17 October 2012 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, answered orally. Irish Language 17/10/2012WRA0040011. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed progress on the Irish Language Act with the Northern Executive and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44891/12] 17/10/2012WRA00500Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): All parties to the Good Friday Agreement recognised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, including in Northern Ireland, the Irish language and the languages of the various ethnic communities, as part of the cultural wealth of the island of Ireland. In the St Andrews Agreement, the British government committed to introducing an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and to working with the Execu- tive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish Language. It also called on the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to work to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The British legislation giving effect to the St. Andrews Agreement included a specific requirement on the Executive to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposed to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. Since the restoration of the devolved Institutions on 8 May 2007, the question of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the North- ern Ireland Executive. In that regard, my colleagues the Minister for Arts, Heritage & the Gael- tacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. and Minister of State Dinny McGinley T.D. have had ongoing discussions on the matter with his counterpart, the Northern Ireland Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA. On 11 July 2012, Minister Ní Chuilín launched a con- sultation process expiring on 27 November on strategies for the Irish language and Ulster Scots. The Government continues to follow developments closely in relation to the proposed Act, as well as the overall enhancement and protection of the Irish Language in Northern Ireland. We remain fully committed to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement, including the provisions relating to the Irish language. EU Presidency Expenditure 1 Questions - Written Answers 17/10/2012WRA0060012. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Northern Executive on all island priorities for the Irish Presi- dency of the EU Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44882/12] 17/10/2012WRA00700Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): Our forthcoming EU Presidency is an excellent opportunity to foster closer North-South links across a wide number of areas of cooperation. This will be the first time that Ireland has held the Presidency of the EU during a time when the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are fully operational. As such, this is a unique opportunity to deepen our cooperation with the Executive, and the Deputy can be assured that the Government will maximise the benefits to be derived from this. In discussions at recent meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), we have availed of the opportunity to set out for our Northern Ireland Executive counterparts the value of working together to gain mutual benefit from the upcoming Irish EU Presidency. It is clear to both sides that at a time when major negotiations are taking place on new transnational pro- grammes, there is a need to deepen dialogue at all levels. Naturally the Irish EU Presidency will feature prominently among the issues to be discussed at the forthcoming plenary meeting of the NSMC on 2 November. It was agreed at the plenary meeting on 15 June 2012 that EU matters were to be included in future as an agenda item for all relevant Ministerial meetings. At a practical level the Government is working to involve Northern Ministers in Presidency events where this is possible. Several opportunities for Northern participation in Presidency- related events, initiatives and conferences have already been identified. Active consideration is also being given to possible participation of Northern Ministers in informal meetings and other events in the energy, justice, sport, tourism, trade and business, research and innovation and transport areas. We have also agreed with Northern Ireland Ministers to the secondment of a small number of officials from the Northern Ireland Civil Service to work in our system in the run up to and during the Presidency. We are continuing our longstanding high-level briefings for senior NI officials in regard to the priorities each EU Presidency. The most recent such briefing, in regard to the Cypriot Presidency, took place in Dublin on 5 September. Foreign Conflicts 17/10/2012WRA0080013. Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to alleviate the plight of displaced and affected persons in the Syrian civil war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44895/12] 17/10/2012WRA0090059. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide further details of his recent trip to the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan; the scale of the problem on the ground; the way that Ireland has helped to date; and his plans for future assistance. [44812/12] 17/10/2012WRA01000Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): I pro- pose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 59 together. The people of Syria have been devastated by eighteen months of brutal violence. The numbers are horrifying – more than 19,000 killed in the violence, 2.5 million people in Syria in desperate need of assistance, over 1.2 million Syrians displaced within their own country 2 17 October 2012 and over quarter of a million Syrians now refugees in neighbouring countries. Recent reports have described indiscriminate shelling of densely populated areas, excessive use of force and random targeting of innocent civilians. There is urgent need for additional food, medical care and shelter as we face into the harsh winter months. Particular concern has been expressed for the 500,000 Palestinian and 100,000 Iraqi refugees living in Syria. My colleague Minister of State, Joe Costello visited the region in August to witness first- hand the humanitarian consequences of this devastating crisis. In Za’atari refugee camp, 80 kilometres north of the Jordanian capital Amman, close to the Syrian border, he heard directly from Syrians who had recently fled the violence. The Minister also saw how the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency responsible for the camp, was struggling with limited resources to pro- vide even the most basic services such as shelter, food and water. In meetings with the Jordanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nasser Judeh, the Jordani- an Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Jafar Hassan, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Minister Costello was briefed on how this refugee burden is plac- ing huge pressure on their country – one with a high pre-existing refugee population coupled with severe resource constraints. As early as March this year, Ireland provided €500,000 in emergency funding to the Inter- national Committee of the Red Cross, the UNHCR and the World Food Programme to provide life saving assistance inside Syria and in the neighbouring region. Informed by the Government’s visit to Jordan, in August we were able to mobilise an addi- tional €1.6 million of humanitarian assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, the World Health Organisation and the International Rescue Committee. In advance of the approaching winter, Ireland has allocated an added €150,000 in non-food items for the UNHCR from our Rapid Response stocks in Dubai. Since March this year Ireland has therefore provided €2.25 million in humanitarian assistance. Even if the reality on the ground is disheartening, we must continue to promote a peaceful settlement with the ultimate aim of political transition in Syria. Ireland is fully supportive of the newly appointed UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, and his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and chart a political path ahead. In parallel, international pressure needs to be maintained to bring an end to the violence and compel the Syrian regime to stop its bloody repression. Ireland, along with our international partners, has been advocating for a strong UN Security Council Resolution. I believe that this is now long overdue. There is a need for effective leadership and action on the part of the Security Council, imposing sanctions on those who continue to wage war on innocent civilians and who fail to meet their international obligations. It is very clear that, while this is a humanitarian crisis, it is driven by politics and will only be solved with a political solution. From the beginning, Ireland has recognised this, striving to respond to the humanitarian needs of the populations affected by the violence whilst work- ing simultaneously for a sustainable political solution, based on accommodating the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people. I can ensure you we will continue to maintain these efforts. 17/10/2012WRB00150State Visits 3 Questions - Written Answers 17/10/2012WRB0020014. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent visit of the President and the Minister of State to South America and the estimated impact on relations and trade between Ireland and Chile, Brazil and Argentina; and if he will make a statement on the matter.