Written Answers Nos. 337-356
337. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8240/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs recognises fully the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.
The Department makes provision to provide Irish Sign Language Interpreters to assist employees who are deaf when this is required.
Additionally, the Passport Service has two members of staff who can provide Irish Sign Language interpretation for members of the public when availing of its services. A member of the public who may require the assistance of an Irish Sign Language Interpreter while interacting with the Passport Service can indicate this when booking their appointment online and the members of staff will be made available to interpret and assist during their appointment.
338. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the position of an Irish citizen (details supplied) detained in Iran; and the efforts being undertaken to secure their release. [8257/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels.
I emphasised our deep concerns and reiterated the urgent importance of the citizen's release from prison on humanitarian grounds in my recent direct contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and with the Ambassador of Iran to Ireland.
My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen and his family, and is liaising closely with the Government of France in the context of his dual nationality.
As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.
339. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current situation regarding the detention of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Iran; if further contact has been made with the Iranian Foreign Minister for the citizen’s release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8296/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels.
I emphasised our deep concerns and reiterated the urgent importance of the citizen's release from prison on humanitarian grounds in my recent direct contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and with the Ambassador of Iran to Ireland.
My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen and his family, and is liaising closely with the Government of France in the context of his dual nationality.
As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.
340. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Irish ambassador to Australia has visited any military barracks in Australia on official business in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023; and if so, the name of the military barracks, in tabular form. [8352/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Ambassador to Australia has not visited any military barracks in Australia on official business in the years 2022 nor to date in 2023.
341. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to visit the United Arab Emirates within the first half of 2023. [8353/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland and the United Arab Emirates enjoy warm diplomatic relations, and our diaspora has a strong presence in the country. We continue to engage with the United Arab Emirates on a regular basis through our diplomatic channels and also through ministerial visits.
In January of this year, Minister of State Dara Calleary led the participation of Irish companies in the Arab Health expo in Dubai and had meetings with Minister of the Future Al Roumi, and Minister of Economy Al Marri.
In March, it is planned that Minister of State Josepha Madigan will travel to the UAE for St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
I do not currently have plans to travel to the United Arab Emirates in the first half of this year.
342. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign births register application by a person (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8374/23]
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 in 2022.
During 2022, my Department implemented a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications on hand, with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these applications. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, have had a positive impact on the waiting time for applicants. The current waiting time for FBR applications is 10 months from receipt of supporting documents, down from over 2 years in September 2022.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.
343. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the recent imprisonment of a person (details supplied) who has been sentenced to 26 years in prison by the dictatorial government of Nicaragua; if he will use his office to have the matter raised at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8393/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain gravely concerned by the situation in Nicaragua. The continued human rights violations, crackdowns on opposition voices, on civil society and on independent media, together with backsliding on democratic norms, are unacceptable.
Ireland and the EU have used all channels of engagement available to call on the Nicaraguan authorities to put an end to repression and to restore full respect for human rights in Nicaragua. This would include the return of international human rights bodies and NGOs to Nicaragua, as well as the ending of political persecution and the imprisonment of political opponents.
While Ireland and the EU welcomed the recent release of political prisoners from Nicaragua, we have also noted that they should never have been detained: Ireland and the EU have condemned the decision to strip them of their Nicaraguan citizenship and of their civil and political rights. We have stated that this release must now be followed by dialogue and further actions on the part of the Nicaraguan authorities.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I and my Department, including through the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico and together with EU Member States and the External Action Service, are closely monitoring the detention of the individual under reference and continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all other remaining political prisoners. This forms part of our continued work to support the people of Nicaragua however possible, through our engagement in Dublin, at EU level, and on the ground.
344. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made to support a person (details supplied) who has been imprisoned in Iran since 3 October 2022 to return to Ireland.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8466/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels.
I emphasised our deep concerns and reiterated the urgent importance of the citizen's release from prison on humanitarian grounds in my recent direct contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and with the Ambassador of Iran to Ireland.
My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen and his family, and is liaising closely with the Government of France in the context of his dual nationality.
As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.
345. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8498/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland responded rapidly to the devastating earthquake which hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February. That day, we allocated €2 million in emergency assistance for the people of the region. On 13 February I announced further allocation of €8 million, bringing the total direct Irish response to the earthquake to €10 million.
This response will focus on the provision of cash assistance, emergency non-food items and shelter. Funds will be allocated to our funding partners: the United Nations Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Irish Non-Governmental Organisations working on the ground. The response will also include Ireland’s largest ever deployment of emergency stocks under the Rapid Response Initiative, consisting of blankets, tents, solar lamps, hygiene kits, kitchen sets and emergency shelter kits distributed in coordination with Concern, Goal and local partners.
The primary restriction on the provision of aid in Syria is the restriction imposed by the Assad regime. This predates the earthquake, but was and remains a significant challenge to providing humanitarian assistance.
During Ireland's term on the Security Council from 2021-2022, as co-penholder on the Syria humanitarian file alongside Norway, we led negotiations on the renewal of the vital Syria Humanitarian cross-border resolution. This ensured the provision of life-saving assistance to the 4.1 million people in need in Northwest Syria through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Türkiye-Syria border. In the final days of our term, we worked alongside the incoming penholders, Switzerland and Brazil, to achieve a further extension of the mandate until 10 July 2023.
EU sanctions are targeted and specific, and are developed to minimise any adverse consequences for those not targeted by the measures. In particular, EU sanctions are designed not to impact on civilian populations or humanitarian activity. The EU Syria Sanctions Regime includes a number of exceptions so that humanitarian activity is not impeded.
We acknowledge, however, that sometimes sanctions can have unintended consequences, including on aid delivery. This is often because of derisking, where banks and other service providers take a risk-averse approach, and refuse to do business with organisations operating in contexts where there are sanctions in place. In the final months of our term on the Security Council, Ireland and the US led on the adoption of a resolution to introduce humanitarian exemptions across all UN sanctions regimes. This carve-out provides certainty to humanitarian operators that their activities are exempted from the scope of sanctions, and assurance to service providers that they can facilitate humanitarian action without risk.
Ireland has advocated strongly for the extension of this humanitarian carve-out to the EU Syria Sanctions Regime. It would provide valuable further assurance to legitimate humanitarian operators, and mitigate derisking by banks. This proposal is being progressed quickly at EU Council working group level, and will move to COREPER, the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives soon.
We will continue to work with the EU, UN and our trusted partners to ensure the smooth delivery of aid to those affected by the earthquake in Syria.
346. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a schedule of NGOs that he and bodies under the aegis of his Department suspended funding and-or grant aid to due to their failure to file accounts and-or concerns that arose in respect of their governance in the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and the amount of funding per NGO that was suspended. [8656/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs provides significant grant funding to a diverse range of groups and organisations. These include large multilateral organisations addressing global challenges, Non-Governmental Organisations delivering critical development programmes and humanitarian assistance, research institutions generating evidence-based research to inform policy, and community-based organisations supporting peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and delivering services to vulnerable groups and the diaspora.
Many of the Non-Governmental Organisations in receipt of such funding are Irish, and are registered with the Charities Regulatory Authority. The Department has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Regulator to provide a framework for the sharing of relevant information.
The Department expects the highest standards of governance and accountability from organisations in receipt of grants, in line with the Department of Public Expenditure requirements for organisations in receipt of Exchequer funding. It reserves the right to reduce grants, stop transfers prematurely or withhold future payments if contractual obligations are not met, if it emerges that the funds are not being used or have not been used for the purposes for which they have been made available or where instances of fraud or corrupt practices are suspected or have been found to have occurred.
In the period between January 2019 and February 2023, the Department suspended funding to two organisations due to concerns over their governance. The details of one of these cases are set out in the table below. I am not in a position to provide information on the other case at this time as the organisation in question is currently the subject of a Garda investigation.
|
Year |
NGO |
Amount of funding suspended |
Reason |
|
2019 |
Childfund Ireland |
€170,000 |
ChildFund Ireland received a grant of €250,000 in 2018. Subsequently, governance concerns with the organisation were identified and the Department instructed the organisation to stop expenditure of the grant. The Department was satisfied that the expenditure of €80,000 which had already occurred was spent appropriately. However, the Department was no longer satisfied to continue the partnership with ChildFund Ireland and a refund of €170,000 was sought from the organisation. This was received by the Department in December 2019. |
347. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department and all agencies under the remit of his Department in 2022 and in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8686/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns for the promotion of Ireland around the world, and in cases where there is a need to bring important information to the attention of citizens.Some examples of these campaigns include: the Online Passport Renewals Service, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign, public information on travel restrictions due to COVID-19, and the Global Ireland initiative, which promotes Ireland as a good country in which to invest, study, visit, and trade with.An overview of advertising and public awareness campaign spending on an annual basis is laid out in the table below.
|
2022: €779,195.71 |
|
January 2023: €0 |
348. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of communications staff currently employed in his Department; the cost of these staff for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8705/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe nature of the core work of the Department of Foreign Affairs is such that almost all staff engage in public-facing communication – be it our diplomats representing Ireland abroad or DFA staff providing essential passport or consular services to Irish citizens. Communication takes place in a variety of ways: through traditional press and media outlets, through external engagements by Ministers and officers of the Department and through the proactive publication of information, policy positions and messages through electronic internet and social media. Values of openness, accountability and transparency provide the guiding principles for this work in order to ensure that the public is fully informed about the efforts being undertaken by the Department to represent Ireland’s interest abroad and respond to the needs of Irish citizens who travel overseas.
A dedicated Communications Unit staffed by civil servants has been in place for a number of years to support the effective communication of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ work to external audiences at home and abroad.
During 2022, twenty four civil servants worked in the Unit. There are currently twenty two staff (22 FTE) working in this unit. When two vacancies at Clerical Officer level are filled it will bring the staffing numbers back to twenty-four staff (24 FTE).
The current composition of staff in the unit is as outlined in the table below with all staff paid in accordance with civil service salary scales and relevant public service pay agreements.
|
Unit Director |
Press Relations |
Internal Communications |
Public Diplomacy & Content |
Multimedia & Digital |
|
|
Counsellor/Principal Officer |
1 |
||||
|
Assistant Principal/First Secretary |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Higher Executive Officer/Third Secretary |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Executive Officer |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
349. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the supports that his Department has provided for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people since February 2022, whether in Ukraine or within the State; the number of people supported, where relevant; the estimated cost and value of the support where available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8867/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has been supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people both bilaterally and through the EU budget since Russia's full-scale invasion was launched on 24 February 2022. Ireland’s support has been directed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of the invasion, as well as supporting the Ukrainian government, public services and economy.
Ireland was among the first to respond to the crisis in Ukraine with humanitarian assistance. Irish Aid provided €20 million in support in the first weeks of the conflict, disbursed through UN agencies, the Red Cross movement and Irish NGOs. From this package €1 million has been earmarked for UNHCR’s response to refugees in Poland and Moldova respectively. €2 million is supporting the response of Irish-based NGOs in partnership with local civil society while another €1.5 million was granted to UNFPA who are focusing on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including maternal and newborn health; and protection from gender-based violence, predominantly for women and girls and the most vulnerable. In addition, 5 members of the Rapid Response Register were also deployed to support the efforts of UN agencies in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
In December 2022, my Department made a further contribution of €25 million. Of this, €20 million was disbursed through the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This funding supports the Ukrainian government to provide essential public services, including pensions, social assistance grants, health service delivery through hospitals and clinics and wages to State Emergency Service staff. €4 million was provided to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Small Business Impact Fund. Ireland’s contribution will be allocated to SMEs in Ukraine who are playing a vital role in maintaining economic activity under extreme extraordinary circumstances. €1 million was provided to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Ukraine Solidarity Fund. The Fund addresses social needs created by the war, such as emergency assistance, resettlement and integration of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Ireland has also committed €77 million in support for Ukraine's armed forces under the European Peace Facility. In line with the Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution is directly solely towards non-lethal assistance and is used to help supply items such as medical equipment, food, personal protective equipment and fuel.
Ireland has provided medical assistance and supplies including ambulances, 4,000 blood bags, 10,000 bio-protection suits and 50,000 medical protection masks, in addition to spare parts to repair gas and electricity infrastructure, delivered via the EU’s civil protection mechanism and civil society partners. The estimated value of these in-kind donations is €4.4million.
Ireland also contributes to the crisis in Ukraine through our core funding to key humanitarian partners and joint mechanisms such as WHO, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC, WFP and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). To date, the CERF has allocated €60 million to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Ireland was the 9th largest donor to the CERF in 2022.
In terms of support within the State, the Department of Justice began granting Temporary Protection to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine on 9 March 2022. To date some 75,000 people have been given Temporary Protection in Ireland.
350. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of discrimination cases taken and won against his Department over the past ten years, under each of the grounds as applicable, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8889/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of any discrimination cases being taken and won on any of the protected grounds over the last ten years.
351. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8235/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Sign Language Act, 2017, recognises Irish Sign Language (ISL) as a native language of the State and provides that the “community of persons using ISL shall have the right to use, develop and preserve Irish Sign Language”.
My Department is committed to meeting the requirements of the Act to do all that is reasonable to ensure free ISL translation services for ISL users when that person is seeking to avail of or access statutory entitlements or services provided by or under Statute. It should be noted that my Department does not operate any public offices, nor does it generally supply direct services to the public.
The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board which is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members. The Secretary to the Board is provided from the staff of my Department and therefore, any service requests will be supplied by my Department.
My Department has appointed a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO). The Disability Liaison Officer acts as the point of contact for colleagues with disabilities and provides assistance and support by providing information, appropriate contacts, guidance, suggestions, and advice. They are also available to facilitate members of the public in availing of services offered by my Department when required.
My Department will continue to engage with the National Disability Authority (NDA) and will uphold its responsibility to report on performance, and ensure public bodies under its aegis are also accountable.
352. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service will be launched before the end of Q1, 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8267/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the military authorities that it is intended to launch cadetship competitions, supported by a specific media campaign, for all three services of the Defence Forces before the end of Q1, 2023.
353. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount the State Claims Agency has paid out in compensation in mass action, relating to contamination and-or poisoning, life-changing injury and death of personnel in the Defence Forces claims in the past ten years to date; and the number of claims the payments concern over that same timeframe, in tabular form. [8309/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra354. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount paid out in third party legal costs relating to contamination and-or poisoning, life-changing injury and death to personnel in the Defence Forces claims in the past ten years to date; the number of cases that the third-party costs relate to; and the amount that each of the top five named legal firms received in over that same time period, in tabular form. [8310/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra355. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount paid out in first party legal costs relating to relating to contamination and-or poisoning, life-changing injury and death to personnel in the Defence Forces claims in the past ten years to date; the number of cases that the third-party costs relate to; and the amount that each of the top five named legal firms received in over that same time period, in tabular form. [8311/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 353, 354 and 355 together.
The questions raised by the Deputy could not be answered in the time allowed. The information required to provide an answer to the questions is not held by the Department.
The Deputy will be aware that all claims for personal injuries taken by current and former members of the Defence Forces have been delegated to the State Claims Agency (SCA), who manages these claims on behalf of the Minister for Defence.
The Department has engaged with the SCA in respect of your questions 8309/23, 8310/23 & 8311/23 and I will revert to the Deputy with further information in due course.
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 353.
Question No. 355 answered with Question No. 353.
356. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his counterparts he has spoken to since his appointment as Minister for Defence, in tabular form. [8357/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have corresponded with a number of my Defence counterparts and I look forward to engaging with them in-person, both bilaterally and in the format of the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers format.
In early March, I will attend an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Stockholm, which will be an opportunity to engage with colleagues, both bilaterally and collectively, on a range of important issues relating to security and defence policy in Europe, especially coming so soon after the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the agenda for the March informal has not yet been confirmed, it seems safe to assume that the discussions will be dominated by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the international community's response, particularly that of the European Union.
One could also imagine that such issues as the utilisation of the European Peace Facility, the European Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM) and the progress made to date on the implementation of the Strategic Compass will also be on the Ministers' agenda. Indeed, a number of these issues featured on the agenda of EU Defence Policy Directors which took place in Stockholm recently.
In addition to the informal meeting in March, EU Defence Ministers can ordinarily be expected to meet on four occasions annually - two informal meetings hosted by the respective presidencies and two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers' format in Brussels, one in each half of the year.
I also intend to take such opportunities as I can to meet my defence colleagues bilaterally, whether in the course of bilateral visits or in the margins of ministerial meetings. Ireland is determined to continue playing a full part in the evolution of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and, given particular interests and concerns we have, it is important that Ireland's position is well understood and I regard bilateral engagements as a key element in ensuring that this is the case.
