Written Answers Nos. 144-166
144. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to calls by a number of European Union member states for increased defence cooperation and a common defence strategy; the way Ireland has responded to these proposals following the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14742/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy. The policy means Ireland does not participate in military alliances or mutual defence arrangements.
However, while militarily neutral, we have always been politically active and we have continued to participate constructively at EU level in the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), guided by our policy of military neutrality and our contribution to crisis management and peacekeeping.
Against this backdrop, Ireland has been a very active participant in both civilian and military CSDP missions and operations. At present, 28 members of the Defence Forces are serving in three UN-mandated EU military missions and operations, while 19 civilian experts are currently serving in EU CSDP civilian missions.
Over recent months, EU Member States have also been discussing the Strategic Compass, an exercise intended to provide enhanced political and strategic direction for the EU’s CSDP for the decade ahead. I joined my fellow EU foreign and defence ministers in agreeing this strategy document at our meeting in Brussels on 21 March.
The document sets out the current European security environment in clear terms, including Russia’s appalling military aggression against Ukraine. In addition to this analysis, the Strategic Compass also proposes a series of actions for the EU to take in areas such as crisis management, resilience, capability development and partnerships.
From the Government’s perspective, the document displays an important unity of purpose not only in terms of the EU’s response to threats, but also as regards the projection of the EU’s values and support for the rules-based international order.
It is important to note that within the EU, security and defence policy clearly remains a national competence. The Strategic Compass, and Ireland’s continued active participation in the EU’s CSDP, will therefore in no way prejudice the security and defence policy of Ireland or any other Member State.
150. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action being taken to assist Moldova cope with the Ukrainian crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15335/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMoldova’s response to this crisis, in particular its hosting of large numbers of refugees, has been very impressive. It is important that Ireland maintains the spirit of solidarity that has characterised our response to the Ukraine crisis, including supporting Moldova in its response.
One quarter of the initial €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian response package has been allocated to the UNHCR Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP), which is directly supporting countries neighbouring Ukraine and which are hosting refugees. 20% of the overall RRP budget of €500 million is earmarked for Moldova. In addition, a dedicated €1 million in Irish Aid support is going to the UNHCR work specifically in Moldova.
Irish Aid also providing €1.5 million to UNFPA, whose work in Moldova focuses on the protection of women and girls: given that so many of the refugees from Ukraine are female, UNFPA has a particular role to play in responding to this crisis.
Many of Ireland’s humanitarian partners are expanding their activities to help the Moldovan government cope with the influx of refugees. A dedicated call for proposals for Irish NGOs ready to respond and support host countries is being launched.
Ireland’s €20 million humanitarian package also includes a €1 million grant to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), which is supporting the local response via the Moldovan Red Cross.
The Irish Aid Rapid Response Register has been activated and a number of Irish rapid responders have been nominated to our UN stand-by partners.
Ireland has also contributed to the Regional Response Plan through Irish Aid core funding to key participating organisations, including UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We encourage all our humanitarian partners to use their core funding to respond to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis including by supporting neighbouring countries like Moldova.
Finally, the EU has also announced a rapid assistance package of €500 million to help civilians affected by the conflict. This will include support to the RRP and additional funding of €8 million to Moldova in the European Commission’s revised Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP).
151. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to the United Nations in New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15328/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI travelled to the United States for on 7th March for a series of bilateral and UN Security Council engagements in New York. Over the course of the two-day visit, I met with senior UN officials, foreign policy organisations, and representatives from the local Irish American community.
On 8th March, International Women's Day, I participated in a UN Security Council open debate on the theme of Women, Peace and Security. Ireland has made Women, Peace and Security a priority of our Security Council membership. We co-chair, with Mexico, the Informal Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and we formed, together with Kenya and Mexico, a WPS Presidency Trio which committed to making the WPS Agenda a central focus.
I also, in my intervention, condemned the Russian Federation in the strongest terms for its decision to launch an unprovoked, unjustified and illegal attack, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and creating a terrible catastrophe in Europe. I then took the opportunity to highlight the grim reality currently facing women and girls in Ukraine and Afghanistan in particular and I stressed the responsibility of the international community to uphold the rights of all women at risk due to conflict.
I met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, who was complimentary about Ireland's active and effective role on the Security Council, and he thanked me for the constant cooperation and support across a range of initiatives including WPS, Human Rights issues, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our discussion was focussed on Ukraine and the need for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. The Secretary General noted that Russia’s actions have violated the UN Charter and International Law. We agreed that the scale of the humanitarian and refugee crisis was at a level not seen in Europe for many years and also noted the effect that the war will have on global food and energy supplies.
While at the UN, I also met with the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Abdulla Shahid. In our brief discussion, I thanked the President for his role in convening the Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly which adopted, by an overwhelming majority of 141 in favour to just 5 against, resolution A/ES-11/L.1 demanding that the Russian Federation immediately end its invasion of Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces. We also discussed other efforts to end the crisis. Lastly, we touched upon Ireland’s strong commitment to Climate action and to other priority areas of the UNGA agenda.
While in New York, I also undertook a number of engagements with influential foreign policy organisations. I addressed the Council on Foreign Relations on Europe’s response to the invasion of Ukraine. I outlined the position taken by Ireland, underlining the need for strong international cooperation in support of the international rules based order, now more than ever.
There is a keen interest in the United States on the implications Brexit will have for the island of Ireland, North and South. My visit included an exchange with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, which was mainly focused on Brexit developments and the importance of stabilising the Northern Ireland Protocol. I also participated in a roundtable discussion with representatives of Irish America on the Good Friday Agreement, reconciliation and legacy issues.
In addition to political meetings, I had the chance to meet with members of the Ireland Funds and to reiterate the strength and importance of our relationship with the US, underpinned by longstanding diaspora and business links, which will be key as both countries look towards recovery following the global pandemic.
This visit to New York came at an important time for Ireland, the United States, and the larger international community, and reinforced the commitment this Government has to the maintenance of international peace and security.
153. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on Ireland’s preparations for chairing the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15330/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 May, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Council's principal intergovernmental decision-making body, for the seventh time, having last chaired it in 2000.
Preparations for the Presidency are well advanced, with an extensive programme of conferences, seminars, and other events planned in Strasbourg and across Ireland, alongside multiple high-level inward and outward visits.
The full programme, alongside the priority themes which will serve as a framework for the Presidency, will be confirmed by Government shortly. Situated in the context of the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, the latter are likely to focus on the central importance of the European Court for Human Rights; participatory democracy, with a focus on youth engagement; and the protection of the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups.
I intend to travel to Strasbourg a number of times over the six-month term, including to engage with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, while our Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe, led by Ambassador Breifne O'Reilly, will host a series of events to showcase and celebrate the diversity of contemporary Irish culture.
Notably, in September, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, will host a Ministerial conference in Dublin on the subject of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, with Justice Ministers from all 46 Member States coming together to spur efforts across the continent to substantively tackle violence against women and girls.
Working with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Finance, and others, my Department is also organizing conferences in Dublin, Cork, and Galway to advance other critical areas of the Council of Europe's work, including children's rights and democratic participation.
The Committee of Ministers' decision last week, supported by Ireland, to exclude the Russian Federation is unprecedented in the 73-year history of the Council of Europe, and reflects the strongest possible condemnation of the Russian Federation's unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, another Council of Europe member.
I regret that, through these actions, the Russian authorities have deprived the Russian people of the benefit of the world’s most advanced human rights protection system. But regrettable as it is, the exclusion is necessary, given the Russian Federation’s disavowal of the values, principles, and legal obligations which membership of the Council of Europe entails.
As a founder member, Ireland will champion those same values and principles through our Presidency term, reaffirming the Council of Europe's central role in the protection of human rights across the continent when it is needed most.
157. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the widespread difficulties parents are experiencing with consent forms for children’s first-time passports being rejected due to incorrect dates; the changes he plans to bring forward to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14986/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 14(1) of the Passports Act 2008, the consent of a child’s guardian(s) must be given before the Passport Service can issue them a passport.
In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the Child Identity and Consent form is correctly completed and validated by the Passport Service for both first time and renewal applications for children.
The Passport Service monitors and seeks to improve issues that arise for applicants during the online and paper based passport application process. Passport Service statistics show that approximately 33% of first time child applications are incomplete. A significant proportion of those incomplete applications occur when parents have not submitted any documentation to the Passport Service. In these cases, parents apply online for their child’s passport and can take weeks or sometimes even months to submit the required supporting documents such as the witnessed consent form and child’s identity documents such as their birth certificate. The Passport Service is unable to process these applications until the required supporting documentation is submitted.
The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for child applicants and advises during the online application process to make sure that the consent form is correctly witnessed once they have completed the online process. It is not the experience of the Passport Service that incorrect dates on the Child Identity and Consent form is a widespread issue.
The Passport Service provides instructions on how to correctly complete these forms on the Department's website (www.dfa.ie/passports/how-to-get-your-application-witnessed/).
The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. These materials will include information on correctly completing the Child Identity and Consent form.
In addition to this, the Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.
The Passport Service has recently implemented a new document management system that will help reduce processing time for applications that are incomplete when initially submitted. One particular feature of the new system improves the processing time for applicants who have been asked to submit additional documents. Once the additional documents are received, they are prioritised and where applications are complete can now be processed in 3 weeks. This significantly reduces the processing time, particularly for first time applicants.
I am confident that these measures will help to reduce errors on applications and will improve customer experience.
159. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a strategy to increase climate finance for developing countries under growing pressure from both climate crisis and conflict; the position regarding the development of a unit within his Department dedicated to working on Ireland’s response to the global climate crisis as committed to within the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15473/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government tasked the Department of Foreign Affairs with devising a strategy to scale up Ireland’s climate finance contributions. At COP26 in 2021, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland will more than double its international climate finance, reaching at least €225 million per year by 2025. The target represents a significant increase on current levels of climate finance, which totalled €93.6 million in 2019. Reaching the new target will assist in making significant progress towards the Programme for Government commitment to “at a minimum, double the overall percentage of our development assistance that counts as climate finance” by 2030.
Work on the Strategy is led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, working closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine, along with other Government Departments. Consultation has also taken place with civil society. Work on the Strategy is well advanced, with a view to finalisation by Summer 2022.
The Strategy aims to provide a pathway to deliver on our targets, whilst ensuring that Ireland’s climate finance is effective and impactful in supporting developing countries to address climate change.
Following the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Climate Unit was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in October 2020. This Unit is embedded in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division in the Department. There are currently nine officers working in the Unit.
The Climate Unit has built upon the climate work that was previously taking place across the Department, in particular the funding of climate action through the Irish Aid programme, and is significantly scaling up this work. More broadly, a key role of the Unit is to strengthen capacity across the Department, including at Embassy-level, for effective climate diplomacy and provision of climate finance. The Unit currently has three main areas of thematic focus. These are Adaptation and Resilience, including Loss and Damage; Climate and Security; and Oceans.
163. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the financial and logistical supports that are available from his Department for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s programme of development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people is an integral part of Ireland’s contribution to the achievement of a just, enduring and stable peace in the Middle East.
Ireland will provide more than €15.5 million in development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people this year.
My Department supports the further development of the strong people-to-people links between the Irish and Palestinian people, including through the Representative Office of Ireland in Ramallah. The Ireland-Palestine Scholarship Programme, which I launched in 2018, is a key component of this. At present, we award 25 master’s-level scholarships each year to promising Palestinian students.
In relation to this specific project, officials in my Department are available to engage with the Deputy and the organisations involved on available supports, including through our diplomatic missions in the region. I would ask the Deputy to follow up directly with my office.
164. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has sought clarification from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the terms that would trigger a Border poll on Irish reunification; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe approach of any Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement - and the two sovereign Governments - explicitly recognise and validate the legitimacy of both of these constitutional positions, which are deeply held.
The holding of a referendum in this jurisdiction is connected with the calling of a border poll, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, in Northern Ireland. The decision to hold such a poll in Northern Ireland rests with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Agreement provides that the Secretary of State shall call a poll: “if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland.”
The principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement, endorsed by the people of the island of Ireland, North and South. Should there be a vote in favour of constitutional change in the future, it will be a binding obligation on both Governments to introduce and support in their respective Parliaments legislation to give effect to that wish.
The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement is a priority for this Government. The Government’s focus now, and our commitment through the Shared Island initiative, is on working with all communities and political traditions, to take up the significant opportunities of deeper cooperation and connection on the island, and to build consensus on key issues for our shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
165. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will take steps to accelerate the slow and uncertain process of issuing permits to skilled European Union nationals and non-European Union nationals particularly in the hospitality and agriculture sectors. [15469/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the reason that there are huge delays in obtaining work permits for skilled European Union nationals and non-European Union nationals; and if this issue has been raised with him by his Ministerial colleagues. [15499/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
I would like to firstly assure inform the Deputy that an EU citizen can work in Ireland without requiring an employment permit to do so. This is also the case for citizens of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), and Switzerland.
The employment permits system in Ireland is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, in circumstances where there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is managed through the use of lists designating highly skilled and ineligible occupations.
Since March 2020, the Department has implemented Covid-19 contingency arrangements moving employment permit operations seamlessly to a totally remote working environment. Indeed, Ireland was one of the few countries which managed to keep their employment permit system fully operational throughout the crisis.
From the outset of the crisis, in order to assist the HSE and all other medical providers in the State to respond to, and to assist with, the public health response to the threat of Covid-19, all medical employment permits are expedited with immediate effect.
The Department has experienced a significant increase in applications for employment permits in the past year, impacting on processing times. From the start of January to the end of December 2021, some 27,666 applications were received, representing a 69% increase over the same period in 2020 (16,293) and a 47% increase on 2019 (18,811), which itself represented an 11 year high in applications.
My Department issued 16,275 employment permits in 2021, and processed a total of 17,968 applications which represents a significant volume of activity. The impact of this has resulted in a significant backlog, which has increased from 1,000 in April 2021 to approximately c. 10,500 at the end of January 2022.
In addition, the extension of categories of employment permits, following the latest Review of the Occupational Lists, that I announced at the end of October has increased applications for employment permits for these roles. Processing times have been impacted by this increase in demand but also because of the HSE cyber-attack, when employment permit applications associated with the July Doctors rotation (which occurs twice yearly in January and July) had to be submitted either manually or through other non-standard methods.
I and my Department recognises the impact of current delays on the processing times for work permits has for businesses and their workers and have developed a plan of action to bring down the processing backlog built up over the pandemic. The plan includes both additional staffing and systemic changes. Staffing actions include recruitment of additional permanent and temporary staff. In late November 2021 approval was granted to increase our permanent processing capacity by 69% and to increase overall capacity to 125% when temporary staff are included. On 2 February 2022 further additional approval was granted to increase permanent processing capacity by 125% and increase overall capacity by 225% from the original early base in early November.
When all recruitment is completed, the team will be three and a quarter times the size it was in early November. There has also been an increase in overtime and the temporary reassignment of staff from other areas of the Department with relevant skills.
These measures have already delivered a considerable increase in processing capacity. As the plan of action is fully implemented it is expected that there will be positive progress achieved in reducing the backlog by the end of Q1 with it substantially reduced by the end of Q2 2022. This should see a return to more normal processing timeframes.
In addition, further systemic changes have also been introduced. The Department has worked with the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Justice to streamline and extend the time period for General Employment Permits (GEP) issued to doctors. A new two-year multi-site GEP for Medical Doctors in Public hospitals and Public health facilities was introduced in respect of the January 2022 Doctors rotation. This will result in significant benefits for applicants, as well as major efficiencies for the Employment Permits Section, by eliminating the necessity to apply for additional employment permits when moving to a different Public hospital or Public health facility within this two year period.
Finally, my Department provides regular updates on its website in relation to processing times and engages directly with key stakeholders including the IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, AmCham, IBEC, representative groups and individual companies.
