Questions - Written Answers 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. 02/10/2013WRA00350Human Rights Issues 02/10/2013WRA0040011. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia; his views on the hu- man rights legislation currently in place in the Russian Federation; the actions has he taken to raise these concerns with his Russian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41195/13] 02/10/2013WRA00500Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): The 22nd Winter Olympic Games will be held in the Russian city of Sochi from 7-23 February 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, and as was the case with previous Olympics, the awarding of these Games was a decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), rather than of national governments. Respect for diversity and inclusiveness are, of course, an integral part of the Olympic ideal and I would very much like to see this reflected at the Games in Sochi. The IOC is in ongoing contact with the Russian government regarding recent legislation relating to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex persons (LGBTI) and any possible implica- tions for athletes or spectators at the Sochi Games. My own views on the legislation referred to are very well-known in this House and else- where. I have made LGBTI rights a Human Rights priority and am firmly committed to com- bating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. As I made clear earlier today, I strongly disagree with the legislation which, while purporting to protect young people, is more likely to result in the further stigmatisation and, indeed, criminalisation of LG- BTI young people. This position has been conveyed by my Department to the Russian Chargé d’affaires and I have undertaken to raise the matter at my next meeting with a Russian Minister. I understand that the IOC has received written assurances from Russian officials there will be no discrimination at the Sochi Games. I would strongly encourage the Russian authorities to continue to provide robust assurances to the IOC and to the wider international community that the human rights and dignity of all participants and spectators, regardless of their sexual orientation, will be scrupulously respected including freedom of expression and freedom of as- sociation and assembly. 02/10/2013WRA00550Overseas Development Aid Provision 02/10/2013WRA0060012. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current situation is respect to the commitment to overseas development aid. [41066/13] 510 2 October 2013 02/10/2013WRA0070017. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he remains committed to the 0.7% of GNP target for overseas development aid to be achieved by 2015; if provision will be made to make further progress towards this target in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41191/13] 02/10/2013WRA0080054. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that, considering Ireland’s aid promise is made as a percentage of our national income, when the Government speaks of consolidating the overseas aid budget, he is referring to consolidating not the euro amount, but the ODA-GNI percentage. [41150/13] 02/10/2013WRA00900Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costel- lo): I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17 and 54 together. The Government is committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. This commitment was expressed and enhanced by the publication earlier this year of our new Policy on International Development, “One World, One Future”, which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the central- ity of the aid programme to our foreign policy. The new policy states clearly our commitment to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) when economic circumstances permit. Over the past two years, the Government has broadly stabilised the budget for development assistance - a significant achievement in the context of the very difficult conditions facing the country. For 2012 Ireland provided almost €629 million in ODA, representing 0.47% of GNP. For 2013 the Government has allocated a total of €622 million in ODA. These very signifi- cant allocations of public funds are evidence of a consolidation of the development assistance budget and represent a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people in assisting those less fortunate than ourselves. The Estimates process for Budget 2014 is now well under way. The Budget will be framed in the context of the Government’s overall fiscal consolidation strategy. Departmental budget allocations for 2014 will be a matter for Government decision and will be announced in the Budget Statement. 02/10/2013WRA00950Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 02/10/2013WRA0100013. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in the trade talks between the EU and the US; in view of the trade remit of his Department the particular role he and his Department have in these discussions at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41214/13] 02/10/2013WRA01100Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): Con- siderable preparatory work by the Irish EU Presidency and intensive discussions at the EU Trade Council on 14 June – under the chairmanship of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation - led to agreement on a mandate for the European Commission to formally launch negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). This ranks amongst our most important Presidency achievements. The first round of negotiations took place in Washington in the week beginning 8 July 2013 and represented a positive initial exchange of views and a useful clarification of respective positions. Intensive contacts in different areas have continued during the summer, paving the way for substantial discussions at the second round, to be held in Brussels next week. The EU and the US, two of the world’s largest trading blocs, already have very strong trad- ing and investment ties. The conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the US would have a 511 Questions - Written Answers significant and positive impact on trade, resulting in new markets for Irish and for other Euro- pean exporters and bringing positive effects on job creation and competitiveness. A compre- hensive deal on areas such as common regulatory standards and investment rules holds massive potential for economic growth and jobs which it is estimated could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum and help create approximately 400,000 jobs in the EU. While the lead Department for the coordination of Ireland’s interests in EU trade policy is the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the negotiations are being followed by all relevant Government departments including my own Department which has lead responsibil- ity for bilateral relations with the United States and for trade promotion. The United States remains one of our most important trading and investment partners and as such the proposed Agreement has the potential to impact very favourably on Ireland’s prosperity, on growth and on jobs, all priorities for the Government. 02/10/2013WRA01150Undocumented Irish in the USA 02/10/2013WRA0120014. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he held in the US recently regarding legislative reforms to assist the undocu- mented Irish; the current status of plans for an E3 visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41178/13] 02/10/2013WRA0130026. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of any meetings he had with US politicians and Irish diaspora groups regarding US immigration reform during his recent visit to New York. [41168/13] 02/10/2013WRA0140071. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his efforts to progress visa resolution for Irish citizens who live without documentation in the United States. [41056/13] 02/10/2013WRA01500Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore): I pro- pose to take Questions Nos. 14, 26 and 71 together. This is an issue I treat with the very highest priority. During my visit to the US last week, I spoke with several key contacts in the US Congress including leading members of the House Judiciary Committee, Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, Pete King. I also met with representatives of Irish community groups as well as some community members who are undocumented. I am acutely aware of the diffi- culties they face as a result of their undocumented status. I am more determined than ever to continue to work to find a solution to their plight. A resolution of the situation facing the undocumented Irish in the United States remains a priority for the Government. The Government also attaches great importance to seeking provi- sion for future flows of migration between Ireland and the United States through the extension of the “E-3” visa scheme to include Irish citizens.