Written Answers Nos. 9-26
9. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the appropriate pathway for an individual who wishes to obtain an Irish passport based on DNA evidence; the person within the Passport Service they might contact to discuss same; the additional documentary evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41687/24]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement when making a first time passport application.
As set out in the Passport Service documentary requirements for all applications on my Department’s website, entitlement to Irish citizenship should be established via the presentation of relevant official documents. In certain exceptional circumstances, the Passport Service may accept DNA evidence for the purpose of establishing a passport applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. Additional documentary evidence is also required before a decision to issue a passport is made.
Such applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the Passport Service and require considerable engagement with the applicant to ensure that the Passport Service is fully satisfied the applicant has demonstrated their entitlement to citizenship through an Irish citizen parent.
The Passport Service would be happy to assist the individual involved and has contacted the Deputy’s office directly in relation to this query.
10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; the costs incurred by his Department in relation to such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41717/24]
View answerDepending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General’s Office and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency.
The table below sets out the number of cases commenced against the Department over the past 10 years, as well as all legal costs paid by the Department each year.
|
Year |
Number of cases commenced each year |
Costs paid each year€’000 |
|
2024 (to Sept) |
9 |
€220 |
|
2023 |
17 |
€968 |
|
2022 |
12 |
€139 |
|
2021 |
10 |
€45 |
|
2020 |
8 |
€108 |
|
2019 |
8 |
€350 |
|
2018 |
7 |
€101 |
|
2017 |
7 |
€101 |
|
2016 |
2 |
€38 |
|
2015 |
5 |
€50 |
|
2014 |
4 |
€187 |
11. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of data breaches experienced by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown will be provided on the nature of the breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41734/24]
View answerMy Department documents personal data breaches that have occurred in accordance with Article 33(5) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The table below sets out the number of data breaches reported to the Office of the Data Protection Commission (DPC) since the introduction of the GDPR on 25 May 2018 in respect of which this Department bore principal responsibility.
|
Year |
Number of Data Breaches Reported |
|
2018 (since 25 May) |
54 |
|
2019 |
124 |
|
2020 |
104 |
|
2021 |
130 |
|
2022 |
149 |
|
2023 |
101 |
|
2024 (Year to date) |
95 |
In addition to these data breaches, and in accordance with advice sought and received from the Office of the DPC in 2020, my Department further notifies that Office of cases of what are described as postal carrier breaches, that is the loss or misdelivery of documentation in the postal system. This includes consignments which have been correctly addressed and dispatched by my Department to the intended recipient, but subsequently lost or misdelivered by the postal provider.
Where a consignment containing a passport is correctly dispatched but is lost in the postal system, my Department takes responsibility for cancelling the lost or compromised passport and reissues a new passport as standard practice. Similarly, the Passport Service provides assistance to individuals whose supporting documents are lost when being returned to an applicant through the postal system. My Department regularly engages with the postal provider to highlight the issue and monitors global postal issues arising which may impact the dispatch and safe receipt of documents issued or returned by the Department.
12. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total costs associated for his Department in relation to trips abroad taken by Ministers in his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2024. [41752/24]
View answerThis Department has assigned to it the Minister for Foreign Affairs, currently the Tánaiste, the Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora and the Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs. The total costs of trips abroad on official business by Ministers of this Department are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Amount (€) |
|
2019 |
80,691 |
|
2020 |
5,833 |
|
2021 |
38,790 |
|
2022 |
88,920 |
|
2023 |
88,247 |
|
January-September 2024 |
40,659 |
13. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on public relations in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41768/24]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs does not employ third parties to deal with public relations.
14. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41789/24]
View answerIt is not possible in the time available to extract the requested information spanning more than ten years. Details of the total amount of consultancy fees for 2023 and January-September 2024 are set out in the table below. The Department is extracting the remaining information requested and will forward the reply to the Deputy in due course.
|
Year |
Total Amount (€) |
|
2023 |
969,12 |
|
January-September 2024 |
744,340 |
15. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41807/24]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns and advertising, both traditional and online, to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad, such as passport and consular services, and to promote Irish interests and values internationally. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs.
Successfully communicating Ireland’s values and interests to global audiences, including through a range of online and social media channels, is integral to implementing our foreign policy objectives as set out in the Programme for Government and the Department’s Statement of Strategy.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount spent by my Department on traditional and online advertising from 2014 until to date in 2024 is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Total (€) |
|
2014 |
43,699 |
|
2015 |
24,469 |
|
2016 |
43,121 |
|
2017 |
27,989 |
|
2018 |
213,182 |
|
2019 |
63,653 |
|
2020 |
2,511,718 |
|
2021 |
582,077 |
|
2022 |
1,464,673 |
|
2023 |
725,747 |
|
2024 (As of October 2024) |
462,677 |
16. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to assist an Irish citizen (details supplied) who is having difficulty accessing funds in a bank in South Africa. [41994/24]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for bringing this case to my attention.
I appreciate that this is a difficult situation for the citizen concerned and I want to assure you that my Department will do all that it can to assist the citizen, where possible, within the remit of the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter.
I can confirm that an official from the Consular Assistance Unit is following up with the relevant Irish embassy on this matter and will update the citizen accordingly. I can further confirm that the official has spoken with the citizen’s point of contact very recently on this case.
17. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with his Israeli counterparts in relation to alleged Israeli firing on UNIFIL positions at their headquarters in Naqoura; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42087/24]
View answerWith regard to my engagement with Israel, I refer the Deputy to my recent response of 10 October under reference 40657/24.
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent attacks on UNIFIL positions, causing injury to several peacekeepers. The targeting of UNIFIL by the IDF cannot be accepted. Israel has an obligation to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Attacks against peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law. There needs to be full accountability for these actions. The safety of our peacekeepers is paramount.
We are continuing to monitor developments in the region closely and remain in close contact with our European and regional colleagues. We need to see urgent de-escalation, an immediate ceasefire, and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Lebanon. Any further escalation in the region will only serve to deepen the current crisis and draw us further away from a peaceful resolution.
18. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status and progress of the heat Bill, which aims to establish a regulatory model for district heating to ensure consumer protection and support the development of a vibrant district heating industry; the anticipated timelines for the introduction and implementation of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41667/24]
View answerThe District Heating Steering Group Report, approved by Government in July 2023, contains a suite of recommendations that set the future policy direction for the development of district heating. The Steering Group noted that primary legislation would be required to ensure that developers of district heating projects have the necessary legal powers to operate in the sector, to facilitate regulatory provisions to enable customer protections, and to put in place licensing and consenting provisions for district heating operators.
My Department is in the process of finalising the General Scheme of the proposed Heat Bill, and is currently adapting the Heads to take account of legal review and observations from other Government departments. The proposed Heads will be brought to Government in October.
19. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the policy inconsistency regarding the landfill levy exemption for stabilised waste will be addressed in the upcoming review of these levy exemptions; if steps will be taken to remove this exemption to support waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and achieve our landfill reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41668/24]
View answerAs provided for under the Circular Economy (Waste Recovery Levy) Regulations 2023, an independent expert review was commissioned to assess the continued relevance and applicability of existing landfill levy exemptions including that for bio-stabilised waste. The review recommendations are currently under consideration within my Department and as such it would not be appropriate to comment on the future status of this particular exemption at this time.
It should be noted that construction and demolition (C&D) waste had been the predominant waste type exempted from the landfill levy. Following consultation with key stakeholders such as the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA), the landfill levy exemptions for construction and demolition waste are being phased out from September 2024 onwards.
20. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the establishment of the carbon capture and removals working group, including details of its membership and the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41669/24]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021, commits Ireland to a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030. Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP24) was approved by the Government in December 2023. The plan sets out an ambitious all-of-Government response to the challenges posed by climate change.
The sectoral emissions ceilings, agreed by the Government in July 2022, include 26 MtCO2eq. of unallocated savings from 2026 to 2030, the second carbon budget period. Pathways for these unallocated savings are now required in advance of the second carbon budget period and associated Climate Action Plans.
In addition, Ireland’s Long-Term Strategy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction published in June 2024, points to several cross-sectoral challenges which will need to be addressed. This includes developing a strategy for negative emissions technologies. CAP24 identified a potential for technologies such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to assist with achieving compliance with our commitment and our national objectives. It is expected CCUS will play a significant role in future decarbonisation of industry, including the cement industry.
The CAP24 Action IN/24/3 details the development of a CCUS strategy to provide a clear policy framework to guide long-term investment decisions. In line with this action, a CCUS Taskforce is being established under the joint leadership of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Taskforce’s objectives in its terms of reference include:
• Validate the emissions savings potential;
• Estimate costs for delivering the emissions reduction measures;
• Assess of the potential impacts (e.g., economic, social, environmental); and
• Identify key actions/ roadmap to deliver.
The Taskforce is preparing a workplan to ensure delivery in Q1 2025 of a report on market readiness and to identify the necessary steps for the development of a policy and regulatory framework suitable for CCUS in an Irish context. Members of the Taskforce will comprise officials from Government Departments and relevant State Agencies. However, non-members may be invited for specific sessions/discussions as agreed by the Taskforce.
21. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; the costs incurred by his Department in relation to such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41715/24]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department, and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of data breaches experienced by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown will be provided on the nature of the breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41732/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department has a full suite of policies and procedures in place relating to data protection, as required by legislation, including a data breach policy. My Department's Data Protection Officer oversees robust mandatory training for all staff and engages in regular data protection awareness-raising campaigns. The information on data breaches requested by the Deputy, recorded by my Department since the introduction of the GDPR in 2018, is set out in the table beneath:
|
Year |
No. of Recorded Personal Data Breaches |
Nature of Breaches |
|
2024 (ytd) |
28 |
Lost/Stolen Device – 8 Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) – 20 |
|
2023 |
27 |
Lost/Stolen Device – 10 Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) - 17 |
|
2022 |
5 |
Lost/Stolen Device – 2 Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) -3 |
|
2021 |
6 |
Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) – 5 Cyber Attack – 1 |
|
2020 |
0 |
N/A |
|
2019 |
1 |
Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) – 1 |
|
2018 |
4 |
Confidentiality Breach (unintentional publication or sharing of personal data) – 3 Ransomware Attack – 1 |
|
2013 - 2017 |
0 |
N/A |
23. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total costs associated for his Department in relation to trips abroad taken by Ministers in his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2024. [41750/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
24. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent by his Department on public relations in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41772/24]
View answerMy Department has a dedicated communications and media relations function who manage public relations and media queries, alongside digital marketing, campaigns, events, and internal communications. My Department may occasionally engage external expertise in public relations where specialist or extensive support is required.
The information which the Deputy requested in relation to my department is outlined in the table below. Please note, it is not possible to identify expenditure on public relations prior to 2019 due to restructuring of Department.
|
Consultant/Company |
Year |
Purpose |
Cost (Incl. of VAT) |
|
OSD Digital Agency |
2020 |
Social media campaign advice |
€3,815.45 |
|
RPS Communications |
2020-2022 |
PR support to help with Tellus geophysical mapping survey - community outreach/information line |
€124,131.19 |
|
Kano Communications |
2022-2023 |
PR Support as part of Reduce Your Use Campaign |
€15,221.25 |
|
Communications Clinic |
2023 |
Delivery of media training to senior DECC officials |
€6,178.95 |
|
DHR Communications |
2023 |
Delivery of strategic communications training for senior officials |
€1,780 |
25. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41787/24]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled by my Department, and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
26. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount spent by his Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41805/24]
View answerMy Department uses advertising to promote a range of services, supports and initiatives for people and communities across Ireland.
As the media landscape has evolved over the past number of years, advertising expenditure has grown to address the diverse needs of different audiences, including costs associated with achieving national reach for important public messages. For example, my Department has run a significant national campaign on reducing energy use in 2022, 2023 and 2024. This “reduce your use” campaign was designed to assist every household in Ireland in dealing with rising energy costs and supporting positive behaviour change. In recent years, advertising expenditure has also grown to ensure that we are meeting our Irish language advertising requirements under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021.
My Department utilises both digital and traditional media, recognising that traditional media is an integral part of Ireland’s communications landscape and a crucial tool for us to connect with communities and regional audiences across Ireland.
The majority of Department advertising is procured via a media buying agency, and the weighting assigned to digital or traditional media is determined by target audience, best practice and securing value for money.
The table below sets out overall digital and traditional advertising expenditure in my Department since 2019. It is not possible to identify expenditure on advertising prior to 2019 due to restructuring of the Department.
|
Year |
Media Type |
Spend |
|
2019 |
Online |
€4,285.00 |
|
|
Traditional |
€275,520.00 |
|
|
Total |
€279,805.00 |
|
2020 |
Online |
€8,205.08 |
|
|
Traditional |
€99,693.09 |
|
|
Total |
€107,898.17 |
|
2021 |
Online |
€56,758.84 |
|
|
Traditional |
€459,909.60 |
|
|
Total |
€516,668.44 |
|
2022 |
Online |
€534,398.00 |
|
|
Traditional |
€3,293,683.00 |
|
|
Total |
€3,828,081.00 |
|
2023 |
Online |
€863,757.00 |
|
|
Traditional |
€2,943,244.00 |
|
|
Total |
€3,807,000.50 |
|
2024 |
Online |
€180,966.15 |
|
|
Traditional |
€600,023.68 |
|
|
Total |
€780,989.80 |
