John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific proposals in the programme for Government for which he is responsible; the target dates which he has agreed in relation to the delivery of these proposals; and if he will publish an implementation schedule. [9586/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a number of proposals that are wholly or partly the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs. These include proposals related to repairing Ireland's reputation in the EU and the wider international community; Ireland's Overseas Development Aid programme and its review; matters relating to Northern Ireland; and consideration of the transfer of the passport service to the Department of Justice. Details on how these proposals are being addressed are outlined below. While the majority of the proposals will span the lifetime of the Programme, where target dates are applicable these have been included. The Programme for Government contains an explicit commitment to restore Ireland's standing as a respected and influential member of the European Union and the wider international community. This work is already underway and implies the need for a broad effort, across Government and administration, of engagement with EU institutions and with EU partners bilaterally, as well as with our international partners.

At Government level, Ministers have been availing, in particular, of opportunities to meet their EU colleagues and with representatives of the European institutions. These efforts will intensify in the coming months. The channels open to us through membership of wider European-level political groupings are also being exploited.

I have availed of meetings of EU Foreign Ministers to meet High Representative Ashton and to establish personal contacts with my EU colleagues. Similarly my colleague, Minister of State Creighton has availed of visits to Brussels and Luxembourg to meet representatives of the institutions and her counterparts. Over the months ahead we will continue to maximise all opportunities arising from our presence at the scheduled meetings of the Council of Ministers to arrange bilateral exchanges with key interlocutors, both among the member States and in the institutions and bodies including the Commission, European Parliament and European External Action Service.

On 19 April I invited EU Ambassadors to Iveagh House to set out the Government's analysis of the economic situation facing the country, seek the understanding and support of partners for our course of action, and also to underline the desire of the Government to engage constructively and more widely on the range of issues on the European agenda. I will be meeting non-EU Ambassadors later this week.

The Irish embassy network plays a crucial part in the process of national recovery. Irish embassies are tasked on the one hand with transmitting the Government's economic message, and the context for it, to key decision-makers in the EU and beyond; on the other hand they provide vital insights on the views and policies of partners. I have called a conference of all Irish Ambassadors to be held on 1 and 2 June in Dublin, which will have an emphasis on economic and commercial themes, both in an EU and wider international context. The conference is being organised in conjunction with the main State Agencies in the economic and trade promotion sector.

Embassies are already actively engaged in emerging markets, and in the BRIC countries in particular, in-line with the current Strategy for Trade, Tourism and Innovation. Embassies and State Agencies in these countries have detailed market plans and are actively pursuing specific targets. This effort will be strengthened with the transfer of responsibilities for foreign trade promotion to my Department. Discussions between officials regarding the practical arrangements for the transfer are well advanced and it is anticipated that they will be completed shortly.

In recognition of the important role the Global Irish Network can play in our economic recovery, I wrote to all members of the Network on 20 April drawing their attention to the priorities set out in the Programme for Government. My letter acknowledged the contribution made by network members in assisting Embassies and State Agencies in the trade and economic area, and indicated that I would be interested in any specific proposals which members may have which would facilitate job creation in Ireland or would enhance the export potential of our indigenous companies.

In relation to overseas development assistance, we have made a commitment to review the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid. I expect that the review will be carried out over the coming year. It will involve consultation with the public and with all interested parties, and will take account of the achievements of the aid programme to date and the changes in the national and international context since 2006.

With regard to the proposal to unite NGOs providing humanitarian aid, officials from my Department have already met representatives of Irish-based humanitarian NGOs to discuss the proposal to establish a disaster and emergency committee in Ireland. We have also begun discussions with the Irish development NGOs regarding opportunities for job seekers to share their skills in developing countries.

The Programme for Government states clearly our commitment to the 0.7% GNP target and to seeking to achieve it by 2015. This is in line with the long-standing UN target for Official Development Assistance, and with the commitment of the European Union. It is clear that, in current circumstances, this will be a challenging target to meet. However, the Government was elected to face up to the challenges of rebuilding our society and our economy, of restoring economic growth and our international reputation. I believe that we can do this without undermining our work to improve the lives of some of the world's poorest people.

Minister of State O'Sullivan recently met representatives of Shannon Airport to discuss the proposal that it be made a hub for the storage and distribution of emergency humanitarian supplies. We will continue to discuss the issues involved with Shannon Airport and to facilitate contact between Shannon and the relevant international humanitarian agencies as the proposal is further advanced in the months ahead.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I also have responsibility for leading on implementation of the Northern Ireland sections of the Programme for Government. The Government looks forward to working with the new Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, following its election in the coming weeks, to advance progress on the full implementation of all Agreements and to drive forward the North-South agenda. We will have an early opportunity to take forward this important agenda at the first meeting of the North South Ministerial Council with the new Executive scheduled for 10 June.

Lastly, with regard to the possible transfer of the Passport Service to the Department of Justice to operate as an Independent Executive Agency under the aegis of that Department, officials in my Department are currently examining the issues associated with this commitment and I expect to take a position on this matter within the coming months.