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4 Nov 2004 : Column WA39
Written Answers
Thursday, 4 November 2004.
Ulster-Scots Agency
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 14 September (WA 180), whether an Irish language speaker in Ireland could, as a result of the Official Languages Act 2003 enacted by the Republic of Ireland, require the Ulster-Scots Agency to communicate with him or her only in Irish. [HL4283]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The Official Languages Act 2003 was enacted by the Irish Government and its detailed interpretation is therefore a matter for the relevant authorities in Ireland and the Irish courts.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 October (WA 50) concerning bullying allegations, what was the outcome of the investigations by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning the Ulster-Scots Agency. [HL4505]
Baroness Amos: As the then chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency, the noble Lord was informed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in its letter dated 21 August 2003 that the outcome of both allegations of bullying were:
(i) The civil servant who had made the allegation had advised the department that she saw no benefit in pursuing the issue as the agency employee against whom the complaint had been made had since retired and was currently living abroad and outside the jurisdiction.
(ii) The department did not receive any replies to its correspondence with the person whom the consultant, then employed by the Ulster-Scots Agency, had named in a complaint against the agency. Thus it was concluded upon legal advice that the complaint could not be effectively and conclusively investigated and the matter resolved.
Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any complaints of bullying and staff harassment have been made to the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning Cross-Border Implementation Bodies; if so, how many; on what date they were received; and what action has been taken in respect of them. [HL4362]
Baroness Amos: There have been four such complaints. They were made on 28 April 2001, 8 May 2001, 20 January 2003 and 4 May 2004. Three were dealt with as set out in the Answers I gave the noble Lord on 12 October (Col. WA50) [HL 4145] and HL4146]. The fourth is being considered by the two sponsor departments and will be dealt with by the body concerned under internal procedures.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the agreement of 30 March 2001 between the sponsoring departments and the Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union concerning the conditions of relocation, staffing and appointments of Waterways Ireland has been adhered to in all aspects; and, if not, in what respect. [HL4364]
Baroness Amos: The two sponsoring departments for Waterways Ireland are the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the south.
There is no such agreement between the sponsoring departments and the Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union (IMPACT). However, I understand that an agreement of the sort referred to in the noble Lord's Question was entered into between the Republic of Ireland, former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (DAHGI) and IMPACT but it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to comment on it.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the report of the chief executive of Waterways Ireland on 26 June 2002 to the North/South Ministerial Council included reference to the appointment of a director of marketing and communications; and, if so, what was the wording of the reference. [HL4486]
Baroness Amos: In his report to the North/South Ministerial Council on 26 June 2002, the chief executive of Waterways Ireland stated that a separate paper is being presented to the meeting, on the current staffing position.
In the staffing report the reference to recruitment of directors is as follows:
The Director of Corporate Services has just been advertised. Interviews to be held in July."
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Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Intimidation
Baroness Blood asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for committing, or being involved in the commission of, a paramilitary punishment attack in Northern Ireland; and, of those prosecuted, how many have been convicted. [HL4411]
Baroness Amos: There is no legal offence of paramilitary attack. Certain scheduled offences—for example assault occasioning actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm—may relate to paramilitary assaults but to disaggregate such attacks would incur a disproportionate cost.
Baroness Blood asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people have been required to leave Northern Ireland in each of the past five years as a result of intimidation by paramilitary organisations; and how many have been prosecuted in each of the past five years for playing a part in such intimidation. [HL4412]
Baroness Amos: There are no official figures on the number of people exiled from Northern Ireland as a result of paramilitary intimidation as not all incidents are reported. The needs of exiles are examined in detail in the legacy report, an independent needs analysis of victims of the Troubles living in Great Britain. One of the major contributors to this research was Maranatha, a Christian community which has considerable experience in this area. Maranatha estimates that around four people per month are exiled from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Over the five-year period (1999–2003) a total of 16 persons were proceeded against (in scheduled cases) for offences of intimidation. However, information on the specific background of such offences, for example whether the offences resulted in the victim having to leave Northern Ireland, are not maintained.
Tourism Ireland: Funding
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 October (WA 51), why Tourism Ireland's increase in budget for 2003 and 2004 was regarded as necessary for care and maintenance, while a similar request for funding by the Ulster-Scots Agency was not granted. [HL4502]
Baroness Amos: All cross-border bodies continue to operate on a care and maintenance basis only while the Northern Ireland Assembly is in suspension. Under care and maintenance, the bodies may not undertake new functions, but the resource needs required to deliver their existing functions will vary between bodies and over time. A body may therefore receive an increase in its budget provided it relates to the continuation of policies and activities agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council.
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In each case the assessment of a body's resource needs is based on budgetary requirements identified in its corporate and operating plans with each case being judged solely on its merits.
Waste Disposal
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in the light of the BBC's "Spotlight" programme on 19 October on illegal dumping of waste, including medical waste, they will clarify the criteria for the issue of licences for waste disposal in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Scotland. [HL4596]
Baroness Amos: In Northern Ireland the criteria for issuing licences for waste management activities such as waste transfer stations, amenity sites, recycling treatment facilities and bring banks are contained within the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.
Landfill sites and larger waste management facilities which result in the disposal of waste require pollution prevention and control (PPC) permits. The criteria for issuing such permits are contained within the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. Guidance notes for specified waste streams are also available for applicants.
There is no legal definition of medical waste; reference is made to "clinical waste". Some clinical waste is also classified "special waste" and would be subject to control under the Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998. These apply over and above other waste management controls.
In Scotland the relevant legislation is the Waste Management Licensing Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
The criteria for the issue of licences for waste disposal in Northern Ireland and Scotland are broadly similar.
Copies of the Northern Ireland legislation are available in the Library. However, extensive details of waste legislation, guidance notes and licensing advice for the UK as a whole can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/.
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