Written Answers Nos. 121-140
122. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the development of the Greystones Media Campus, which is partly funded by the Strategic Investment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28575/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTMA has informed me that the Greystones Media Campus is a privately funded project in which the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) is involved as a commercial investor.
On foot of information provided to me by the NTMA, I can now provide you with some background and an update on developments related to the project.
ISIF carefully evaluated for a number of years’ ways in which it could invest on a commercial basis to support the development of new film studio infrastructure in Ireland in light of the increasing demand for film studio infrastructure globally, Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for producing content and the potential benefits to the Irish economy.
As a result of those evaluations, ISIF invested in Greystones Media Campus Limited (GMC), the company formed to develop a film studio in Greystones. The proposed development by GMC in Greystones secured planning permission in January 2021.
In April 2022, it was announced that Hackman Capital Partners, ISIF and Capwell (a Sisk family investment vehicle) would partner to develop the proposed film studio in Greystones. Hackman is a Los Angeles-based real estate investment and operating company which owns and operates film studios in multiple jurisdictions worldwide. Hackman is the majority, controlling shareholder in GMC and ISIF and Capwell are minority, non-controlling shareholders.
As part of the transaction, ISIF committed to invest up to €24m of equity in GMC to part fund the acquisition of the site and the development of a film studio campus. The majority of the transaction equity was committed by the other shareholders in GMC.
As ISIF is a commercial investor it is not able to provide any non-public or commercially sensitive information related to its investment in the company or any particulars of any legal conditions or safeguards contained in the transaction documents.
GMC commenced preliminary works on the site in 2022. However, the film and TV production sector globally faced significant challenges over the last two years which negatively impacted new film studio development projects worldwide including in Ireland generally and in Greystones.
The current status of the development is commercially sensitive information but GMC is renewing its focus on the project. ISIF maintains ongoing and regular engagement with the company and its shareholders with respect to the proposed development.
As Minister for Finance I welcome the renewed focus on the project.
123. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine a citizenship case for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28672/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 or Naturalisation.
Foreign Birth Registration, 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.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents, 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.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents were received for the application on 3 November 2023. A member of the FBR team has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.
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 +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
124. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has considered setting up a portal for An Garda Síochána and the Passport Office to allow a Garda log all the details related to their signing of passport applications and associated details (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28762/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online.
The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation and ranks 3rd in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 193 countries. The witnessing of passport forms is a vital element of the identity verification process.
For each application that requires a Garda witness, the Passport Service calls the relevant Garda station to confirm that the Garda recorded the form in the station logbook. The logbook is a record that is maintained by An Garda Síochána at each Garda Station. Passport Service staff will call the Garda station up to three times to verify the Garda's signature. Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station, there is a system in place whereby the Passport Service contacts the relevant Superintendent’s Office to verify the details. Only then will the Passport Service request a new witnessed form.
The Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms. The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants, including the enhancements of digital services. My Department would welcome the digitisation of the records maintained by An Garda Síochána when witnessing applications.
125. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to deepen Ireland's diplomatic presence in both Singapore and Malaysia. [28938/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has longstanding ties with Singapore and Malaysia and this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with both countries. In line with the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, my Department aims to deepen its engagement with countries in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore. In this context, an additional posted staff member was assigned to Ireland’s Embassy in Singapore and our Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in the last 12 months.
In the 50 years since diplomatic relations were established, the relationship between Ireland and Singapore has developed significantly. Ireland opened a resident embassy in Singapore in 2000 which now forms part of a strong Team Ireland presence, comprising Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. These State Agencies are co-located in the new Ireland House, which opened this year, signifying the potential we see in our relationship with Singapore. Officials in my Department are in regular communication with the High Commission of the Republic of Singapore in London, which is accredited to Ireland.
In March of this year, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton TD travelled to Singapore to mark St. Patrick’s Day. In November 2023, Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD visited Singapore as part of an Enterprise Ireland trade mission. In July 2022, as Taoiseach, I visited Singapore and met with then-Prime Minister Lee and Deputy Prime Minister Wong, now Prime Minister. In January 2024, Singapore’s Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung visited Ireland and met with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Dara Calleary.
The Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur opened in 1995 and Malaysia’s Embassy in Dublin opened in 2001. Ireland also has significant engagement with Malaysia though our state agencies. In 2021, Enterprise Ireland placed a full-time Education in Ireland representative in Kuala Lumpur, co-locating with the Embassy. Malaysia is a priority market for Bord Bia, which operates in South East Asia from its office in Singapore.
In November 2023, Minister of State Martin Heydon visited Malaysia as part of a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia trade mission. Minister of State Niall Collins visited Malaysia for St. Patrick’s Day in 2023.
126. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the dates in 2024 where the Irish Consul General based in Manchester, UK met the lord mayor of Newcastle, UK, in tabular form. [28939/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince Ireland's Consulate General was established in Manchester, North of England, in 2021, the Consul General and Vice Consul have engaged extensively with a wide range of figures from across the region to strengthen political, commercial, community and cultural ties between Ireland and the North of England. These ties are significant, as was evidenced by President Higgin’s recent visit to Manchester to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester. The Consulate continues to be a physical testament to the importance that the Irish Government places on the relationship with the North of England, and to our ambitions for the relationship between Britain and Ireland.
The Consul General has not met with the Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 2024 to date. The Vice Consul participated in St Patrick’s Day events in Newcastle organised by the local Irish community on 17 March, alongside the Lord Mayor and the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, but did not hold a formal meeting with the Lord Mayor. As the Deputy will be aware, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle is an honorary position which changes on a yearly basis.
An official meeting took place with the Lord Mayor of Newcastle in May 2022. The Consul General also met with the Mayor of North of Tyne in 2021 and 2022. This office has now been reformed and expanded to that of the Mayor of the North East.
127. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if additional sanctions are being considered at EU level to be applied on North Korea due to its involvement in the Ukraine war. [29002/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland implements both sanctions as adopted by the United Nations Security Council, and EU restrictive measures adopted within the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting in EU history, including extensive import and export bans, travel and transport bans, asset freezes, and media restrictions. In June 2024, Ireland welcomed the adoption of the EU’s 14th sanctions package, which further strengthens efforts to combat circumvention. The 14th package includes new provisions relating to Russia’s energy, financial and transport sectors and further anti-circumvention measures. The package also includes the listing of 116 additional individuals and entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, including a company involved in shipping weapons and ammunitions from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into Russia. Ireland supports the continued use of EU sanctions to maintain pressure on Russia and limit its access to sensitive items and battlefield goods.
The UN Security Council has adopted multiple sanction Resolutions relating to DPRK, targeting its nuclear, weapons of mass destruction, and ballistic missile-related programmes; most recently UNSCR 2270 (2016).
The EU has also introduced autonomous measures targeting DPRK including export and import restrictions on arms and related materiel of all types; materials, equipment, goods and technology, all items that enhance the armed forces capabilities or contribute to DPRK's nuclear, ballistic-missile, and other WMD-related programs. The EU sanctions' regime for the DPRK is one of the most restrictive in force.
In March 2024, the European Council called for the preparation of further sanctions relating to DPRK, Belarus and Iran, in response to their military support for Russia. On 31 May 2024, the Council sanctioned an additional six individuals and three entities in view of sanctions evasion activities carried out by the DPRK that could generate funds for its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and considering the military support given by the DPRK to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Those targeted are subject to an asset freeze and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly for the benefit of those listed, is prohibited. An EU travel ban also applies to the listed individuals.
The EU will continue to underline that the DPRK’s transfer of arms and related equipment to Russia represents a breach of multiple UNSC resolutions, which unequivocally prohibit any arms exports or imports involving the DPRK. Multiple independent entities have confirmed that the DPRK has provided ballistic missiles to Russia, which Russia has used against Ukraine. Ireland and our EU partners have also consistently condemned DPRK’s continued ballistic missile launches, in blatant contravention of UNSC resolutions. We call on DPRK to immediately end its highly destabilising actions, and to end its nuclear, WMD and other ballistic missile programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.
128. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated full-year capital and current costs that would be required if another passport printing machine were purchased for the Passport Office in Dublin. [29003/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There are currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online which is now available to 99.9% of all applicants globally.
The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and for the Passport Service. Passport Online is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications.
The initial capital cost of purchasing and installing a new printer and mailing machine is estimated to be approximately €6 million. The machines themselves cost over €3m. In addition to this, the infrastructure required to install and operate these machines are considerable and include structural work to the building in which they are to be located. The installation of the machines and provision of the related infrastructure is estimated to cost an additional €3m.
In addition to the capital investment, these highly sophisticated machines require expert engineers to be on-site while the machines are in operation to maintain and service the machines and repair them when necessary. The running and maintenance costs alone are estimated to be €600,000 per year.
I am satisfied that the current production capacity meets the needs of passport applicants. The Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29046/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.
130. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the revenue that has been collected from the temporary solidarity contribution to date; the impact this legal challenge is having on the collection of the temporary solidarity contribution (details supplied); if he has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on the matter; if the temporary solidarity contribution is being withheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28630/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCouncil Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices provides for a temporary solidarity contribution on unexpected surplus profits (“windfall gains”) in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors as a result of the Ukraine war.
The temporary solidarity contribution was implemented in Ireland through the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Act 2023. This Act provides for two payments of temporary solidarity contribution in respect of the years 2022 and 2023 and also provides the Revenue Commissioners with the legislative powers to administer, collect, and enforce the temporary solidarity contribution. The payment deadline for the 2022 temporary solidarity contribution was 23 September 2023 and the payment deadline for the 2023 temporary solidarity contribution is 23 September 2024.
To date, €167,221,000 has been collected by the Revenue Commissioners and remitted to the Exchequer. The total proceeds of temporary solidarity contribution collected in 2023 were utilised towards the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme III.
It would not be appropriate to give any comment on active legal cases that are before the courts.
