To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the funding in the capital budget 2018 earmarked for metro north; the way in which these funds will be spent in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Thomas P. Broughan T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24 October, 2017. * To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the status of plans to construct metro north; if the €2.4 billion in funding will be allocated in the upcoming mid term capital review; if a public private partnership model will be used; the expected timeframe for planning and construction respectively to commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien T.D. For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24 October, 2017. REPLY The Capital Plan, Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021, was published in September 2015 and set out the Government’s budgetary framework for public capital investment in Ireland over the period 2016-2021. The Capital plan confirmed a €9.6 billion capital envelope for transport over seven years and provided funding of over €700 million for planning, design and to begin construction of new Metro North. Following the mid-term review of the Capital Plan, the Government’s recently announced allocation of additional capital expenditure in Budget 2018 and a 4-year capital envelope over the period 2018-2021 confirms progress of Metro North by the National Transport Authority (NTA); construction work on this project will start in 2021, with passenger services starting in 2027. The NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have commenced preparatory work on the planning and design of new Metro North and a dedicated project Steering Group has been established which is meeting on a regular basis. The NTA, in collaboration with TII, is undertaking an option analysis and selection study of possible metro alignments and station locations. Arising from this work a final route and station configuration will be established. It is my understanding that the NTA and TII expect that this process will be complete by the end of 2017, after which a public consultation process will be undertaken in 2018. The 10-year National Investment Plan to be published in the coming months will include the funding for the period to complete this significant addition to public transport. I understand that the outcome of the current review of the proposed future role of Public Private Partnerships will be included as part of the National Investment Plan. Question No. 172 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions being taken at national, EU and international level to protect the Yazidi people in northern Iraq; the supports that are being given to the Iraqi government to help it safeguard the Yazidis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 45048/17 Proof: 206 REPLY I am appalled by the violence which Daesh have inflicted in Iraq and Syria, and the tragic suffering which their extremist and violent actions have brought on innocent people, including the Yazidi community. Ireland has consistently called for inclusive, democratic solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region. In the Iraqi context, we have emphasised that the security effort must be accompanied by the implementation of the programme for national reconciliation set out by Prime Minister Abadi in late 2014 to avoid further sectarian divisions. The June EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on Iraq reiterated the EU’s firm and active commitment to the preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-confessional nature of Iraqi society, including the protection of its minority groups, and called for an inclusive process of reconciliation both at the national and at the local level. Ireland fully supports these conclusions. Since 2015, €350 million has been dedicated by the EU to provide emergency assistance in response to the humanitarian consequences of the current conflict in Iraq. Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €8.36 million in bilateral humanitarian assistance to Iraq and has also deployed four members of its Rapid Response Corps to Iraq to provide surge capacity to UN organisations working to respond to the humanitarian crisis. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. Ireland consistently raises the issues of racism and intolerance and advocates for inclusive societies at the UN Human Rights Council, during the Council’s Universal Periodic Review of the human rights records of UN Member States, as well as at the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The promotion of inclusive societies where the human rights of all individuals are respected is a core objective of our engagement on issues such as the promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. I would like to put on record my absolute and unreserved condemnation of the brutal atrocities committed against the Yazidis and other religious minorities in Iraq by terrorist groups including Da’esh. QUESTION REPLY Question No. 162 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the comments made by Secretary of State Brokenshire at the House of Commons Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs regarding UK intervention post 30 October 2017 in Northern Ireland due to the lack of progress on the Northern Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Micheál Martin. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44746/17 Question No. 166 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the political situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44888/17 REPLY I propose to take questions 162 and 166 together. The Government is determined, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to do everything in our power to ensure that all of its institutions are operating effectively, including the devolved Assembly and power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland and the North-South Ministerial Council. I remain in continuing and direct contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, and the political parties in Belfast as both Governments continue intensive work to support and encourage the parties in achieving the urgent and essential objective of forming a new Executive within the mandate of the current Assembly. There has been sustained engagement between the DUP and Sinn Féin over the last number of weeks in order to resolve key differences which have proved an obstacle to them forming a new Executive, and both parties are continuing these discussions. As the two parties mandated to lead the next Executive, it is for them in the first instance to establish a basis on which a new administration can work. I have continued to encourage the parties to stretch themselves to reach an agreement which is consistent with their electoral mandates and which reflects the principles of mutual respect, parity of esteem and partnership. I do not underestimate the differences that remain to be resolved in order for such an agreement to be reached. However, I believe that these can be resolved within the timeframe set out by the Secretary of State last week. Time is now a very real factor, with budgetary and other necessary decisions looming in relation to the provision of public services in Northern Ireland. These need to be addressed by effective and sustainable devolved government in Northern Ireland, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement. The Government’s focus remains firmly on the restoration of the Executive. The essential work of the North South Ministerial Council also needs to urgently recommence, not least in the context of Brexit. I am hopeful that the political parties will urgently and successfully conclude their discussions which will allow the Executive and Assembly, and indeed all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, to function effectively. On behalf of the Government, I will continue to make all possible efforts, working with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties, to support an agreement on the formation of a new power-sharing Executive in the immediate period ahead. Question No. 168
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent efforts at government, EU and international level to bring about a two state solution between Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44890/17 REPLY Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Middle East conflict. This support includes political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace, but also action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement activity, which are progressively endangering the prospects of such a peace agreement. Ireland has been an advocate of EU measures which distinguish between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory such as the territorial clause in the EU-Israel research agreement and the guidelines on the labelling of products originating from the settlements. The initiative led by France, which culminated at the Paris Conference in January this year, and which the Government fully supported, restated international support for the two state solution but was unable to achieve international agreement on how to revive the political process to reach that objective. In recent months the new United States administration has been actively exploring the possibilities for re-launching the process to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. This engagement is very welcome, and I have met myself with the US team to encourage their work and to underline to them the key parameters for an agreement which the EU has long espoused. In recent discussions with my EU colleagues, I have urged that the EU must both strongly support the US initiative, but also continue our own work on the ground to help preserve and create the political and physical space in which the two state solution can be achieved. I am actively exploring with EU colleagues how this can best be done. Question No. 165 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the government is taking along with the international community to de-escalate tension between the United States and North Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44887/17 REPLY The situation on the Korean Peninsula is a matter of grave concern to the government. The latest actions taken by North Korea, particularly the nuclear test on 3 September, are a major challenge to international efforts to advance global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. This has been a longstanding goal of Ireland’s foreign policy. Our leadership on this critical global issue was given most recent expression when Ireland co-chaired the 31st Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Plenary Meeting in Dublin last week. The deeply worrying developments in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes present a real threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, the entire North East Asia region, and indeed beyond. Such actions represent a flagrant and provocative violation of North Korea’s international obligations not to conduct such tests. I have unreservedly condemned such actions. The government’s concerns are shared by EU partners. The Foreign Affairs Council adopted Council Conclusions on North Korea on 17 July this year. The Council stressed that lasting peace and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula must be achieved through peaceful means. It highlighted the importance of the unity of the international community in addressing this challenge. At its most recent meeting on 16 October, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted new EU autonomous restrictive measures against North Korea to further increase pressure on the regime to comply with its obligations. The measures complement and reinforce UN Security Council sanctions. The Foreign Affairs Council also agreed to actively lobby for a robust implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the part of all UN member states. The United Nations General Assembly in New York in September presented an opportunity for the international community to further demonstrate its resolve in this regard, and I conveyed Ireland’s grave concern about ongoing developments. I unreservedly condemned North Korea’s programme of missile and nuclear weapon testing in my address to the United Nations General Assembly. Most recently this resolve to implement the sanctions regime was re-affirmed by the European Council on 19 October, and a commitment was made to consider further responses in close consultation with partners. Throughout, we have been very clear in stating that North Korea must cease the series of provocative acts that have contributed to growing instability in the region and further afield. It must re-engage with discussions on the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, immediately and without pre-conditions. It must abandon its programmes to develop ballistic missiles, nuclear capabilities and weapons of mass destruction. It must carry out these processes in a manner that is complete, verifiable and irreversible. Ireland fully supports the international sanctions regime against North Korea, and emphasises that continued disregard of its international obligations will only lead to increased diplomatic isolation. We believe greater emphasis should be placed on effective implementation of the sanctions regime, but further sanctions cannot be ruled out. The deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula can only be resolved by peaceful means, and we have repeatedly underscored the urgent need for dialogue between all stakeholders. We will continue to be a strong voice for a peaceful outcome, and we will work closely with our international partners to this end. The Rohingya people that have been fleeing Myanmar in large numbers due to threats to their lives8/11/2017
QUESTION
REPLY Question No. 163 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action which has been taken at an international level to raise the plight of the Rohingya people that have been fleeing Myanmar in large numbers due to threats to their lives; the position regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Jan O'Sullivan. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44800/17 Question No. 167 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the situation of the Rohingya; the efforts being made by the government and the international community to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 44889/17 REPLY I propose to take questions 163 and 167 together. The escalation of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State since 25 August has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis both within Rakhine State and in neighbouring Bangladesh, where more than 580,000 refugees, most of them members of the Rohingya community, have fled. In response, the international community has sought to pursue political engagement to bring the violence to an end, to secure unfettered humanitarian and media access in Myanmar, to establish the impartial investigation of human rights abuses, and to achieve an outcome that permits refugees to return voluntarily and safely to their homes. The roles played by the EU and UN in addressing the crisis have been important in this regard, and Ireland has contributed to the formulation of the EU policy response most recently elaborated in the Conclusions issued by the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 October. The UN Security Council met three times between August 28 and September 13 to discuss the situation and was briefed by the UN Secretary General on the matter on 28 September. Furthermore, on 13 October the Security Council heard from Kofi Annan, Chair of the independent Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. Ultimately, longstanding drivers of tensions between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim Rohingya communities of Rakhine State must be addressed and resolved. The report of the Annan-led Advisory Commission provides a roadmap to surmount the political, socio-economic and humanitarian challenges that currently face Rakhine State. The Government of Myanmar has committed to implementing its recommendations, which include proposals to alleviate poverty for all communities in Rakhine State and the resolution of issues that predominantly affect the Rohingya, such as citizenship. Ireland and the international community is calling for the recommendations to be comprehensively and swiftly implemented. In tandem with political engagement, the response to the crisis has also sought to alleviate suffering and meet the immediate humanitarian needs of people displaced by violence in Rakhine State, especially those now in Bangladesh. According to the UN, international humanitarian efforts have to date delivered emergency food assistance to nearly 490,000 people; water and sanitation support to 300,000 refugees and host communities; immunisation to 150,000 children; shelter kits to 150,000 people; and counselling and trauma support to over 50,000 people. Looking ahead, the UN’s revised response plan for Bangladesh anticipates a humanitarian funding need of US$434 million over the next five months. To this end a Pledging Conference for the Rohingya Refugee Crisis was held in Geneva yesterday, 23 October, co-hosted by Kuwait and the EU. Ireland is committed to supporting the crisis response and at the conference yesterday pledged €2m in direct support. We have provided €460,000 to the emergency response so far and have pledged to provide an additional €540,000 for programmes in the remainder of 2017. For 2018 we will allocate an indicative budget of €1m. Ireland is directing humanitarian and development support to key civil society and other trusted partners in Bangladesh and Myanmar, including the air shipment of vital supplies to affected communities. Ireland will continue to closely monitor the humanitarian situation as it unfolds. Question No. 171 Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the government is considering making resources available, be it financial, staffing or otherwise, to the investigation team in view of the passing of UN resolution 2379 on 21 September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th October, 2017. Ref No: 45047/17 Proof: 205 REPLY UN Security Council Resolution 2379 (2017) concerns the creation of an independent Investigative Team, headed by a Special Adviser with the objective of collecting, preserving, and storing evidence of acts of Da’esh in Iraq that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. This evidence is then intended for eventual use in fair and independent criminal proceedings, consistent with applicable international law, conducted by competent national-level courts. In relation to financial resources, the resolution envisages the establishment of a trust fund to receive voluntary contributions to create and operationalise this Investigative Team. The resolution has the support of the Iraqi authorities and its objectives tie in with the principles of our bilateral and EU humanitarian assistance programmes in Iraq. It also fits with the aims of the Global Coalition against Da’esh, of which Ireland is a member. A future contribution to the fund is something that may be considered in due course, in the context of our support for advancing the rule of law in Iraq. Since 2012 Ireland has provided just over €8.36 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq, with just over €2.09 million having been allocated in 2017. As part of Ireland’s response to the Syria crisis, funding of €338,400 has also been provided to Concern for Syrian refugees in Iraq and vulnerable host communities. Through our annual contributions to EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response in Iraq which consists of an integrated, multi-sector life-saving response to the most vulnerable groups, including food, health care, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as protection, shelter and education in emergencies. Since 2012, Ireland has also deployed four members of its Rapid Response Corps to Iraq to provide surge capacity to UN organisations working to respond to the humanitarian crisis. to edit. QUESTION
WRITTEN question for answer on 25/10/2017 : To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. REPLY Question No: 261 Ref No: 45157/17 To the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the saving limit for a person on a qualified adult allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. - Darragh O'Brien. * For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 25th October, 2017. R E P L Y Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Regina Doherty T.D.): I understand that my officials have been in contact with the Deputy’s office and that this question relates specifically to the State Pension Contributory (SPC). The personal rate of SPC is a non-means-tested payment based on PRSI contributions paid. A means-tested increase in the SPC for a spouse or partner (qualified adult) can be paid. Any income the qualified adult has from employment, self-employment, savings, investments and capital (for example, any property except the person’s home) is taken into account. Where there are joint savings or investments with the spouse or partner, half of that amount is taken into account. The maximum rate of qualified adult allowance is payable where the qualified adult has weekly income of less than €100, and a tapered rate is payable if the qualified adult has weekly income of less than €310. The formula for assessing means from capital (including savings) is as follows: Capital Weekly means assessed First €20,000 Nil Next €10,000 €1 per €1,000 Next €10,000 €2 per €1,000 Balance €4 per €1,000 It should be noted that where a person does not meet the qualifying conditions for SPC, he or she may apply for the means-tested State pension non-contributory. The means test for State pension no n-contributory takes into account the income and assets of both the claimant and his or her spouse/partner. Property (excluding a person's home), savings and investments are assessed as capital and a formula is then used to assess the weekly means from capital. The weekly rate payable depends on the total weekly means of the person or couple. ENDS Click here to QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if locations have been identified for the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of the identified site at Mooretown, Swords to accommodate this school. The conveyancing process is at an advanced stage. This school building project is on the Department’s Rapid Design & Build Programme and the project is currently at architectural planning stage. My Department has arranged a meeting with the school representatives and patron, Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB, to review the plans for the school, after which my Department will be proceeding to secure statutory approvals. Subject to no issues arising, once the statutory approvals have been secured, the project will proceed to tender and construction. edit. QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the substantial cuts imposed on members of the IASS pension scheme in advance of the sale of the State's stake in Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. REPLY The IASS pension scheme is the subject of on-going legal proceedings and it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on the issue. |
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January 2020
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