Written Answers Nos. 724-743
725. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends increasing Irish Overseas Development Aid from 32% to 0.7% in equal increments over the next seven years in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42628/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to achieving the UN Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% of GNI by 2030, as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development policy and, also, in the Programme for Government.
Continued and steady increases in ODA allocations year-on-year are required to enable the 2030 target to be achieved. In Budget 2022, the Government allocated €1.044 billion to Official Development Assistance. This is a 20% increase on the 2021 allocation, and the highest ever amount allocated to ODA by any Government. In the context of competing budgetary pressures, achieving this amount was an important statement by the Government of Ireland's solidarity with the developing world.
Ireland's development programme has a strong global reputation. This reputation was confirmed by OECD in its 2020 Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance. The need to continue to increase Ireland's allocation to ODA in GNI percentage terms must be balanced against the need to responsibly manage the large cash increases required, such that the quality of Ireland's programme is maintained. The increase for 2022, for example, is €176 million or 20.3% of overall ODA - a huge increase in real terms - and my Department has responded through improved monitoring systems, strengthened inter-Departmental coordination on international development issues, and through continuing engagement with international partners.
726. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when foreign birth registrations will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42638/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
Supporting documentation for the applications to which the Deputy has referred was received on 16 September 2020, and are due to be processed in the near future. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicants in this regard.
727. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures he will be implementing under Budget 23 to increase overseas aid to reach the target of 0.7% of GNI in overseas aid in line with commitments in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42667/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to achieving the UN Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% of GNI by 2030, as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development policy and, also, in the Programme for Government.
Continued and steady increases in ODA allocations year-on-year are required to enable the 2030 target to be achieved. In Budget 2022, the Government allocated €1.044 billion to Official Development Assistance. This is a 20% increase on the 2021 allocation, and the highest ever amount allocated to ODA by any Government. In the context of competing budgetary pressures, achieving this amount was an important statement by the Government of Ireland's solidarity with the developing world.
Ireland's development programme has a strong global reputation. This reputation was confirmed by OECD in its 2020 Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance. The need to continue to increase Ireland's allocation to ODA in GNI percentage terms must be balanced against the need to responsibly manage the large cash increases required, such that the quality of Ireland's programme is maintained. The increase for 2022, for example, is €176 million or 20.3% of overall ODA - a huge increase in real terms - and my Department has responded through improved monitoring systems, strengthened inter-Departmental coordination on international development issues, and through continuing engagement with international partners.
728. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason that capital spending under his vote group is -76.6% to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42698/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs has a capital allocation of €25m in 2022. This allocation is split across the two votes, Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). The capital allocation is primarily allocated for property projects, ICT infrastructure (including the passport service) and motor vehicles. Capital projects follow a detailed procurement processes and achieve specific completion targets in order for payments to be processed. The pattern and frequency of such payments can be difficult to predict due to the complexity of capital projects. This can be more difficult across the various global jurisdictions that the Department operates. Some projects are also multi-annual projects and these have payments spread across a number of years as key milestones are achieved. The Department continually monitors capital expenditure and the related expenditure flows on an ongoing basis. The Department anticipates that the majority of the capital budget allocation will be spent before year end.
733. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to total number of United States military aircraft landings at Shannon Airport in each of the years from 1998 to 2021 and date in 2022, in tabular form. [42792/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra734. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of United States military aircraft overflights that were granted in each of the years from 1998 to 2021 and date in 2022, in tabular form. [42793/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra777. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of permissions granted for overflights by foreign military aircraft in Irish airspace granted in each of the years 1998 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44195/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 733, 734 and 777 together.
The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland and in Irish airspace. The Order provides that no foreign military aircraft shall fly over, or land in, the State without the express invitation or permission of the Minister. It further provides that the aircraft shall comply with such stipulations as the Minister may make.
Requests for permission for foreign military aircraft to land in or overfly Ireland are routinely required to include confirmation that the aircraft meets specific criteria – namely, that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; and that it will not engage in intelligence gathering. Furthermore, applications must also specify that the flights do not form part of a military exercise or operation. These conditions are applied to ensure compatibility with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. Set out in tabular form are details of permissions granted for overflights by all foreign military aircraft in Irish airspace from 2013 to 2022.
In the case of US military aircraft, under the terms of a specific arrangement dating from 1959, overflights are permitted without prior notification on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry only cargo and passengers, and comply with navigational requirements. If a proposed US military overflight does not meet these criteria, advance permission must be requested. The US Embassy submits post-facto notifications of military aircraft overflights to the Department of Foreign Affairs on a monthly basis. Accordingly, the overflight figures for US in the tables below are the total of post-facto notifications of overflights and advance permissions for overflights and landings from 2013 to 2022.
Records prior to 2013 exist, however, consolidated information in tabular form on overflights and landings is not available at the present time. My Department is currently working to analyse these records and will make every effort to disclose these historic statistics where and when possible. We are committed to the highest standards of transparency and I would note in this regard that we are not only working to compile historic data, but have begun proactively publishing information on all overflights and landings on the Department’s website.
|
- |
Total Number of Overflights and Landings of Foreign Military Aircraft |
Total Number of Overflights and Landings of United States Military Aircraft |
||
|
Year |
Overflights |
Landings |
Overflights |
Landings at Shannon |
|
2013 |
1686 |
646 |
1322 |
471 |
|
2014 |
1295 |
802 |
904 |
695 |
|
2015 |
864 |
696 |
513 |
588 |
|
2016 |
1754 |
746 |
1427 |
592 |
|
2017 |
1749 |
515 |
1420 |
402 |
|
2018 |
1055 |
506 |
724 |
384 |
|
2019 |
1074 |
612 |
734 |
475 |
|
2020 |
702 |
421 |
488 |
341 |
|
2021 |
833 |
402 |
525 |
285 |
|
2022* |
665 |
355 |
395 |
250 |
*The 2022 records cover January through August.
735. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the totality of grant-aid and or subsidy provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 (details supplied). [42828/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of funding allocated by my Department to each Local Authority from 1 January 2019 to date are set out in the table below.
|
|
Local Authority |
Grant Heading |
Budget € |
Fund |
|
2019 |
Cork City |
Africa Day 2019 |
€15,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Fingal |
Africa Day 2019 |
€11,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Galway |
Africa Day 2019 |
€11,300 |
Communications |
|
|
Kildare |
Africa Day 2019 |
€6,670 |
Communications |
|
|
Laois |
Africa Day 2019 |
€10,871 |
Communications |
|
|
Limerick |
Africa Day 2019 |
€13,650 |
Communications |
|
|
Meath |
Africa Day 2019 |
€14,900 |
Communications |
|
|
South Dublin |
Africa Day 2019 |
€6,800 |
Communications |
|
|
Waterford |
Africa Day 2019 |
€14,800 |
Communications |
|
|
Wexford |
Africa Day 2019 |
€3,400 |
Communications |
|
|
Cavan County Museum |
Audio Equipment to enhance Cavan County Museum's Outdoor Exhibitions. |
€15,000 |
Reconciliation Fund |
|
2021 |
Failte Ireland |
Global Irish Festival Series – Diaspora focused tourism programme delivered by local authorities, Donegal, Kerry, Limerick & Mayo. |
€40,000 |
Diaspora |
|
|
Clare |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Cork |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Fingal |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Galway |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,852 |
Communications |
|
|
Galway |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Kerry |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Laois |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,624 |
Communications |
|
|
Longford |
Africa Day 2021 |
€695 |
Communications |
|
|
Limerick |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Mayo |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Meath |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Monaghan |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,850 |
Communications |
|
|
Roscommon |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,256 |
Communications |
|
|
Tipperary |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,600 |
Communications |
|
|
Waterford |
Africa Day 2021 |
€2,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Westmeath |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,876 |
Communications |
|
|
Wicklow |
Africa Day 2021 |
€1,383 |
Communications |
|
|
Monaghan County Museum |
Border Communities, Minorities and Partition Conference |
€14,668 |
Reconciliation Fund |
|
2022 |
Carlow |
Africa Day 2022 |
€5,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Cavan |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Clare |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,309 |
Communications |
|
|
Cork |
Africa Day 2022 |
€14,644 |
Communications |
|
|
Cork |
Africa Day 2022 |
€4,533 |
Communications |
|
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Donegal |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Dublin City |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Fingal County |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Galway City |
Africa Day 2022 |
€9,000 |
Communications |
|
|
Galway |
Africa Day 2022 |
€5,700 |
Communications |
|
|
Kerry |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,491 |
Communications |
|
|
Kildare |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Laois |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,365 |
Communications |
|
|
Leitrim |
Africa Day 2022 |
€4,568 |
Communications |
|
|
Limerick |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Longford |
Africa Day 2022 |
€4,583 |
Communications |
|
|
Louth |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Mayo |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Meath |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Monaghan |
Africa Day 2022 |
€5,389 |
Communications |
|
|
Offaly |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,500 |
Communications |
|
|
Roscommon |
Africa Day 2022 |
€622 |
Communications |
|
|
South Dublin |
Africa Day 2022 |
€6,967 |
Communications |
|
|
Sligo |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Tipperary |
Africa Day 2022 |
€7,485 |
Communications |
|
|
Waterford City |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Westmeath |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Wexford |
Africa Day 2022 |
€3,750 |
Communications |
|
|
Wicklow |
Africa Day 2022 |
€6,365 |
Communications |
|
|
Failte Ireland |
Global Irish Festival Series – Diaspora focused tourism programme delivered by local authorities, Donegal, Kerry, Limerick & Mayo. |
€100,000 |
Diaspora |
736. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons who have travelled from Ireland to fight in Ukraine since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2020; the number who have died; the number who remain in active combat there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not maintain data on the number of Irish citizens who may have travelled to fight in Ukraine since 24 February this year or who may currently be in active combat there, and has not received any confirmed reports of such citizens who may have died.
The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against all travel to Ukraine, for any purpose. Irish citizens in Ukraine should leave if safe to do so. The situation remains extremely dangerous across all of Ukraine. Any citizen requiring consular assistance in Ukraine should contact our Embassy in Kyiv, noting that our capacity to provide consular assistance is extremely limited.
We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ukraine very closely, together with our EU and other international partners.
737. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a statement by the European Union Vice President High Representative for Foreign Affairs (details supplied); his views on whether it is a European Union competence to change the State's foreign policy, particularly regarding the declaration of war; his views on whether the statement reflects an agreement to which the Government has given its assent in the Council of Europe; the action that he will take at European Union level to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42850/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTogether with our EU partners, Ireland has been resolute in our response to Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and morally reprehensible war against Ukraine. The EU has repeatedly demonstrated its strong and unwavering support for Ukraine, including in relation to sanctions against Russia and the provision of military assistance.
We have consistently underlined that Ireland is militarily neutral but is not politically neutral in the face of Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. Our own focus has been on easing the plight of the Ukrainian people, providing for the many Ukrainian refugees who are seeking protection in Ireland and holding the Russian leadership to account.
At the same time, it is important to underline that the EU is not a party to the conflict and neither is Ireland. Moreover, security and defence remain predominantly Member State competences and Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is well understood by EU partners and codified in the Protocol attached to the Lisbon Treaty.
740. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will condemn Israel’s military raids on the offices of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as an internationally wrongful act; if he will summon the Israeli Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request that the Israeli military commander in the occupied West Bank be ordered to lift the closure order on offices of the Palestinian human rights organisations; if he will request the Israeli Minister of Defence to immediately rescind the terrorist designation on Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42905/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra741. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding recent reports of a raid on the offices of several Palestinian human rights organisations by the Israeli army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42909/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra743. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42924/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the Israeli army raid on the offices of several Palestinian human rights organisations in Ramallah (details supplied); if he will publicly condemn Israel’s military raids on the offices of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as an internationally wrongful act in an official statement; if he will summon the Israeli Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request that the Israeli military commander in the occupied West Bank be ordered to lift the closure order on offices of the Palestinian human rights organisations; and if he will request that the Israeli Minister of Defence immediately rescind the terrorist designation on Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations. [42973/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra747. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will summon the Israeli Ambassador and request that the Israeli Minister of Defence rescind the terrorist designation on Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43126/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra773. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent raids by the Israeli military on the offices of Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations; if he agrees that these organisations are not engaged in terrorist activities; if he will raise these concerns with the Israeli authorities at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council and at the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44015/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra774. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a public statement calling on Israel to rescind the terrorism designation made without evidence against Palestinian human rights organisations and demand that Israel desists from any further action which would threaten the work of these organisations, including raiding their offices, arresting their staff or preventing them going about their legitimate work, or interdicting finances given Ireland’s condemnation of Israel’s night-time raid on Palestinian human rights organisations on 18 August 2022 and Ireland’s support for a vibrant and independent Palestinian civil society, and taking into account that Israel is likely planning further raids on these organisations as they return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44156/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 741, 743, 745, 747, 773 and 774 together.
The Israeli raids of six Palestinian NGOs that took place on 18 August are a matter of serious concern.
Ireland, along with several other partners providing support to the organisations, has made its views clearly known to Israel. In this respect, I would draw the attention of the Deputies to the joint statement of Ireland and the Foreign Ministries Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden of 19 August, labelling these actions as unacceptable, expressing concern at the further reduction of civil space in the oPt and standing firm with NGOs to uphold the right to freedom of expression and association in the oPt.
The statement recalled the position expressed by the same group of countries in July of this year, noting that no substantial information had been received from the Israeli authorities that would justify these designations. Ireland will continue to support these organisations in the absence of such evidence.
Ireland maintains ongoing engagement with the group of NGOs. The Irish Representative Office in Ramallah met with the affected organisations in recent weeks, including as part of a larger group of EU and other states. Ireland’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv took part in a meeting with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the EU Delegation and 16 other European states, to express concern.
Ireland is also prioritising this issue in the context of the UN Security Council, regularly raising the matter at the monthly meetings of the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. At the most recent meeting on 25 August, Ireland reiterated the unacceptability of these raids and supported UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's call on Israel to revoke the designations.
I also strongly underlined Ireland’s position on these designations to the Israeli Government in person during my most recent visit to the region.
Civil Society Organisations and human rights defenders play a critical role in promoting international law, peace, human rights and democratic values. Ireland will continue to support such efforts bilaterally and at EU and UN level.
742. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [42920/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.
