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7 May 2013 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 15, inclusive, answered orally. Questions Nos. 16 to 71, inclusive, resubmitted. Questions Nos. 72 to 78, inclusive, answered orally. 07/05/2013WRL00550Common Foreign and Security Policy 07/05/2013WRL0060079. Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Defence his proposals for cultivating closer EU/UN relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21320/13] 07/05/2013WRL0070084. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence his proposals for improving EU/UN relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21301/13] 07/05/2013WRL00800Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 84 together. The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy forms an integral part of the Union’s Com- mon Foreign and Security Policy. In the area of Common Security and Defence Policy, the role of the Presidency is now limited to supporting the High Representative and the European External Action Service in this regard. However, that said, this arrangement provides Ireland with an opportunity to influence the Common Security and Defence Policy agenda. The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy forms an integral part of the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. In the area of Common Security and Defence Policy, the role of the Presi- dency is now limited to supporting the High Representative and the European External Action Service in this regard. However, that said, this arrangement provides Ireland with an opportu- nity to influence the Common Security and Defence Policy agenda. Following on from an initiative by Ireland, the EU adopted an Action Plan on EU/UN co-operation. This action plan provides the contextual backdrop to the adoption as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council 2013, the enhancement of EU/UN Relations, in particular, through EU engagement and participation in UN Peacekeeping. I, and my Department, hosted a very successful and well attended seminar in Dublin Castle on this subject. Speakers from the EU, NATO, the UN and, for the first time, the African Union, as well as academia gave informative presentations to over 120 delegates who attended from all over Europe. This seminar informed the follow up discussion at the Informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers who recognised the primacy of the UN in the maintenance of international peace and 99 Questions - Written Answers security and the requirement for the EU to work hand in hand with the UN. Attendance by the UN at the Informal meeting of EU Ministers for Defence, represented by the Under Secretary General at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, has cemented this priority into the thinking of the EU. Evidence of the deepening of co-operation between the European Union and the United Na- tions has resulted in the re-establishment of an EU/UN steering board which now meets on a regular basis. The most recent meeting took place two weeks ago. Furthermore at that meeting the UN undertook to provide the EU with a list of capabilities it requires to undertake interna- tional peacekeeping operations so as to ascertain how the EU may assist. As such we now have a concrete process for cultivating closer co-operation between the EU and the UN, partly as a result of this being made a priority of our Presidency. In summary, this priority has and will continue to provide impetus to the Union as a whole to the enhancement of co-operation between the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and the United Nations. 07/05/2013WRL00850Proposed Legislation 07/05/2013WRL0090080. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence when he proposes to introduce new legislation for the Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/13] 07/05/2013WRL01000102. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence when he proposes to up- date legislation in the Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21316/13] 07/05/2013WRL01100Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 102 together. To this end, my Department has commenced work on the review and has had discussions with the Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross on the proposed legislative proposals, which in the main relate to codification of the various legal instruments in effect since 1939. I am ad- vised that the Red Cross have indicated to my officials that they are satisfied in principle with the Department’s proposals. For the purposes of clarity, the Deputy may wish to note that it is not intended to alter the existing corporate governance arrangements of the Society. I anticipate subject to Government approval that a Red Cross (Amendment) Bill will be published during the lifetime of this Government. Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 77. 07/05/2013WRL01250Ministerial Travel 07/05/2013WRL0130082. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a report on his St. Patrick’s Day programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21312/13] 07/05/2013WRL0140093. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his visit to Lebanon, Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21133/13] 07/05/2013WRL01500106. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his visit to Lebanon, Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20590/13] 07/05/2013WRL01600107. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline to Dáil Éire- ann, in respect of this year’s overseas travel for Saint Patrick’s Day, the benefit of this trip; and 100 7 May 2013 if he will make a statement on the matter. [21129/13] 07/05/2013WRL01700Minister for Defence (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 93, 106 and 107 together. My visit to Lebanon afforded me an opportunity to see, at first hand, the dedication and professionalism of military personnel and the tremendous work done overseas by the Irish De- fence Forces personnel serving as part of a joint Irish/Finnish battalion with the United Nations Interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in south Lebanon. I conveyed to the troops our deep appre- ciation for the outstanding manner in which they continue to perform their duties on overseas service. The visit to the troops was part of a comprehensive St Patrick’s Day programme in the Middle East. During my visit to the Irish/Finnish battalion’s area of operations, I received brief- ings on the current situation in the region and met with the UNIFIL Force Commander, General Paolo Serra of Italy. I also laid a wreath at the Memorial in Tibnin to the forty-seven members of the Defence Forces who died in Lebanon in the cause of peace. When in Lebanon I also met with the Lebanese Minister for Defence, Mr. Fayez Ghosn and we discussed the current security and political situation and the challenges being faced by Lebanon and how their efforts can be supported by Ireland and the international community. I also discussed with him the current conflict in Syria and the refugee crisis, and in particular the number of Syrian refugees in the Lebanon and the supports required by Lebanon from the EU. On 12 March 2013, I visited the Golan Heights and I met with Irish Defence Forces person- nel who are serving with the UN Truce Supervision Organisation as unarmed Military Observ- ers in support of UNDOF, the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights. I also met Major General Iqbal Singh Singha from India, the Head of Mission and Force Commander UNDOF. I was briefed on security issues in that area, especially the growing risks flowing from instability in Syria and the impact of the refugee crisis in the region. In Israel, I engaged in trade promotion activities, attended a business breakfast organised by the IDA and the Embassy. I also attended the Israel launch of the Ireland-Israel Business Network.The IDA and the Ireland Israel Business Network are following up on contacts made.I attended the 45th anniversary celebration of the Ireland Israel Friendship League where I met with many of the Irish diaspora in Israel. I also attended Saint Patrick’s Day events held in Jeru- salem and in Tel Aviv. In the course of my visit I also attended an Ireland/Israel seminar on road safety where the experiences of the relevant authorities in both States were shared and options for continued engagement in improving road safety were explored. I received a briefing on on- going developments in the use of unmanned aerial systems for security surveillance purposes. The Defence Forces already use such systems in peacekeeping operations. In relation to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, I received briefings and had a number of discussions on the overall political situation, with a number of politicians including both the outgoing and incoming Ministers for Justice in Israel, Yaakov Neeman and Tzipi Livni respec- tively. Tzipi Livni has been appointed by the Israeli Prime Minister as the lead negotiator with the Palestinians to advance the peace process. While visiting Ramallah in the West Bank, I met with Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian of- ficial and negotiator, with the Minister for Justice of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Ali Muhanna and with NGOs and UN agencies operating on the ground.
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