to the needs of victims and survivors, and society as a whole.

Northern Ireland

Ceisteanna (39)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

39. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the arrangements to have further discussions with the UK Prime Minister and members of the Northern Ireland Executive on the need to implement the New Decade, New Approach in full. [13244/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The New Decade, New Approach Agreement reached in January 2020 was a very significant shared achievement, for the British and Irish governments and for the political parties in Northern Ireland in restoring the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to operation.

The New Decade New Approach agreement sets out priorities on health, education, infrastructure, welfare, language and culture and aims to address the issues that are of importance to the people in Northern Ireland.

For our part, the Government published a series of commitments, at the time of NDNA, focused on working with the Executive through the North South Ministerial Council to deliver projects that benefit people across the island, including greater connectivity between North and South; investing in the North West region and in border communities; supporting the Irish language in Northern Ireland; and supporting reconciliation as an integral part of the Peace Process.

The second plenary of the North South Ministerial Council took place on 18 December, and progress is underway with respect to these commitments that come under its remit – we look forward to this progress being continued and seeing these commitments implemented in full.

In January, the first Implementation Review meeting of the NDNA took place virtually, attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State, the First and deputy First Ministers and the leaders of the parties in the Executive. All the participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to the ongoing implementation of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

The Government continues to work with the UK Government, with the Northern Ireland Executive and through the North South Ministerial Council to ensure that the New Decade, New Approach agreement is implemented in full.

Citizens' Assembly

Ceisteanna (40)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

40. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Taoiseach the expected running order of citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [13256/21]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The current Citizens' Assembly on gender equality was established in January 2020 and, following delays caused by Covid-19, resumed its work with on-line meetings in October last year. The Assembly adapted its methods to comply with Public Health Guidelines and is expected to report by June 2021.

Consideration is being given to all possibilities with regard to methodology for future Citizens' Assemblies, but any decisions in this regard will be guided by the experience of the current Assembly. An independent researcher has been appointed to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly, which will also assist in decisions on future Assemblies.

Under the Programme for Government, the Government aims to establish a Citizens’ Assembly in 2021 to consider the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin. This Assembly will be established with a new Chairperson and new members following completion of the current Assembly.

The Programme for Government provides for establishment of Citizens' Assemblies to consider biodiversity; matters relating to drugs use and the future of education. Officials from my Department are engaging with officials from the relevant Departments on the approach to be taken with regard to these Assemblies. It is envisaged that they will be established after the Dublin Mayor Citizen's Assembly has completed its work, but the specific timing of each Assembly has yet to be worked out.

Citizens’ Assemblies do very valuable work in guiding policy and giving a sense of the direction the public would like Government to take, however, they take time to set up and run, especially in these times of pandemic. Although timing of the Citizens’ Assemblies outlined in the Programme for Government may not yet be confirmed there are ongoing and new initiatives being carried out in each important area – biodiversity, drugs and the future of education.

Questions Nos. 41 to 51, inclusive, resubmitted.