Results 14,941-14,960 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As I have reaffirmed in recent days, Ireland has never accepted the long standing British position in relation to Lough Foyle. Within the British government, primary responsibility for this issue lies with the Foreign Secretary. Since 2011, there have been ongoing discussions on the matter between officials of my Department and the FCO. While I have not to date discussed the matter with...

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Officials at the embassy of Ireland in Madrid and the consular assistance team of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have provided extensive consular assistance to the family in this case since the time of the Irish citizen's disappearance eight years ago. The Garda liaison officer based in our embassy in Madrid remains in ongoing contact with the Spanish police authorities...

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that we have already provided extensive consular assistance to the family. I wish to make it quite clear, however, that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will not and cannot play any role in the investigation process as that is a matter for the Spanish police. We would be pleased to offer whatever consular assistance we can in the circumstances.

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am sure we can arrange for representatives of the Department to meet representatives of the family. In this regard, we should have one family contact point.

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has raised a number of issues. I will continue to call on all parties to engage in constructive dialogue. Ireland shares concerns about the situation in Turkey. I note the Deputy's comment on Members of the European Parliament and the resolution which calls on the European Union to suspend accession talks with Turkey in response to the ongoing crackdown on fundamental freedoms....

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My officials remain in ongoing and continuous contact with representatives of the Turkish Government here. I have repeatedly called for a resumption of dialogue to allow the political process on the Kurdish issue to resume. The escalation of violence as referred to by the Deputy since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the PKK in the summer of last year...

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the eventual accession of Turkey to the European Union. We have been clear that all of the benchmarks, conditions and criteria in the process must be met fully and that there must be no shortfalls as far as accession is concerned. The rule of law, fundamental rights, in particular freedom of expression and the media, minority rights and democracy are core...

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The European Union and Turkey have been working for many months on the matter of the appalling migrant crisis. As Deputy Darragh O'Brien will be aware, Turkey is hosting in excess of 2.7 million migrants, an enormous number for any country. Ireland, like our EU colleagues, is committed to finding a solution to this most serious problem. From listening to some Deputies, one might be excused...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I want to make it clear that Ireland has close economic ties with Saudi Arabia. The country is a designated priority market for Ireland under our trade, tourism and investment strategy. Saudi Arabia represents a significant market for Ireland. Total bilateral trade in 2014 was worth over €1.4 billion, with €1.3 billion of this in Ireland's favour. The economic relationship...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that we do not disclose our voting intentions or the actual votes in those elections. However, I would like to say for the record that Saudi Arabia ran for an election on a clean state. It was unopposed but I had the opportunity to raise a number of the issues mentioned by the Deputy, in particular the role of Saudi Arabia in Yemen. This is a matter of great...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: If that is in order?

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Question Nos. 31, 45, 51 and 53 together. I wish to assure the Deputies that I have repeatedly stated my serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Turkey since the attempted coup on 15 July. My most recent statement of 4 November expressed my deep concern at the arrest of the two co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, HDP, and several of its...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the recent meeting held by the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee on the situation in Maghaberry Prison, at which the Deputy was present. In addition to hearing from a prominent solicitor, the committee was briefed by two members of the independent assessment team set up to monitor implementation of the 2010 agreement between separated prisoners in Maghaberry...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the Deputy's disappointment that the forum has not progressed in the manner in which we would all have wished. I am very familiar with the situation in Portlaoise Prison, the high security prison being in my constituency. The Deputy will be aware that the reasons for the forum not progressing are complex. We need to see how best we can move matters forward and I continue to...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy refers to a number of issues on which I would like to see progress. My officials continue to remind the Northern Ireland Office of our continuing interest in the humanitarian welfare of prisoners, particularly in the care and supervision unit of Maghaberry Prison. I hope to meet the Stormont justice Minister, Claire Sugden, later this afternoon and I would be happy to raise the...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 13 November. The programme of the trade mission also included a visit to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government's trade, tourism and investment strategy. I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I will not depart from what has been long-standing tradition in the House and in the country of commenting in a way the Deputy invites me. On a more general issue, the Government continues to support and encourage all efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the Basque region. As Deputy Barry is aware, we welcomed the declaration by ETA in October 2011 that the organisation had...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome commitments towards the cessation of hostilities and the ending of conflict. We on our island have particular experience of a peace process over a long number of years. I hope all parties involved can see their way towards entering discussions for a lasting peace and stability in the region. It would, however, be inappropriate for me to comment on the individual issues as raised...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Policy on the placement and treatment of a country’s nationals in prison in the European Union is a matter for the democratically-elected government and the relevant competent authorities in each member state in accordance with domestic, European and international law. Issues relating to Basque prisoners held in Spain are, therefore, exclusively a matter for the Spanish Government and...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to raise the issue the Deputy mentioned. I am scheduled to meet the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. MuiŽnieks, tomorrow. I will discuss with him his views on the pathway forward in terms of commitments already made to Turkey as a member of the Council of Europe. I will continue to raise these issues at every opportunity, particularly since the...