Tuesday, 5 Dec 2023

Written Answers Nos. 101-114

Departmental Advertising

Ceisteanna (101, 102, 103)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

101. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied). [53063/23]

Ged Nash

Ceist:

102. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form. [53064/23]

Ged Nash

Ceist:

103. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied). [53065/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together.

The Department of the Taoiseach’s ex Vat expenditure on the X (formerly Twitter); Meta (Facebook & Instagram); and Google platforms for paid advertisements placed in the years 2021 – 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below. The bulk of the expenditure relates to the dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remainder relates to campaigns to raise awareness of national weather events and public consultations relating to the Future of Media Commission and the Well-being Framework for Ireland.

The Department of the Taoiseach uses social media as one element of how it communicates public information in a way that is accessible and relevant to people. Working with a media buying company, the Department continues to keep all methods of communication under review with a view to maximising the accessibility and effectiveness of government communications.

	2021	2022	2023
Meta (Facebook/Instagram)	€200,215	€31,840	NIL
X (Twitter)	€55,558	€15,064	NIL
Google	€226	NIL	NIL

Question No. 102 answered with Question No. 101.

Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 101.

White Papers

Ceisteanna (104)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

104. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the titles of the White Papers published by his Department from 2008 to date; and if he will provide online links to these papers. [52988/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach has not published any White Papers in the period specified.

Departmental Consultations

Ceisteanna (105)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

105. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by his Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; and the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports. [53009/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

From 2011 to date in 2023, the Department of the Taoiseach has commissioned 10 reports, at a cost of €30,007, which have not been published externally. These reports relate to the Department's internal operations and relate to assessments covering Health and Safety, disability and ICT security.

Departmental Communications

Ceisteanna (106)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

106. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if his Department operates an X account (formerly Twitter) or any other social media account, and if such accounts are verified through a subscription fee; and the policy in place that guides when any of these accounts can ‘like’, endorse or support a posting on X or other social media platforms. [53663/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach manages a number of social media accounts (either as MerrionStreet.ie or as Government of Ireland) to provide news, updates and information to the public in a way that is accessible and relevant to them. The Department keeps all methods of communication under review with a view to maximising the accessibility and effectiveness of government communications.

The social media platforms on which the Department currently manages accounts are: X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn. The Department does not pay any subscription fee for these social media accounts.

In the main, the content of other Government Departments and Agencies is supported/liked/shared on the Department of the Taoiseach’s social media accounts. The social media policy for the accounts is published online at merrionstreet.ie/merrionstreet/en/merrion_street_social_media_policy.pdf.

Departmental Advertising

Ceisteanna (107)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

107. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach how much his Department has spent on advertising on a website (details supplied) for each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form; and whether his Department will still run advertisements on the platform going forward due to issues. [53808/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Department of the Taoiseach uses social media, including the X (formerly Twitter) platform, as one element of how it communicates public information in a way that is accessible and relevant to people. Working with a media buying company, the Department continues to keep all methods of communication under review with a view to maximising the accessibility and effectiveness of government communications.

The Department of the Taoiseach’s ex Vat expenditure for paid advertisements placed on the X platform in the years 2019 – 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below. The bulk of the expenditure relates to the dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Twitter/X expenditure (ex. VAT)	€450	€88,854	€55,558	€15,064	NIL

Consular Services

Ceisteanna (108)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of WTE staff by grade at the Irish embassies based in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jakarta; and if he will provide same figures as of 1 April 2022, in tabular form. [53217/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The number of civil servants of my Department that are working at the Embassies of Ireland in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jakarta at present and at 1st April 2022 are provided by grade in tabular form below.

Grade		Abu Dhabi		Riyadh		Jakarta
	Apr 2022	Nov 2023	April 2022	Nov 2023	Apr 2022	Nov 2023
Assistant Secretary		1
Counsellor	1		1	1	1	1
First Secretary	2	1	1	1
Third Secretary	1	1	1	1	1	1
Higher Executive Officer	1	1
Executive Officer						1
Total	5	4	3	3	2	3

Consular Services

Ceisteanna (109)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons that applied for the post of driver at the Irish Embassy based in Seoul. [53218/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Embassy of Ireland in Seoul is currently running a recruitment campaign for the role of Driver. As the process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

EU Programmes

Ceisteanna (110)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

110. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been informed of a proposal by the European Commission to establish a programme modelled on the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) scheme, to support the EU arms industry; if he intends to oppose the establishment of such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53236/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

This question does not fall under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and is more suited to Department of Defence who have provided the below response:

No proposal has been submitted by the European Commission to establish a programme modelled on the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Scheme. Rather, I can confirm a reference to the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) was contained in an Issues Paper provided to Member States as part of a wider consultation process informing the development of a European Defence Industry Strategy. The Strategy is expected to be released by the Commission in February 2024.

Should any such proposal be made in the future, Ireland will consider its response in light of the proposal’s objectives and contents in the context of any potential implications for Ireland and our Foreign and Security Policy.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (111, 114, 117)

James Lawless

Ceist:

111. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and 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. [53244/23]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person in County Galway (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing the said passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53298/23]

James Lawless

Ceist:

117. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53357/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 114 and 117 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Middle East

Ceisteanna (112)

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

112. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to intervene in the case of a person (details supplied); and if every support possible will be provided to them to assist with safe passage out of Gaza for their children [53263/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit of Irish citizens and accompanying dependents from Gaza that have expressed a wish to leave. To date 56 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to leave Gaza.

Clearance to exit from Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities. These authorities have made clear to all countries with citizens in Gaza that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them.

In line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, the remit of my Department is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. This has been our focus over the last seven weeks.

The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave, including people holding a visa for Ireland or others with ties to Ireland.

For Irish visa holders who do receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities, they may make arrangements to travel to Ireland.

Overseas Development Aid

Ceisteanna (113)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

113. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to what extent the commitment of €225 million in climate financing by 2030 overlaps with overseas development assistance; if climate financing will be a separate fund of money to overseas development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53273/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

International climate finance is an important priority for the Government. Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs led on a cross-governmental process to formulate Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap. The Roadmap sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million per year in international climate finance by 2025, a commitment made by the Taoiseach at COP26 in Glasgow. Meeting this commitment will represent a more than doubling of Ireland’s climate finance from our 2020 baseline of €88.3 million.  

The Roadmap builds on Ireland's positive record on climate finance, maintaining a focus on adaptation in some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. It also expands our focus in key areas including ocean protection, biodiversity, and Loss and Damage. 

The Roadmap asserts Ireland’s intention to achieve its climate finance commitments primarily through public sources of finance. The 2020 figure, as above, forms the baseline for which progress to the targets will be measured . As was the case prior to the publication of the Roadmap, Ireland’s international climate finance is recorded ex-post as Official Development Assistance (ODA) as defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). As such, Ireland’s climate finance is not separate to ODA. 

Over the past decade, Ireland has steadily increased its international climate finance. Preliminary figures show that in 2022, Ireland provided over €115 million in climate finance – our highest spend to date . This figure represents an increase of more than 100 percent in Ireland’s climate finance since 2015. As we scale up to meet the €225 million target, Ireland remains committed to the transparency and effectiveness of climate finance. Ireland monitors and reports climate finance in line with internationally agreed methodology, set by the OECD DAC.

Question No. 114 answered with Question No. 111.