Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Written Answers Nos. 314-333

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (314, 316, 345, 346)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

314. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the average wait time for a first-time child passport currently. [26301/22]

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

316. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated number of passports that will have been processed from 1 January to 1 July 2022. [26303/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

345. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current turnaround times for new passport applications and passport renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26514/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

346. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current turnaround times for new passport applications and passport renewals in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26515/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 314, 316, 345 and 346 together.

The current processing times for passport applications are:

- 10 working days for Simple Adult online renewals

- 15 working days for Complex or child online renewals

- 30 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online

- 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in “Passport Express” service

Fully complete and correct online applications are issuing within the estimated processing time. Processing time begins from the date any required supporting documents are received by the Passport Service, not the online registration date. Applications that are incomplete and require the Passport Service to contact the applicant to request new documents, forms or photos will take longer than the average turnaround time.

Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first time applications from 40 working days to 30 working days. This processing time includes child first time applications. This 25% reduction in processing times is as a direct result of the unprecedented level of investment that my Department has made in the Passport Service in terms of additional staff and improvements to the passport processing and customer service systems.

All passport applications are processed through the centralised automated passport service system, and are sorted based on application type rather than county of applicant. Passport turnaround times for applicants residing in Cork are the same for those in the rest of the country.

The Passport Service has issued over 480,000 applications so far this year. It is estimated that 750,000-850,000 passports will be processed from 1 January to 1 July 2022.

Question No. 317 answered with Question No. 263.

Question No. 315 answered with Question No. 283.

Question No. 316 answered with Question No. 314.

Question No. 318 answered with Question No. 245.

Question No. 319 answered with Question No. 263.

Question No. 320 answered with Question No. 263.

Diplomatic Representation

Ceisteanna (321)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

321. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will detail the relationships between Ireland and the Republic of Armenia (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26320/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I thank the Deputy for her interest in the Irish-Armenian bilateral relationship.

As the Deputy will be aware, trade policy within the European Union is a competence of the EU institutions, rather than national governments. The new EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on 1 March 2021. It aims to intensify EU-Armenia co-operation in numerous sectors including the economy, business and trade, education. With the support of the EU, Armenia has agreed to undertake reforms in areas such as rule of law, democracy, good governance, judicial independence, anti-corruption, human rights, and the economy. The fourth EU-Armenia Partnership Council was held in Brussels on 18 May 2022.

The European Commission also has competence to act on behalf of Member States in relation to trade and investment treaties, including Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). Consequently, Member States have not concluded BITs with third countries since the adoption of the Treaty.

Armenia is set to benefit considerably under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for Armenia. Announced in July 2021, €1.6bn is available in grants, soft loans and guarantees for five flagship initiatives, with up to €1bn potentially available in private sector financing. Armenia is also a member of the EU's Eastern Partnership mechanism.

The Irish Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Martina Feeney, is accredited to Armenia on a non-resident basis and presented her credentials to President Sarkissian in October 2021. H.E. Varuzhan Nersesyan was appointed as Ambassador to UK and Ireland in July 2021, formally requesting agrément in January 2022. Ireland’s Honorary Consul in Armenia since 2010 has been Jonathan Stark, while the Honorary Consul of Armenia in Ireland since 2008 is Ohan Yergainharsian. 

The Irish community in Armenia is very small, consisting of about 20-25 citizens, many of whom left in 2020 due to the pandemic and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. There are a number of academic and private sector links between the two countries.

Ireland’s trade with Armenia is relatively low, amounting to approximately €1 million annually. The main exports are essential oils and office and data processing machines. The majority of imports are in the categories of clothing, accessories and non-ferrous metals. 

There are no current plans for high-level visits between Ireland and Armenia. Invitations for State Visits or Official Visits by foreign Heads of State are issued by the President, with a very limited number of such visits taking place each year.

Question No. 322 answered with Question No. 263.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (323)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

323. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of investigations, internal or external, commissioned by his Department into instances in which Departmental documents or information were leaked to the media, which were commissioned or conducted in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; the nature of such leaks and investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26338/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

No investigations, internal or external, have been commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs into alleged instances in which Departmental documents or information may have been leaked to the media during the past ten years and to date in 2022.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (324)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

324. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a refund for a passport application will be issued (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26384/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the refund and is reviewing the case. The Passport Service will contact the applicant directly with any further updates.

Question No. 325 answered with Question No. 245.

Question No. 326 answered with Question No. 245.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (327)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport application of a child (details supplied). [26404/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service contacted the applicant directly on 20 May to provide an update as to the status of the application.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (328)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

328. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when passports will issue for siblings (details supplied) which were applied for on 2 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26408/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service regrets the delay in processing the applications and is prioritising them to ensure no further delay is experienced.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (329)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

329. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the most recent engagement he has had with European Union officials and directly with UK officials regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26423/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I speak regularly with the both the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic and with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss with regard to EU-UK relations generally, and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in particular. Most recently, I met with Vice-President Šefcovic in Brussels on May 16, and with Foreign Secretary Truss on May 20 in Turin.

I made clear to the Foreign Secretary my deep regret with regards to the announcement by the British government of its intention to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that will unilaterally dis-apply elements of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Such unilateral action in respect of an internationally binding agreement is damaging to trust and will serve only to make it more challenging to find solutions to the genuine concerns that people in Northern Ireland have about how the Protocol is being implemented.

At a time when people in Northern Ireland have chosen their elected representatives and want to get the Executive back up and running, the path chosen by the British government is of great concern. It undermines political stability and confidence in Northern Ireland’s economy. This unilateral action is contrary to the wishes of people and business in Northern Ireland.

The EU has indicated that it is ready and willing to resume talks with the UK at any time on implementing the Protocol. I urged the Foreign Secretary to engage constructively and in a spirit of partnership with the EU to resolve the issues that matter most to people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

I engage widely and regularly with political, business and civic society contacts in Northern Ireland. I have listened carefully to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and having a greater say on how the Protocol works. There is a basis for solutions to all of these issues in the package of Proposals brought forward by the Commission last year. I fully agree with Commission Vice President Šefcovic’s view that there is further potential to be explored in these proposals.

I continue to undertake regular and extensive outreach with my counterparts across the European Union on this and other matters, as does Minister of State Thomas Byrne. It is clear that the EU remains united in its commitment to Northern Ireland. With the full support of the Member States, Commission Vice-President Šefcovic and his team have been consistent in their readiness to work with the UK to reach agreement on pragmatic and flexible solutions.

I note also that the Taoiseach remains in regular contact with both Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking to her on this matter on May 19, the President of the European Commission Charles Michel, with whom he spoke on May 16, and with Prime Minister Johnson with whom he spoke on May 10. We continue to urge the UK to engage in intensified EU-UK discussions to address issues relating to the implementation of the Protocol. Jointly agreed solutions are the only sustainable way forward to bring certainty and prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.

Foreign Policy

Ceisteanna (330)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

330. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he has raised issues with their sentence of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26445/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and has consistently made our opposition clear to the Saudi authorities. I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. When I visited Saudi Arabia last year, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the continuing use of the death penalty. Officials from my Department have also raised concerns over the use of the death penalty directly with the Saudi authorities. 

Ireland welcomed the first EU-Saudi Arabia Human Rights Dialogue, held in Brussels in September 2021 and chaired by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore. A number of human rights issues were discussed at the Dialogue, including the use of the death penalty.

The abolition of the death penalty will continue to be a foreign policy priority for Ireland. I urge Saudi Arabia to establish an immediate moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. We will continue to monitor this case, and to make our concerns clear to the Saudi authorities.

Question No. 331 answered with Question No. 263.

Question No. 332 answered with Question No. 263.

Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 245.