Foreign Affairs PQ's

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To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the almost invisible border can be maintained between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in view of the fact that the British Prime Minister has stated that the UK will leave the single market and will seek a new arrangement regarding the customs union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For PRIORITY answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3260/17 

Question No. 45
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which his department will advocate for the special position of Northern Ireland in the upcoming Brexit negotiations in view of the fact that the British Prime Minister has indicated that there will be no special deals or status for Northern Ireland or other devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For PRIORITY answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3261/17

REPLY
I propose to answer priority questions 43 and 45 together.

The Government has noted the contents of Prime Minister May’s speech last week, and welcomed the fact that it provides greater clarity on the proposed approach of the British Government to the Brexit negotiation process. 
Prime Minister May has made clear that she wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship for the UK with the EU, a goal that Ireland shares.
For Ireland, the priorities for the negotiation process that lies ahead are unchanged: our economic and trading arrangements, the Peace Process including border issues, the common travel area, and the future of the European Union.
In her speech, Prime Minister May highlighted the specific and historic relationship between Britain and Ireland. In this context, she made clear that her priorities include maintaining the common travel area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, both of which are welcome.

The Government notes that the British approach is now firmly that of a country which will have left the EU but which seeks to negotiate a new, close relationship with it. The analysis across Government has covered all possible models for the future UK relationship with the EU.

When the negotiations start, we, together with our EU partners, will face the UK across the negotiating table and will strive for a deal that everyone can accept but more importantly that protects Ireland’s fundamental interests.  It won’t be easy but we are prepared.  

As part of our preparations for this process, I have carried out a round of contacts with all of my EU counterparts in order to make them aware of the need for specific arrangements which protect the key gains of the peace process on this island – a process to which the EU has already made a key contribution.  
The Taoiseach has met with Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and other EU Heads of Government to convey Ireland’s concerns. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I also met with the Commission’s Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, here in Dublin, in October.
The Government is encouraged at the extent to which our concerns are understood and appreciated by our partners, and by the universal desire to assist in addressing them satisfactorily. Commissioner Barnier’s clear statement in December that Irish issues would be a negotiating priority was very positive. 
The Government is talking to the UK and working closely with the Commission and Council Secretariat to develop concrete solutions to the issues raised, and to work out how these can be achieved in the negotiations.

The Government and British Government have reaffirmed that the Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable foundation for all engagement on Northern Ireland.  This provides much needed reassurance, but we are under no illusions about the hard work needed to deliver it. 

In advance of the commencement of negotiations, the Government's engagement is being intensified in 2017. Our Embassy network across the European Union is being fully deployed in support of this process which will be assisted also by the allocation of additional resources to our Permanent Representation in Brussels and our Embassies in Berlin, Paris and London. 

The first plenary session of the All-Island Civic Dialogue was held on 2 November and this process is continuing. The next plenary session will take place on 17 February. Between these two plenary meetings, 14 sectoral events, involving various Government Ministers and examining specific policy areas in greater detail, will also have taken place. The work of the Civic Dialogue process to date has reaffirmed the priority issues identified by the Government.

I want to assure the House that the Government will continue to comprehensively and proactively prepare for all dimensions of the EU-UK negotiations in pursuit of our priority concerns. In this regard, we will continue to engage with all of our EU partners to highlight the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland, and the consequences for North-South cooperation on the island as a whole, which must be factored into any new EU relationship with the UK. 



 



Question No. 52
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the concerns he has regarding recent developments in Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3039/17

REPLY
Recent developments in Turkey have brought the country to international attention frequently over recent months, and I remain deeply concerned about the situation there.  
Turkey has been the victim of many terrorist attacks over the past year, carried out by ISIS or by the PKK and its affiliates: over the course of 2016, more than 600 people lost their lives through acts of terrorism. Already in 2017, Turkey has suffered three utterly appalling acts of violence. I issued a statement on 1 January following the despicable shooting at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul in the early hours of New Year’s Day, in which 39 people were tragically murdered. In addition to this deplorable attack, two people were killed in a car bomb at a checkpoint in Izmir on 5 January, and four policemen were killed following an explosion in Diyarbakir, south-east Turkey on 16 January. The increasingly volatile situation in the south-east of the country is of real concern. I once again extend my condolences to the families of all those affected by these horrific acts of violence, and to all the people of Turkey. I unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and repeat that Ireland, along with our European partners, stands in solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. 
While it is clear that the Turkish authorities face very difficult challenges, I continue to have serious, ongoing concerns about democracy, rule of law and human rights, and freedom of expression, in particular freedom of the media, in the country in the aftermath of the attempted coup in July 2016 and the extended state of emergency, which is still in place. The concerns of the EU, which are fully shared by Ireland, were set out in a detailed statement on 8 November last. Unfortunately, these concerns persist. 
I have repeatedly raised these concerns at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council with fellow European Foreign Ministers. Turkey has also been discussed at European Councils where the Taoiseach represented Ireland and was the subject of intensive debate at the December General Affairs Council in the enlargement context, where Minister Murphy also spoke of Ireland’s concerns. I also raised our concerns at the Council of Europe last September.  Along with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the situation in Turkey closely, and to engage with the Turkish authorities to encourage a renewed commitment to democracy and respect for human freedoms and to the core principles which we value so highly. 
The issue of constitutional reform has been on the agenda of President Erdogan and the AKP party for a considerable time. On 21 January, the Turkish parliament approved a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments proposed by the President. Among the proposals are provisions for an increase in the number of MPs from 550 to 600, a lowering of the minimum age to sit in Parliament to 18 from 25, holding parliamentary and presidential elections concurrently every five years, and a considerable expansion of the executive powers of the President. The next step is a referendum on the complete package which, although no date is yet confirmed, is expected to take place in April. 
Given the concerns at EU level and internationally about democracy and the rule of law in Turkey, and given the removal of parliamentary immunity from some 130 democratically elected representatives last May and the subsequent arrest of opposition MPs in November, there are serious considerations about the substance, timing and context of the constitutional proposals.
The Council of Europe, through the Venice Commission, is studying the constitutional package and is scheduled to report on their findings on 10 March. This assessment will be important in informing the position that the EU and Ireland take on the proposed reforms.


 



Question No. 55
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to safeguard the peace process, in view of the collapse of the executive in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3036/17

REPLY

As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is constantly engaged with the British Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the political parties to support the peace process and political progress in Northern Ireland on the basis of the Agreement. In recent weeks, both the Taoiseach and I have had intensified contacts with the parties and the British Government on the political difficulties that were threatening the continuation of the Executive.

It was clear, immediately following the resignation of the deputy First Minister, that the prospect of a resolution ahead of the triggering of an Assembly election was slim. However both Governments, in their capacity as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, made full use of the narrow window available to ensure that any avenues for resolution between the parties prior to an election were fully explored. 

In the event, an Assembly election has been triggered and it is important to emphasise that this eventuality is one covered by the legislation governing the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. When parties in an administration cannot agree, an election is the consequence and the outcome of that is now for the electorate in Northern Ireland to determine. 

The Secretary of State and I have agreed that both Governments should continue to work closely together in the weeks to come, looking ahead to the post-election period, when a new power-sharing Executive will need to be formed. We have also urged the parties to approach the election campaign in calm and respectful terms, conscious that polarizing rhetoric and frayed relationships will damage the prospects of forming an Executive after the votes have been counted. 

We must all be mindful that effective devolved Government, underpinned by a genuine spirit of partnership, is what the people of Northern Ireland voted for in 1998 and what they expect their politicians to deliver.

After the election, it will therefore fall to the parties to form a power-sharing Executive and this will require the parties to find a way forward on issues which contributed to the calling of the election. The Government is of course always ready to support and assist the parties in any way we can. Our commitment as a co-guarantor of the Agreement is a constant one – in good times and bad.

The Government will continue to work with the British Government and the political parties to support the fulfillment of the full promise of that Agreement and to advance political stability, reconciliation and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.


 



Question No. 58
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent efforts made by his department to secure the release of a person (details supplied) detained without trial in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3037/17  Lottery No 12.
Details: Ibrahim Halawa

REPLY
This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it, by the Taoiseach, by me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, by officials in my Department, by our Ambassador and his team in Cairo, and by the entire Irish diplomatic network.  The Government is doing everything it possibly can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family.

I acknowledge and express my appreciation to the Ceann Comhairle, and to all of the members of the cross-party delegation that went to Cairo recently to meet this citizen and to hear his story at first-hand, and to press the case for his return to Ireland with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels.  These messages have been clearly and repeatedly conveyed by the Government, and it is very useful that the Egyptian authorities are clear on the fact that there is absolute unanimity across Dáil Éireann on this matter.  
 
The Taoiseach has been in direct contact with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions and has called on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return this young man to Ireland.  He has done so in face-to-face meetings on two occasions and also by telephone and by letter.  The Taoiseach most recently wrote to President el-Sisi about the case in November.  For my part, I have engaged continuously on this case with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, and I once again raised this case with him when I met him in Paris at the Middle East Peace Conference on Sunday, January 15th.   

The trial in which our citizen is a defendant along with more than 400 others was back in court for a further hearing on 17 January.  The hearing saw witnesses called and cross-examined for the first time since the trial began.  This may be an indication that the trial has now, at last, moved into a substantive phase and that a conclusion may finally be in prospect. The Irish Government has been present at and has observed every hearing in the trial to date and our Embassy was again represented at the hearing on 17 January.   The next hearing will be on 14 February and the Embassy will once again be present on that occasion to observe the proceedings.

The Egyptian President has consistently advised us that the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary must be respected, and that the Egyptian Government cannot intervene until after the trial has concluded.  The President has also consistently made clear to us that he is anxious to resolve this issue as soon as he can, and that he will be able to intervene in the case once the trial has ended.  I welcome the fact that he reiterated this to the Oireachtas delegation when they met with him in Cairo on January 11th.

 I and my colleagues in Government and our officials at every level will continue to do everything possible and appropriate to engage with the authorities in Cairo on this citizen’s behalf both directly and through and with EU and international partners. 


 



Question No. 74
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he will progress the UN resolution 2334 (2016) (details supplied); if he will support the persons of occupied Palestine; and his views on the effect on the viability of the two state solution.
- Maureen O'Sullivan.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3032/17
in view of UN resolution 2334 (2016); stating that Israeli settlements established in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 are a violation of international law;
Question No. 84
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the particular efforts being made by the government to help restart the Middle East peace process; if he envisages any progress on the stalemate in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3038/17

REPLY
I propose to answer Questions 74 and 84 together.
UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December, was an important and timely re-statement of key international positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its resolution. The Security Council stated unambiguously its support for a two state solution to the conflict, and focused particular attention on the issue of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. I welcomed the Council’s reiteration that settlements, and actions to alter the demographic balance in the occupied areas, are illegal and an obstacle to peace. These are not new developments: these have been the positions of Ireland, of the EU, of the UN and of the international community as a whole for many years.

The Middle East Conference in Paris on 15 January, which I attended, provided the opportunity for the broader international community in turn to confirm its full support for the two state solution. I have reported in more detail on this Conference in my earlier reply to Question 56. 

These two steps have been important and timely precisely because the Middle East Peace process has been effectively suspended for almost three years now. It is fair to say that among the Ministers I met at Paris there was very little optimism about the prospects for restarting the political process at this time. The demands of the concurrent crises in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East are a major factor in this view. Much will depend, as it always does, on the positions and priorities of the new US Administration.
For our part, Ireland will continue to review what additional steps might be taken to encourage political progress and stands ready to support any efforts to restart a political process, as we have done in the last year to assist the French initiative. In particular, we will continue to argue, as I have done, that the international community as a whole needs to exert more pressure on the parties themselves to re-engage.


 



Question No. 87
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider developing a roadmap to achieve the 0.7% of GDP ODA target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien.
For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.
Ref No: 3040/17

REPLY        
(Minister of State, Mr. Joe McHugh T.D.)
The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. Our policy for international development, “One World, One Future”, clearly articulates our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) in Official Development Assistance (ODA), as economic conditions allow.  
In the current Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target as resources permit.  Progress needs to be made in a sustainable and manageable way, which continues to strengthen Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger.   
During the very difficult economic circumstances of recent years, the Government managed to stabilise and largely protect allocations to ODA. Since 2011 we have made annual contributions in excess of €600 million and have cumulatively allocated over of €4.5 billion in the period 2011 to 2017. This represents a  remarkable commitment of public funds towards the fight to eradicate global hunger, reduce extreme poverty and provide humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. 
Over the past two year we have again commenced increasing funding allocations for ODA in a sustained and measured way, providing an additional of €40 million in 2016 and a further €10 million for 2017. The total 2017 allocation for ODA will be €651 million.   
Based on current Department of Finance forecasts for GNP we anticipate the ODA/GNP percentage outturn for 2016 to be in region of 0.3% with a similar level projected for 2017.  The reduction in the percentage has been affected by the step change in the measurement of Ireland’s GNP. 
We remain committed to making incremental, sustainable progress towards achieving the 0.7% UN target by 2030, over the period of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

QUESTION NO:  94

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Darragh O'Brien
for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017.  

 
 *  To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the commitments that the government has made in terms of accepting refugees and unaccompanied minors to Ireland, in tabular form; the number of persons to date that have been accepted here under the various resettlement and relocation programmes; the number of unaccompanied minors that have arrived here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                             - Darragh O'Brien

  
REPLY.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (David Stanton)

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa.  Under this programme, the Government has pledged to accept a total of 4,000 persons into the State by the end of 2017, 2,622 through the EU  relocation mechanism established by two EU Council Decisions in 2015 to assist Italy and Greece, and 1,040 (519 by the end of 2016 and the remainder in 2017) under the UNHCR-led refugee resettlement programme currently focussed on resettling refugees from Lebanon. 

In a further gesture of humanitarian assistance towards the most vulnerable caught up in the migration crisis and following a debate in the Dáil, the Government  also committed to taking up to 200 unaccompanied minors from France who were previously resident in the migrant camp at Calais.  Further information in relation to this cohort is being included in the response to PQ no.95 for answer today.  These initiatives therefore leave just a small residual balance to be allocated from the Government decision to take 4,000 persons.

Resettlement strand of the programme
Taking account of the situation in the Middle East, and the plight of the refugees, the Tánaiste announced that Ireland would accept 520 persons for resettlement over an 18-month period to the end of 2017.  This was almost double the figure proposed for Ireland by the European Commission and was delivered a year ahead of the Commission deadline.  
        
In addition, the Government recently announced that it is extending the resettlement programme to take in a further 520 refugees from Lebanon in  2017, most of whom are of Syrian origin.  260 refugees have already been selected during a selection mission to Lebanon in October 2016 and are expected to arrive in Spring 2017.  Most of these refugees are also Syrian.  A further selection mission to Lebanon will be arranged in the coming months to select the remaining refugees due to come to Ireland in 2017 under the resettlement programme.   

Relocation strand of the programme
Ireland has to-date taken in 241 people from Greece.  In November, IRPP officials travelled to Athens and interviewed a group of 84 people who once cleared  for travel, are expected to arrive in February.  An IRPP mission to interview 80 people took place in Athens from 12 – 16 December.  A further mission has already taken place in January which interviewed 61 people. The intention thereafter is to sustain the pace of intakes throughout 2017 at the levels required to allow Ireland to meets its commitments to Greece within the time frame envisaged by the  Programme. 

Table of Total Numbers under Government Decision
Relocation Strand     Numbers
Council Decision 2015/1523    600
Council Decision 2015/1601     2,022
Total Relocation    2,622
    
Resettlement Strand    
Government Decision 09/06/15    520
Government Decision 06/07/16    260
Government Decision 29/11/16    260
Total Resettlement    1,040
    
Total Unaccompanied Minors Calais    200 (up to)
    
Mechanism as yet undecided    138
    
Grand Total    4000

Unaccompanied minors
In announcing the IRPP, the Government recognised the importance of prioritising family groups and addressing the position of unaccompanied children.  A significant number of those who have arrived to date are young children with one or two parents.  Ireland has taken in four unaccompanied minors with another to follow very shortly; we have indicated our willingness to take further unaccompanied minors from Greece under relocation and work continues in this regard.  Such minors are placed in the care of Tusla.  Unaccompanied minors that Ireland takes from Greece are additional to the commitments made by Ireland in respect those previously resident in the migrant camp in Calais.

The profile of persons taken in to-date under the relocation and resettlement strands of the IRPP is outlined below.

Profile for Relocation Asylum Seekers
Total People     Adults     Minors     Age 0-4     Age 5-12    Age 13-17
241    136    105    41    45    19


Profile for Resettlement Refugees
Total People     Adults     Minors     Age 0-4     Age 5-12    Age 13-17
519    240    279    85    147    47