Vol. 742 Tuesday, No. 2 4 October 2011 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Máirt, 4 Deireadh Fómhair 2011. Ceisteanna — Questions Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Priority Questions …………………………… 179 Other Questions …………………………… 187 Messages from Select Committees ………………………… 198 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 198 Ceisteanna — Questions (resumed) ………………………… 203 Order of Business ……………………………… 219 Topical Issue Matters ……………………………… 220 Topical Issue Debate Vocational Education Committees ……………………… 220 Social Welfare Appeals …………………………… 225 Family Support Services …………………………… 228 Issue of Writ: Dublin West By-election ……………………… 230 Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage ………………… 241 Private Members’ Business Closure of Army Barracks: Motion ……………………… 255 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 279 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 4 Deireadh Fómhair 2011. Tuesday, 4 October 2011. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.00 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Ceisteanna — Questions Priority Questions ———— Middle East Peace Process 41. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there will be discussions between Israel and Palestine; when these will take place; and if there will be a time frame put on the outcome. [27383/11] Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): Direct nego- tiations between the two sides are the only way to achieve a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. The issues are complex and difficult, but they are not insoluble and an agreement is there to be had, if there is the political will on both sides. The United States, under President Obama, with the support of the European Union and the Quartet, has worked over a long period to try to bring about the beginning of talks between the parties. However, apart from a brief and abortive beginning in September 2010, their efforts have been frustrated. Last week the Quartet issued an important statement setting out a timetable for renewed talks. This calls for a preparatory meeting between the two sides to take place within one month to agree to a timetable of not later than the end of 2012 to reach an agreement. The parties will be expected to come forward within three months with comprehensive proposals on the initial issues of security and borders and to deal substantially with these within six months. Other issues would be addressed as progress allowed. This is a challenging timetable, but there is no reason it cannot be achieved if the parties genuinely wish to reach an agreement and are prepared to take the risks required. In particular, Israel must be encouraged to see that its own best interests are not served by maintaining the short-term advantages of the status quo and the occupation. I very much hope we can convince the parties to engage on this basis. It is particularly important that they create the right conditions for success by refraining from provocative actions, including further settlement expansion. In this context, I condemn last week’s announcement of 1,000 new dwellings being constructed in the east Jerusalem settlement of 179 Priority 4 October 2011. Questions [Deputy Eamon Gilmore.] Gilo. Ireland, both nationally and in the European Union, will do everything it can to support the relaunching of substantive peace talks. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Tánaiste for his response and congratulate him on his contribution at the UN General Assembly on 26 September. There had been some speculation in the media on that occasion that he would perhaps depart from his speech on Ireland’s traditional position in terms of the Middle East conflict. I commend him for the position he took. All parties in the House will be supportive of the work on which he will engage in the future. The Tánaiste quoted appropriately Martin Luther King in terms of the “fierce urgency of now”. In fairness, this is reflected in the response of the Quartet and the timescale set out. Given the impediments and particular problems with Mr. Netanyahu, will the Tánaiste indicate whether he and his EU colleagues will engage collectively or bilaterally on the matter and whether it is envisaged that he or other EU foreign Ministers will meet Mr. Netanyahu directly to try to address the awful problem of the continued settlement expansion because therein lies the greatest difficulty? Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for his support of the statement which I made on behalf of the country at the United Nations last week. I also thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn, among other Deputies, for expressing support for that position. I am very conscious that the position I outlined at the UN General Assembly is a national one. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl indicated, this country has had a long-standing policy of supporting Palestinian statehood. The resolution of the problem in the Middle East will only come about following discussions. The Quartet statement provides a timetable within which discussions would get under way within a month and then a period within which the issues of borders and security would be addressed, and it sets a definite date by which negotiations should be completed by the end of 2012. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union, has been engaged with both sides in seeking to bring that forward. There will be a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union next week and I expect that the issue will be discussed further at that stage. I intend to visit the Middle East at some stage. I have not yet set exact dates for it but I will co-ordinate with Baroness Ashton about that so that the position of the European Union and its Foreign Ministers can be co-ordinated in the efforts that we make. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome that response. An active approach is required in this instance. Given the trade relations between Israel and many EU member states, bilateral connectivity between the Governments of EU states and the Israeli Government could be helpful to bring all parties to the table as a matter of urgency. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I agree with that. There is ongoing bilateral contact between Euro- pean Union states and our own. I have spoken directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Lieberman, about the issue and I intend to do that again. When we are in a position to diary it, in particular, I intend to co-ordinate this with Baroness Ashton, to schedule a visit to the Middle East and to make our own direct involvement in the issue in order to help and facilitate moving talks forward. 180 Priority 4 October 2011. Questions Overseas Development Aid 42. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that the relatively limited damage done by the drought in Kenya and Ethiopia can be attributed to his overall development strategy and that of the international community in those countries; and if he will explain the rationale by which he has funded specific non- governmental organisations during the recent emergency in the Horn of Africa. [27381/11] Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan) (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The appalling situation in the Horn of Africa highlights the import- ance of planning longer-term solutions to the problem of hunger in developing countries. This is exemplified by the effect of the crisis on Ethiopia and Somalia. Somalia, which has been wracked by conflict for two decades, is reeling from the ravages of the drought. Ethiopia, which has a stable Government and a strong relationship with the international community, is meeting the challenge head-on. While there are undoubtedly enormous humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, mechanisms to deal with the crisis are being deployed against a backdrop of relative peace, stability and high levels of Government co-ordination. Ireland has played a role in building this resilience, as Ethiopia has been a priority country for Ireland’s aid programme since 1994. A clear example is our support to the Productive Safety Net Programme, which provides the vulnerable with predict- able cash or food transfers in return for work on projects such as land rehabilitation. This programme helps to protect the lives of more than 7 million people annually. This year, the Government has allocated more than €32 million to Ethiopia. Kenya is not a priority country for Irish Aid but NGOs, missionaries and the UN system are working in longer-term development activities there and receive significant support from Ireland. Based on 2010 expenditure we expect to provide more than €7 million in assistance in 2011. In addition, the Government has allocated more than €10 million in emergency support to the current crisis and has committed an additional €10 million before the end of 2012. Funding decisions are based on the ability of partner agencies to address the most urgent needs, such as emergency feeding programmes which target the most vulnerable. These allocations have also been informed by the recommendations of three field visits by Irish Aid officials to the region this year. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: When we discussed this earlier this year, I raised the issue of the resuscitation of boreholes as one approach that we could take. As the Minister of State will be aware, the first problem in the Horn of Africa, and why there has been a famine declared in a number of regions of Somalia, is the political instability which prevents having a long-term approach such as that we have seen in Ethiopia. It is clear that the same environmental circumstances pertain to Ethiopia and Kenya, but they have not faced famine at this point.