Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his opening statement. I will touch on a few items. He mentioned the European Peace Facility and the increased funding for it. I note last Wednesday that, with the co-operation with the Lithuanians, €3 million was committed to providing for a bomb shelter for a school in Ukraine. That was a joint initiative. I am not sure if that is under the European Peace Facility or not. The funding that is committed from the Department for such initiatives is very welcome because it is practical support to the Ukrainians but the additional support here through the European Peace Facility is very welcome. The Tánaiste also mentioned the €32 million for the UN peacekeeping missions and he outlined the reasons for that. Does he have figures to hand for the UN peacekeeping missions in terms of our expenditure last year and what expenditure we have increased it by year on year to give a snapshot of the level of increase year on year?

Regarding reconciliation and North-South co-operation, the increase under that heading is very welcome. The Tánaiste mentioned the fellowship, which would be good. That kind of cross-Border initiative is extremely important and it is great to see additional funding is allocated to it.

On passports, I agree with colleagues who have complimented the Passport Office and the work it does. Often, many of the cases are urgent because people have just realised the situation they are in. For those who need passports urgently for either health or bereavement reasons, the Passport Office is exceptionally co-operative and engaged. I have one suggestion, which I have made before directly to the Passport Office, and perhaps through the Department's auspices I can suggest it again, that is, that the checking of documentation that is actually lodged could be done quicker or sooner and at an earlier stage. That would weed out a lot of problems, be they with photographs or documentation missing or unsigned consent forms, etc. It is certainly welcome to see this additional funding because no doubt there is a need for improved facilities.

On the Global Ireland initiative, the Tánaiste mentioned the new Ireland houses that are being opened. Does he, or perhaps any of the officials with him, have a percentage of how many of these residences or premises we own versus lease? In his opening statement he remarked on the increased costs of certain leases. These are obviously required and nobody doubts that but I would love to see us preferring to own the properties rather than lease them out. In some circumstances and in some cities, it makes more sense to lease the property rather than to own it. If the Tánaiste had that percentage for the figure of those leases versus ownership, it would be great.