Results 16,861-16,880 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 736 to 738, inclusive, together. In my address to the major international conference on Gaza reconstruction held in Cairo on 12 October 2014, I said: “The process begun in the 26 August ceasefire must continue, and both sides must work with the Egyptian mediators to address the underlying issues and find a new path in Gaza. This must mean an end to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: At the request of the United Nations, and following Government and Dáil Éireann approval, contingents of the Permanent Defence Forces have been deployed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 2011 and to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), on the Golan Heights since 2013. The longstanding presence of these UN peacekeeping missions has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 743 and 748 to 750, inclusive, together. In my reply to Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015 I provided details regarding the landing of a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport on 28 February. I confirmed that assurances had been provided that the aircraft complied with the strict conditions applying to foreign military aircraft granted permission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since 30 June 2013 all postal applications must be submitted through the passport express service operated on behalf of the Passport Service by An Post and by the Post Office in Northern Ireland. For citizens resident on the island of Ireland, passport express is the cheapest and most efficient means of processing a passport application. This service involves a pre-checking facility...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: When it is brought to the attention of the Passport Service that an adult does not have the decision making capacity to apply for a passport then the provisions of section 6(4) of the Passports Act 2008 are applied i.e. an application may be made on his/her behalf by an individual who is duly authorised to act on his/her behalf. Where these circumstances occur, the Passport Service requires...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Requests (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: For the purposes of the 2014 Freedom of Information Act, I am responsible for all decisions made under the Act by my Department. Access to records requested is either granted or exempted under specific provisions of the Act. Section 20(1) of the Act provides for the delegation of functions to members of staff in my Department, including whether to grant or refuse to grant the request or to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. All of this work is aimed at achieving relief...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: While the outcome of the Israeli election contradicted pre-election polls and predictions, the balance of the new Knesset is very similar to the outgoing one. There has been a good deal of redistribution of seats between the parties, but the overall numbers on the left and the right have remained almost the same. The election does not therefore seem to mark any radical political change. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (24 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that permission was granted by my Department for the landing of the two aircraft at Shannon Airport for the purpose of crew rest and subject to the strict conditions which apply to all foreign military aircraft. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (12 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have consistently highlighted the Government’s concern at the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, which are actively undermining the prospects for a comprehensive peace agreement to end the conflict. In my recent visit to the West Bank, I saw at first-hand the impact of settlements, including on the daily life of Palestinians. When I met with Foreign Minister Liberman, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (12 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Any breaches of international law committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict should be investigated. In July last year, the UN Human Rights Council, meeting in a special session, established a Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict. As I have previously stated, Ireland fully supports this Commission in fulfilling its mandate. On Monday of this week, the Commissioners requested a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the work of the Chairman as Chair of this important parliamentary committee and also the work of the members of the committee who, I know, engage very positively over a wide range of issues hingeing on our foreign policy and Ireland's role in the world. That is very much appreciated by the Government, my Department and me. In that context I very much welcome the opportunity to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This continues to be an issue of the highest priority for me and my Department. I thank the Chair and acknowledge the role of this committee in respect of its sustained interest and constructive engagement on the matter. Since the committee's last briefing on the case, I met last week in Geneva with the Egyptian deputy foreign Minister. I emphasised Ireland's continued concerns regarding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I will deal with them by topic rather than by member, if that is agreeable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I reiterate that I greatly value this engagement and the contribution Parliament and parliamentarians make in our international affairs. I thank members for this. Without dwelling on the matter, I wish to deal with the individual case of Ibrahim Halawa. I regret that Senator Mark Daly was not present when I dealt with it earlier.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As did Deputy Seán Crowe, whom I thank for his positive comments. I will be happy to keep him fully informed of developments. I also thank the other members for their comments. In the circumstances direct comparisons with other cases of individuals are often unfair to everybody involved and I ask members to bear this in mind. Senator Mark Daly should note that I have been in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It certainly should not be.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In that regard, I was pleased with the recent visit of the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, to Dublin. At my invitation, Ireland was one of the first countries she visited in her capacity as the High Representative. She and I discussed having a meeting with this committee. I come from the same school. I am anxious to engage with parliamentarians at every level. I assure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on EU Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Oftentimes the members of the committee are abroad. They are talking about going to Ukraine. Sometimes it is hard to-----

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service is committed to the use and promotion of the Irish language. This is reflected in the name policy which is applied under the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate. If the Irish form of the name is registered on the birth certificate, this name will...