Foreign Affairs (Houses of the Oireachtas)

Foreign Affairs - Undocumented Irish in the USA - issues relating to

Sitting date: 26/10/2017
[Written Answers]...the recent discussions he has had with the authorities in the United States of America in relation to immigration reform; if he has put forward new proposals with particular reference to the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [Q. No(s) 115 to Minis...

Foreign Affairs - Undocumented Irish in the USA - issues relating to

Sitting date: 26/10/2017
[Written Answers] The Irish Government’s objectives regarding undocumented Irish citizens in the United States remain constant, namely, to achieve relief for the undocumented and to facilitate greater pathways for legal migration to the United States. With this in mind, Ireland’s diplomatic represe...

Foreign Affairs - Consular services - provision

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if there is recourse available in relation to their property; if assistance can be given to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [Q. No(s) 174 to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tra...

Foreign Affairs - Consular services - provision

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] I can confirm to the Deputy that our Embassy in Madrid, our Honorary Consulate in Las Palmas and my Department’s Consular Division in Dublin have provided ongoing consular assistance to the Irish citizen in question since being made aware of his detention in 2013. The Embassy was ...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if his attention has been drawn to the preliminary statements issued by two election observation research missions that were in attendance at the independence referendum in Catalonia held on 1 October 2017; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a number of Iris...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] I am aware that a number of public representatives participated as observers at the independence referendum in Catalonia on 1st October last. Neither of the election observation research missions, to which the Deputy refers, have submitted a report to me or my Department. Should...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...the arrangements in place whereby his department provided funding to an organisation (details supplied) to support the deployment of Irish election observers; if it will be extended to a unit of a university (details supplied) that is planning an election observation mission to S...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers for such missions. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised b...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...further to parliamentary question number 394 of 26 July 2017, the number of late applications received to join the current election roster; the reason these three particular late applications were admitted to the process in view of the fact that this was explicitly ruled out in t...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if he has satisfied himself with the workings of the election observation roster operated by his department in view of concerns regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [Q. No(s) 170 to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade ]

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 170 together. International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions....

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...further to parliamentary question number 397 of 26 July 2017, if the election consultant observer that had the volunteer grant written off had to provide vouchers to account for the grant; if the details of the grant scheme will be published in order to ensure accountability and ...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. We aim to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level on international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. I...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...the names of the members of the election observation roster; the date that each was appointed or reappointed; the number of missions completed by each member since 2013; if he has satisfied himself that all members of the roster are suitable for deployment overseas; the mechanism...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding an uneven distribution of opportunities for election observers on the roster with some still waiting for their first mission while others have been awarded two or more missions; his plans to prioritise members that have not be...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] I propose to answer Questions Nos. 167 and 172 together. The Election Observation Roster was established in May 2013 for a period of five years following a review of the previous roster and a public call for applications. Upon completion of an independent appraisal and ranking o...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...the nature of training provided to election observers by his department in 2013; the reason it was felt necessary to train the observers at that time; the cost of the training; the persons that were eligible to attend this training; the names of the persons; the expenses or allow...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring mission. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). A new roster of 200 mem...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if civil servants that partake in election observations are entitled to the higher remuneration; the arrangement for expenses paid to such civil servants; if they are higher or lower than those given to other Irish election observers deployed; and if he will make a statement on t...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if 25% of the marks were awarded to those that claimed fluency in Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese; the reason such an emphasis was placed on these languages in view of the fact the vast majority of election missions are conducted through English; the number of mis...

Foreign Affairs - Election monitoring missions - cost

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. Ireland’s election observation roster has been put in place to facilitate the deployment at short notice of suitably qualified individuals to participate in internatio...

Foreign Affairs - Irish prisoners abroad - issues relating to

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers]...if contact can be made with the authorities in Turkey with a view to possible repatriation of a person (details supplied) who has received a six and a half year sentence for a trivial offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [Q. No(s) 184 to Minister for Justice an...

Foreign Affairs - Irish prisoners abroad - issues relating to

Sitting date: 25/10/2017
[Written Answers] I wish to advise the Deputy that it would not be appropriate for my Department to contact another state to request the repatriation of a sentenced prisoner. It is for any individual detained overseas to apply through the relevant authorities in that country. The Transfer of Sente...

Foreign Affairs - Foreign conflicts - issues relating to

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers]...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. [Q. No(s) 165 to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade ]

Foreign Affairs - Foreign conflicts - issues relating to

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers] 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. ...

Foreign Affairs - Humanitarian aid - provision

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers]...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. [Q. No(s) 163 to M...

Foreign Affairs - Humanitarian aid - provision

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers]...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. [Q. No(s) 167 to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade ]

Foreign Affairs - Humanitarian aid - provision

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers] I propose to take Questions Nos. 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...

Foreign Affairs - Iraqi conflict - issues relating to

Sitting date: 24/10/2017
[Written Answers]...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. [Q. No(s) 172 to Minister for ...