Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding difficulties concerning the obtaining of visas to permit internationals to work and volunteer in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories; if this matter has been raised with relevant Governments and authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8703/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 375 on 9 February on this issue, which was as follows: "NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories perform a vital role in trying to mitigate and ease the burden of the occupation on the Palestinian people, provide for their physical well-being in circumstances where economic life and opportunities are severely constrained, and attempt to redress some of the injustices of occupation policies. Without their work the likelihood of the increasing pressures resulting in renewed violence would be very much greater, and they are therefore clearly of benefit to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and help provide the breathing space in which the current search for a peaceful settlement can take place.

Experienced and highly qualified international staff form the backbone of international NGOs and UN operations, and international staff and volunteers contribute strongly to the work of Israeli and especially Palestinian NGOs. Despite difficulties, in general it has been possible up to now for staff working with international NGOs to obtain B1 visas, allowing them to work in Israel and Palestine, but staff with Palestinian NGOs have had to work under much more varied and irregular status, or sometimes none. In recent months I have become aware of reports of more restricted practices by the Israeli authorities in issuing visas to staff of international NGOs. They are being issued, often with considerable delays, with B2 visas entitling them to visit but not to work in Israel, with the implication being that working in Palestinian areas is a matter for the Palestinian Authority.

In addition to the increased bureaucracy and lack of transparency of the changed system, which seems to reflect a greater pressure generally on NGOs, the issuing of B2 visas causes a real difficulty in relation to East Jerusalem, which is considered by the Israeli authorities to be part of Israel. Many NGOs work among the predominantly Palestinian population of East Jerusalem, while international staff working in other parts of the West Bank often live there. The position of both NGOs and staff, and movements through the maze of restrictions around the greater Jerusalem area, are made considerably more difficult by this change.

The Irish Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah have been closely following this development in concert with our EU partners and through contacts with the NGO community. The exact scope and effect of the new rules are still being established. Together with our EU partners we are considering what action we can take. A very important consideration in this regard is that we should be careful that any action in this highly complex area does not make matters worse.

The basic position of principle is quite clear: for as long as Israel remains in occupation of the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, it should facilitate unhindered access to those areas by international staff seeking to help the Palestinian people living under that occupation."

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been contacted regarding the possibility of seeking to assist those unemployed, such as builders, to continue to benefit from State welfare payment schemes if they were to volunteer for charity rebuilding programmes in Haiti or other countries suffering from natural disasters; his views on the fact that such a scheme would be beneficial in seeking to minimise and address unemployment and in addressing issues of isolation, loss of status and the purposelessness that the unemployed often face when they lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8704/10]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Through the aid programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Government currently funds the work of over 1,300 long term development workers, volunteers and missionaries in developing countries. Their contribution is an important and greatly valued aspect of the overall Irish contribution to the fight against global poverty and hunger.

A number of proposals have been put forward over the past year in relation to the promotion of volunteering opportunities at home and abroad among unemployed Irish workers. The issues involved, including those which relate to social welfare payments, fall under the responsibility of a number of Government Departments. Officials from Irish Aid are in ongoing discussions with other Departments on the promotion of volunteering opportunities.

International volunteering provides an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the fight against poverty in the developing world, while gaining valuable work and life experience. However, it is important to recognise that volunteering in some of the poorest and most difficult environments in the world can present serious challenges for all concerned. It is important for those volunteering, and for those they are helping, that all dimensions of the challenge are fully considered in advance.

As part of the Government's response to the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti, six experts have been deployed so far from Ireland's Rapid Response Corps roster. They are providing specific skills for emergency operations in Haiti. Three have been assigned to work with the World Food Programme, one to support the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and two to work with the developments NGOs, Concern and Goal. The Rapid Response Corps consists of a roster of volunteers with highly specialised skills in areas such as logistics, engineering, and water and sanitation. They are available for secondment at short notice to the UN and other humanitarian organisations in need of their particular skills in response to disasters and emergencies. The Corps was established following the 2004 tsunami to enable members of the public with specific skills to make themselves available to assist in a humanitarian crisis. My Department is currently seeking to expand the size and range of expertise of the Corps.

More broadly, the Government will continue to give strong support to the volunteering sector. I have been hugely impressed by the interest which Irish people have shown in recent years in pursuing volunteering opportunities in developing countries. The Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre in Dublin was established in 2008 to promote and facilitate responsible volunteering. Last year, hundreds of people attended two Volunteering Fairs organised by the Centre in Dublin, to promote volunteering with the main development and humanitarian agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. Irish Aid organised a further Volunteering Fair in Cork last weekend, and other events and activities are planned for the year ahead.

All aspects of the Government's aid programme are constantly under examination in order to ensure that they contribute effectively to the fight against global poverty and hunger. I can assure the Deputy that any proposals in relation to the further development of volunteering opportunities overseas receive will receive full consideration on this basis.