Written Answers Nos. 381-400
384. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the list of professionals who may witness a passport application has changed; and the reason that an individual using the same day renewal service in the Cork Passport Office would have been refused on the grounds of a school teacher being the witness for the purpose of the application. [33761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to avail of the Urgent Appointment service for passport renewal, an applicant, or their guardians in the cases of children, must present themselves for the appointment with a fully completed APS 1E form and all necessary additional supporting documents. For a child renewal application via the Urgent Appointment service, there are two sections on the APS 1E form which must be completed by a witness. These two sections relate to the consent of guardians and the identity of the applicant, respectively. Section 7 of the APS 1 E form relates to consent of guardians. There are a list of acceptable witnesses for this section, which includes school teachers. Section 9 of the APS 1E form relates to the verification of the applicant's identity. This section must be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána.
With regard to the specific application to which the Deputy refers, section 9 of this application was incomplete, with no Garda witness recorded. The Passport Service made every effort to assist and advise the guardian as to the steps required to complete the application.
385. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33763/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied) given that the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33799/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 388 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have inquired the Passport Service has cancelled these applications upon receipt of urgent counter appointment applications. Subsequently, rapid renewal passports have issued to the applicants.
386. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a French military exercise is taking place off the south-west coast of Ireland during the end of June and early July 2022; if notification of the exercise was provided to his Department; and if there are concerns about the impact on marine biodiversity as a result of the exercise. [33781/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra496. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will introduce a ten-year moratorium on military exercises by foreign armed forces in the Irish exclusive economic zone, EEZ, following the intended actions of the Russian and French navies in the Irish EEZ in 2022; and if he will engage with the Irish fishing organisations, an organisation (details supplied) and other concerned parties in this regard. [34276/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 496 together.
As a close EU partner, the Government has remained in contact with the French authorities throughout the period of the recent French military exercise. The exercise in question was due to take place from 21 to 24 June and on 27 June in an area of the Atlantic Ocean, off the French coast. The exercise area was relatively large, spanning approximately 250 nautical miles north to south and approximately 210 nautical miles east to west.
The full extent of the area that could potentially have been affected included a small piece of the southern extremity of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 200km southwest of our territorial waters. The French authorities confirmed to the Government that no French naval vessels would be within the Irish EEZ during the exercise.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was informed of the exercises via standard procedures and the Department of Transport issued a Marine Notice to this effect.
While not common, such exercises do on occasion occur in international waters, including in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Under international law, all States are entitled to freedom of navigation in another state’s EEZ, having “due regard to the rights and duties of the coastal state.” States are not legally obliged, in most cases, either to inform the coastal authorities of any proposed naval exercises, nor to seek permission.
It is not for my Department to lead on matters relating to marine biodiversity. However, I do recognise the negative impact that some naval exercises, including those that involve active military sonar, could potentially have on marine wildlife. This is an important factor in the consideration of such exercises. I remain open to engaging with fisheries and other groups in this regard.
387. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that he and his Department have taken to assist in re-establishing the Northern Ireland Executive following the Northern Ireland Assembly elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33792/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe institutions of power-sharing are at the centre of the Good Friday Agreement and it is paramount that those institutions are restored as soon as possible. It is for the parties now, and those representatives that have been elected by the people, to come together to establish an Executive, and the Irish Government will continue to work to support this vital goal.
I have remained in contact with the parties in Northern Ireland, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Assembly elections. I travelled to Belfast for meetings with the political parties on 11 May. I also spoke with the leader of the DUP Jeffrey Donaldson in the period immediately following the election. Furthermore, the Taoiseach travelled to Belfast on 20 May to meet with political parties and business leaders. In our discussions with the political parties during these visits, we discussed the importance of forming an Executive as soon as possible. I remain in regular contact with the parties in the period since those meetings.
It is disappointing that the parties have as of yet been unable to agree to elect a speaker for the Assembly or an Executive.
It is vital that nothing is done to undermine political stability in Northern Ireland, and that we work collectively in support of the institutions. In particular, the UK Government’s decision to table legislation to unilaterally dis-apply elements of the Protocol is disappointing and deeply concerning.
The protection of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions has always been our priority. A constructive and solution-focussed approach is needed from all concerned, and the Government has communicated that message clearly and strongly to the British Government. The clear majority of MLAs elected are supportive of the Protocol. Work on formation of the Executive and on application of the Protocol should both proceed in parallel.
The Government will continue to do all in its power to work together with the British Government to support the full functioning of the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. I hope, as we all do, that we will see those institutions up and running as soon as possible. This is the best way to ensure a peaceful and a prosperous future for all the people of Northern Ireland.
390. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport application will be processed for a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the application is with the Passport Office since the 26 April, and the Passport Office confirmed the witness signature three weeks ago; the reason that the application has been put on alert again; when the Passport Office will communicate the reason for same to the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33806/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service emailed the applicant’s parent on 07/06/2022 requesting further documents. This email was sent within the correct turnaround time. The Passport Service emailed the parent again on 22/06/2022 and advised as to the steps they must take to progress the application.
395. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33824/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps the applicant must take to progress their passport application.
The applicants children's passports are within the turnaround times and have not reached their estimated issue by date.
396. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the State boards that are under his remit; the details of each State board; the details of all the persons who are on each board, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33832/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no State boards under the remit of my Department.
398. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department's policy with regard to a passport application for a child (details supplied) in which one signatory is a biological parent and the other is a legal guardian; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33867/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to ensure consent of all guardians is obtained for applicants under the age of 18.
In cases where there are two guardians or more and one guardian is unwilling or unavailable to give their consent for the child’s passport to be issued, a court order dispensing with that parent’s consent must be submitted with the child’s passport application. Further details on consent for Children can be found on my Department's website.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent directly to advise as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.
