Written Answers Nos. 225-234
225. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an update will be provided on plans to amend planning regulations to allow schools and other institutions to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for apartments and educational/community/religious buildings.
In light of the need to appropriately address aviation safety concerns arising from the “glint and glare” impacts of solar panels and the easing of the solar panel planning exemption thresholds, the regulations will cover the vast majority of the land area of the country, with limited restriction zones around airports.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. It is anticipated that the formal SEA process will commence, with consultation with the statutory environmental authorities to inform the content of the Environmental Report, following the completion of the screening for Appropriate Assessment by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit. The SEA Environmental Report will be published alongside the draft regulations for a period of public consultation of not less than 4 weeks. This public consultation is expected to commence shortly. A copy of the draft regulations and the Environmental Report will be made available for inspection over this period. Written submissions or observations will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded. Accordingly, the process for finalising the solar panel planning exemptions will be completed in the coming months.
While these regulations are being advanced, my Department is concurrently examining the scope to draft supplementary regulations to further expand the exemptions by way of reducing the proposed restriction zones around airports.
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13562/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement these consultants and experts may prepare reports and other documentation for the Department.
In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed, and continues to inform, the Department’s policies, allowing for a more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets.
These services are procured by open competitive tendering processes in accordance with EU and national rules and comply with the overall value for money objectives.
A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.
The following reports were commissioned by my Department from 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022:
|
Year |
Name of Company |
Title of Report |
Publication Date |
Cost |
|
2019 |
Brian Casey |
Review of the Emergency Response Fund |
June 2019 |
€13,320 |
|
2019 |
Mike Williams |
Strategic Partner Monitoring Visit India |
* |
€19,332 |
|
2019
|
KOSI |
Review of a Strategic Partner grants 2017-2018 |
* |
€28,125 |
|
2019 |
Claire Dijoux |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Zimbabwe |
* |
€12,456 |
|
2019 |
Brian Casey |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Central African Republic |
* |
€10,025 |
|
2019 |
Gumfoot Consultancy |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Ethiopia |
* |
€14,080 |
|
2019 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Programme Grant partner review |
* |
€24,473 |
|
2019 |
Tara Shine and Martin LeTisser |
Ireland’s Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) |
June 2019 |
€23,739 |
|
2019 |
*Enabling Outcomes |
Review of Private Sector Engagement Institutions |
June 2019 |
€38,250 |
|
2019 |
*Enabling Outcomes |
Evolving Ireland’s Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development Programme |
November 2019 |
€45,000 |
|
2019 |
Deirdre Clancy |
Ireland's engagement in Somalia |
* |
€450 |
|
2019
|
University of Otago, New Zealand |
“Irish in Aotearoa: Mapping the Irish Community and People of Irish Heritage in New Zealand” |
First Instalment |
€6,906.62 |
|
2020
|
John O’ Regan |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Nepal (preparation) |
* |
€1,814 |
|
2020 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Programme Grant partner Follow-Up Review |
* |
€4,552 |
|
2020 |
Fergal Ryan |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Honduras |
* |
€11,964 |
|
2020 |
Fergal Ryan |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Sierra Leone |
* |
€11,347 |
|
2020 |
Fergal Ryan |
Programme Grant monitoring visit Tanzania prep |
* |
€3,000 |
|
2020 |
Morina O’Neill |
Monitoring of public engagement and development education under Irish Aid Programme Grant |
* |
€15,000 |
|
2020 |
John Moody Risk Management |
Strategic Partner Systems Review |
* |
€24,539 |
|
2020 |
Rowan Engineering |
Development of Resource Efficiency Action Plans for the Department’s headquarters buildings |
May 2020 |
€13,222.50 |
|
2020 |
**Ernst & Young |
Ireland’s Climate and Environmental Finance Report 2019 |
* |
**€39,761 |
|
2020
|
Stewart Gee Consultancy |
Agriculture Research Partnership Review |
April 2020 |
€26,953 |
|
2020 |
Michael J. Barry Consulting Ltd. |
National Task Team on Rural Africa Report |
October 2020 |
€60,594 |
|
2020
|
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd |
Process review of Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) systems. |
* |
€16,335 |
|
2020 |
Southern Cross Consulting |
IDEAS Programme Review (Vietnam) |
* |
€11,150 |
|
2020
|
IOD Parc |
Formative Evaluation of the Programme Grant II (2017-2021) & Humanitarian Programme Plan (2019-2021) |
23rd August 2021 |
€136,925.51
|
|
2020 |
Deirdre Clancy |
Ireland's engagement in Somalia |
* |
€6075 |
|
2020
|
Karl Royce |
Mapping Ireland-Chile economic links and areas of post-pandemic potential focus |
* |
€4,340.03 |
|
2020
|
University of Otago, New Zealand |
“Irish in Aotearoa: Mapping the Irish Community and People of Irish Heritage in New Zealand” |
December 2020 |
€7,206.06 |
|
2021 |
Morina O’Neill |
Monitoring of public engagement and development education under Irish Aid Programme Grant |
*. |
€37,500 |
|
2021 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Programme Grant Monitoring |
* |
€44,128 |
|
2021 |
Claire Dijoux |
Programme Grant Monitoring |
|
€23,991 |
|
2021 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Review of the Civil Society Fund |
* |
€28,413 |
|
2021 |
KOSI |
Volunteering partner systems review |
* |
€15,625 |
|
2021 |
Public Good |
Review of Volunteering Initiative |
* |
€15,950 |
|
2021 |
Changes by Degrees |
Climate Finance Roadmap |
Due to be published before end Q2 2022 |
€68,880 €23,650.44 paid in 2021 outstanding balance to be paid in 2022 |
|
2021 |
Dr.Rachel Widdes |
Review of Access to Remedy in Ireland |
July 2021 |
€17,000 |
|
2021
|
Arab World for Research and Development |
Gender Equality Review of the Palestine Programme |
* Ongoing |
€11,800 |
|
2021
|
Pham Thai Hung |
Mission Strategy (2017-2020) Results Review Report |
* |
€3,375 |
|
2021
|
William Langslet |
Independent review of Ireland’s support to Mine Action in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam 2017-2020 |
* |
€7,500 |
|
2021
|
Pham Thai Hung |
Review of the Ethnic Minority Partnership for Resilience and Development (EMPRO) |
* |
€1,315 |
|
2021
|
Pham Thai Hung |
Programme Approach to Reach the Furthest Behind in Vietnam |
* |
€4,760 |
|
2021
|
Deirdre Farrell |
Appraisal of Youth 2030 Strategic Partnership Proposal under the Global Citizenship Education Strategy |
* |
€750 |
|
2021
|
Deirdre Farrell |
Review and Appraisal of Consortia Proposals for new Primary Sector Education programme under the Global Citizenship Education Strategy |
* |
€1,750 |
|
2022
|
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Review of the Civil Society Fund |
* |
€1,722 |
|
2022 |
Dr. Richard Collins |
Consultancy Services to Support an Assessment of the Antarctic Treaty System |
Due end of March 2022 |
€11,250 |
|
2022
|
Boyle and Associates |
Review of the ‘Saolta’ programme in the Adult and Community Sector under the Global Citizenship Education Strategy |
* |
€7,875 |
|
2022 |
Barbara Wilson |
Review of the ‘Saolta’ programme in the Adult and Community Sector under the Global Citizenship Education Strategy |
* |
€6,750 |
|
2022
|
Irish Centre for Diversity |
Department of Foreign Affairs – Investors in Diversity (Silver) Report |
21 January 2022 |
€4,495 |
*Reports published for internal use. Certain reports commissioned by the Department are for internal management usage and not for publication. However, many Departmental reports are published on www.irishaid.ie and www.dfa.ie.
**The consultancy was also involved in compilation and QA of DAC returns on gender and climate. Specific cost breakdown for the report not available.
227. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be processed for a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this child is due to travel for important family reasons. [13653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 234 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.
228. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a foreign birth registration application by a person (details supplied); the steps his Department has taken to alleviate the long delays being experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. Arising from the Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The application referenced was registered on 25 March 2020, and is being stored in a secure environment.
The FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt. FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
My Department has been pro-actively planning to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet the current and expected level of demand for passports and FBR in 2022 and is making an unprecedented investment in the Passport Service, including the FBR Service, in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.
The Department has also been working with the Public Appointments Service on a major recruitment drive over the past several months. Since June of 2021, over 300 members of staff at all grades have been assigned to the Passport Service. In addition to this, and to complement staffing recruitment through the Public Appointments Service, the Passport Service is running its own recruitment competition for Temporary Clerical Officers with a view to assigning additional staff and to maintain staffing levels throughout the year to meet the demand expected for passports and Foreign Birth Registration in the coming months.
229. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application is with the Passport Office since 1 September 2021 and all requested documentation has now been received. [13615/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent directly to provide an update on the status of the application.
230. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a technical issue has occurred in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13619/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to provide an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application. No technical issue has occurred in the processing of this application.
231. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that are being taken to provide adequate support and aid to the persons fleeing from the conflict in Ukraine to Ireland. [13631/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am extremely concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked attack is causing immense suffering for the people of Ukraine. Russia’s war is illegal and immoral, and Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. Ireland will do all it can to support the humanitarian response both in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. My Department will continue to work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure a coordinated national response.
The EU agreed on the 4 March 2022 to activate the Temporary Protection Directive. This allows a form of temporary protection aimed at offering immediate help by granting large groups of people collective protection status. Such people would have protection status for up to a year (with a possibility of extension of up to three years), without going through individual asylum claims, and allowing access to housing and other benefits (e.g. education, health, social welfare, residency permits).
My Department has already put together a €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian package enabling humanitarian organisations on the ground, including UN agencies and the Red Cross Movement, to provide life-saving assistance to the people of Ukraine. Urgently needed medical supplies from Irish stocks are being made available through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
232. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that are being taken to address the violence and conflict in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24 February, Ireland has stood in unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine. Ireland’s response to the invasion has included multilateral engagement with European Union partners and at the United Nations, the development of sanctions against Ukraine, demonstrations across the world of Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine, bilateral contact with the representatives of Ukraine and of the Russian Federation in Ireland and the provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Ireland has committed €20 million in humanitarian aid to help mitigate the impact of the Russian further invasion of Ukraine on the lives of ordinary people.
In addition, the EU has agreed a package of €500 million in military assistance for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility; €450 million for lethal equipment and €50 million for non-lethal equipment. Ireland constructively abstained on the lethal equipment package. We will pay our full share (approximately €11 million) and our funding will go only to non-lethal elements.
In response to the assault on Ukraine, the EU has also adopted the most extensive sanctions in its history. The aim of these sanctions is to incentivise President Putin to find a political solution to the conflict that he has created, and to reduce the funding and equipment available to Russia to continue its illegal actions in Ukraine. Sectoral sanctions target the Russian financial, energy, technology and defence, and transport sectors. Sanctions have been introduced to prevent Russian state-owed media from spreading disinformation in the EU. Measures have also been introduced restricting economic relations between the EU and the two breakaway regions in Donetsk and Luhansk. Individual sanctions have been introduced on Russian persons and entities, with 510 people and 5 entities subjected to asset freezes and travel bans (for persons) since 23 February. The EU has imposed trade restrictions on Belarus for its support to Russia, and has sanctioned Belarussian military leaders. I also refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 299 on 3 March, which provides a detailed overview of all of the EU sanctions that have been adopted in response to Russia’s aggressive actions since 23 February. Preparatory work continues on additional sanctions. Ireland has made clear that it will support the widest possible sanctions, as a concrete demonstration of our solidarity with Ukraine.
More broadly, Ireland is at the forefront of efforts across the UN to bring an end to this conflict and to hold Russia accountable. Ireland co-sponsored a strong UN General Assembly resolution denouncing Russia’s aggression against a sovereign state, which was adopted with the support of the overwhelming majority (141) of UN Member States. This is a powerful demonstration of the widespread global rejection of Russia’s actions.
The UN Security Council met on Monday 7 March to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Ireland demanded that Russia upholds its obligations under international humanitarian law, and called for an immediate end to hostilities and safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those who need it, where they need it.
Ireland has joined with 38 other International Criminal Court States Parties in referring the situation in Ukraine to the ICC to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN Human Rights Council will also establish a Commission of Inquiry in relation to violations of human rights in Ukraine.
Ireland will continue to engage with European Union, United Nations and other partners to provide assistance to Ukraine.
233. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any engagement with European Union officials in relation to the expulsion of the Russian ambassador from Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13634/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's illegal, immoral and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine. Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path, is unwavering.
In response to this assault on Ukraine, the EU has adopted the most extensive sanctions in its history. The aim of these sanctions is to incentivise President Putin to find a political solution to the conflict that he has created, and to reduce the funding and equipment available to Russia to continue its illegal actions in Ukraine.
Sectoral sanctions target the Russian financial, energy, technology and defence, and transport sectors. Sanctions have also been introduced to prevent Russian state-owed media from spreading disinformation in the EU. Individual sanctions have been introduced on Russian persons and entities, with 510 people and 5 entities subjected to asset freezes and travel bans (for persons) since 23 February. The EU has also imposed trade restrictions on Belarus for its support to Russia, and has sanctioned Belarussian military leaders. I also refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 299 on 3 March, which provides a detailed overview of all of the EU sanctions that have been adopted in response to Russia’s aggressive actions since 23 February.
Preparatory work continues on additional sanctions. Ireland has made clear that it will support the widest possible sanctions, as a concrete demonstration of our solidarity with Ukraine.
Regarding the Deputy’s query regarding the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador to Ireland, I believe there is value in keeping diplomatic channels open with Russia, not least to protect our interests and our citizens. Like all of the other responses we have deployed, we are coordinating closely with EU partners to ensure decisions have a meaningful impact. The issue will continue to be kept under review.
