Wednesday, 30 Apr 2025

Written Answers Nos. 1-20

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Middle East

Questions (1)

Sinéad Gibney

Question:

1. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland is not making an oral submission to the International Court of Justice for the case regarding Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Request for Advisory Opinion), in light of his Department’s active role in supporting the work of UNRWA and developments in the Israeli Knesset which will limit UNRWA’s activities in the West Bank, Gaza, and Occupied East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21312/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland has been an active and committed supporter of UNRWA and its activities for many years. As part of Ireland’s overall support to the people of Palestine, €58 million has been provided to UNRWA between 2023 and 2025. This includes €20 million to UNRWA committed by me in February this year, which supports UNRWA’s programmes in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

I am gravely concerned about the implementation of recent Israeli legislation, which is having far-reaching consequences for UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza. It was partly for this reason that Ireland and a core group of States took the initiative at the United Nations to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the legal issues raised by Israel’s treatment of UNRWA and other United Nations agencies and programmes in the OPT.

In ICJ Advisory Opinion cases, proceedings consist of written and oral phases. States may make written or oral statements to the Court, or both. In the present case, Ireland submitted a detailed statement in writing on 28 February, which focused on the work of UNRWA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

That statement sets out Ireland’s grave concerns about the implementation of recently enacted Israeli legislation, which is having far-reaching consequences for UNRWA’s operations in the OPT. Ireland argues that Israel’s legal obligations – both as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, and as a member of the United Nations and a party to the General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN – require it to cooperate with and facilitate relevant UN agencies and programmes in the provision of essential humanitarian assistance and services to the Palestinian civilian population in the OPT, in particular those of UNRWA, a subsidiary organ of the United Nations.

There is no realistic alternative to UNRWA and we support UNRWA’s intention to stay and deliver. I urge the Israeli authorities to repeal these measures. UNRWA has a mandate from the UN General Assembly. Its work is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, and particularly in the current context in Gaza and the West Bank.

Official Engagements

Questions (2)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

2. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans to invite his Dutch counterpart to Dublin for a bilateral meeting, [21319/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

As with all of my EU counterparts, I regularly meet with Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp and Foreign Trade and Development Minister Reinette Klever at Foreign Affairs Councils in Brussels. These opportunities to engage on the EU agenda, and to get to know our fellow ministers create the strong understanding that we share as Europeans.

In March, I had a constructive phone call with Minister Klever on trade matters.

In advance of Ireland's Presidency of the European Council in 2026, I anticipate visiting many European capitals, to meet with counterparts. As diaries allow, I will always welcome my counterparts to visit Ireland, and during our EU Presidency in 2026, look forward to welcoming them all here.

A Vision for Change

Questions (3)

Niall Collins

Question:

3. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he can assist in expediting a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21386/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act"), as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 ("the 1956 Act"), as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.

Under the 1956 Act, my Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

FBR, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate and applications cannot be expedited.

FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. This is a decrease in turnaround time of 75% from over two and a half years in 2022. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.

The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is [phone]. This number is also available on the Department's website.

With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, a member of the FBR team has been in touch with the citizen to advise them of the specific supporting documents required for their application.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (4)

Alan Kelly

Question:

4. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update of the work of the Irish Embassy based in Rabat, Morocco. [21439/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Embassy of Ireland in Rabat works to promote Ireland’s interests in Morocco, supporting political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between our two countries.

The Embassy supports the community of Irish people who are resident, or who may be travelling in Morocco, as well as Irish people, businesses, public bodies and educational and cultural institutions engaged in activities in Morocco.

Morocco is a popular destination for tourism and there are currently five direct flight routes, including a connection between Dublin and the Moroccan capital, Rabat. The Embassy in Rabat, like other Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter.

Total bilateral trade in goods between Ireland and Morocco for 2024 was valued at almost €355 million. Exports from Ireland to Morocco totalled €196 million and imports of Moroccan goods totalled €159 million. Total bilateral trade in services between Ireland and Morocco for 2023 was valued at almost €469 million. Service exports from Ireland to Morocco totalled €299 million and service imports totalled €170 million.

The opening of the Embassy in Rabat in 2021 has seen a deepening of our bilateral engagement and dialogue with Morocco. This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Morocco.

The Embassy also holds accreditation with Tunisia and Mauritania.

Official Engagements

Questions (5)

Aidan Farrelly

Question:

5. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of engagement between his Department and the Government of Indonesia in 2024 and to-date in 2025. [21506/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland's relationship with Indonesia is strong and growing. It reached a significant milestone in 2024 when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Jakarta. The opening of a resident Irish Embassy in 2014 has been critical to enhancing Ireland's relationship with Indonesia, and to increasing awareness of Ireland in Indonesia.

My Department is also in regular contact with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in London, which is accredited to Ireland. The Embassy is active in Ireland and regularly hosts events to promote bilateral relations.

My Department has significant engagement with Indonesia in multilateral fora, both through engagement with our respective regional organisations, the EU and ASEAN, and through global organisations such as the UN and OECD. In February 2024, then-Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming T.D., and then Indonesian Foreign Minster Marsudi, both attended the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. This meeting resulted in a Joint Ministerial Statement addressing a wide range of issues faced by Ireland and Indonesia, including EU-ASEAN cooperation, trade, climate and emissions, and human rights. During UN High Level Week 2024, Ireland and Indonesia co-hosted an Afghan Women's Forum event for the second time. Ireland has also part-funded the secondment of an Indonesian official to the OECD to support their accession process to the organisation.

There has also been a good level of direct political engagement between my Department and the Government of Indonesia in recent years. In September 2024, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs met with then Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on the margins of High Level Week at the UN General Assembly.

During this meeting they signed a Memorandum of Understanding on holding regular Bilateral Consultations. In follow up to this, officials from my Department will meet with Indonesian counterparts in Dublin later this week, for bilateral consultations on a range of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues.

Human Rights

Questions (6)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

6. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on Ireland's position in relation to operations conducted by the Pakistani state in Balochistan, and the alleged human rights violations being carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21691/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, continues to monitor developments closely in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in light of the ongoing unrest in this region and the recent arrests of prominent human rights activists.

Our Embassy has engaged regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan regarding the most appropriate response and representations to authorities.

I reiterate Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of universal human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom to participate in the political process. Ireland continues to engage with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level.

Human rights concerns have also been raised with Pakistan at EU level, most notably during the 14th EU-Pakistan Joint Commission and Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights, which took place in Islamabad in November 2024. Human rights will continue to feature prominently in trade discussions, most notably ensuring the implementation of international human rights conventions linked to the trade preferences afforded to Pakistan under the GSP+ scheme.

My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, will continue to monitor the evolving situation, along with our like-minded partners and the EU Delegation in Islamabad.

Energy Conservation

Questions (7)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

7. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount allocated to the business energy upgrade scheme grant support, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, in 2025; the amount drawn down to date; the number of businesses this is benefitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21362/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (8)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

8. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when his Department intends to hold an effective public consultation on the development of Ireland's Social Climate Plan; if he will ensure that this consultation takes place with sufficient time to allow meaningful public input before the plan is submitted to the European Commission by 30 June 2025; if the consultation will be accompanied by a detailed environmental impact assessment report, plain-English summaries, multilingual versions, and accessible formats to facilitate broad public and expert engagement; and if he will confirm that the plan will include targeted, sufficient, and long-term structural measures to mitigate the impacts of rising fuel and energy costs on householders as a result of the introduction of the second emissions trading system. [21364/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (9)

Alan Kelly

Question:

9. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department holds any contract with a company (details supplied), in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025; if so, the nature of services this company provided to the Department in the years in question, in tabular form. [21448/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Waste Management

Questions (10)

Barry Heneghan

Question:

10. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken to address the situation in certain areas of Ireland where no waste collection companies are providing services, particularly in cases where elderly and disabled individuals are left without any viable means of disposing of household waste, the supports or interventions being considered to ensure these vulnerable groups are not left behind. [21658/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Defence Forces

Questions (11)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

11. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel, by rank currently in Defence Forces School of Music. [21333/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to the number of personnel currently in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 24 April 2025:

Rank	Lt Col	Comdt	Captain	CS	CQ	Sgt	Cpl	Pte
Strength	1	1	5	4	0	31	22	45

Defence Forces

Questions (12)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

12. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of promotions from the rank of lieutenant to captain that occurred in the Army in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21334/25]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The number of officers who were promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain in the Army in 2024 and to-date in 2025, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in tabular form below:

2024	January	34
February	15
March	2
July	1
2025	February	28
March	25
April	4
Total		109

Naval Service

Questions (13)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

13. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the Parliamentary Budget Office Report on the Naval Service personnel tax credit; whether he agrees with its conclusion that the credit has failed to achieve its stated policy objectives since being introduced; whether he agrees with its recommendation that instead there should be further increases to the Naval Service's patrol duty allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21360/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Official Engagements

Questions (14)

Aidan Farrelly

Question:

14. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the bilateral meetings he has had with his counterparts to date in 2025. [21504/25]

Reply not received from Department.

Pension Provisions

Questions (15)

Paul Lawless

Question:

15. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will increase funding to the CIS scheme substantially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21100/25]

Question No. 15 answered with Question No. 276.

Driver Test

Questions (16)

Mark Ward

Question:

16. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport if people over the age of 70 are exempt from completing the driver certificate of professional competence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21308/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) process is based on European Union Directive 2022/2561, which concerns the initial qualifications and periodic training of drivers of vehicles carrying goods or passengers.

To drive a truck or bus professionally in Ireland, drivers must have a valid driver CPC. Professional drivers over the age of 70 are not exempt from completing the (CPC).

Departmental Staff

Questions (17)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the number of WTE staff, by job title currently within air accident investigation unit of his Department; the number of vacant WTE staff, by job title currently within this unit; and when each of those vacancies be filled, in tabular form. [21320/25]

Written answers

Minister for Transport

The number of WTE staff, by job title, with the Air Accident Investigation Unit of my Department are outlined below:

Grade	FTE
Chief Aeronautical Officer	1
Inspector of Air Accidents	1
Aeronautical Officer Grade 1	7
Higher Executive Officer	1
Executive Officer	1
Clerical Officer	1

There are currently no vacancies to be filled in the Unit.

National Car Test

Questions (18)

Holly Cairns

Question:

18. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport how the estimated time to car test invite statistics are compiled by the RSA; whether his attention has been drawn to significant disparities in the times reported on the CSO website and the waiting period in reality (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested relating to the compilation of statistics on the CSO website is held by the Authority.

I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply and I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.

National Car Test

Questions (19)

Emer Currie

Question:

19. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of NCT tests carried out at centres (details provided) from 2020 to date in 2025, by year, per centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21424/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by the Authority.

Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please contact my office if a response is not received within ten days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.

National Car Test

Questions (20)

Emer Currie

Question:

20. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he would consider compelling the NCT to notify motorists when their NCT is due, to give motorists a reasonable period of time to arrange a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21425/25]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Neither I nor my officials are involved in the delivery of the service at an operational level.

Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please contact my office if a response is not received within ten days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.

• Written Answers Nos. 21-40