Results 17,381-17,400 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (5 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (5 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State boards or State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Adoptions (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that the parents can apply for Irish passports for their children once the parents are Irish citizens and the adoption has been registered with the Adoption Authority of Ireland. The parents should complete passport applications for the children as normal and enclose the certificates of entry in the Adoption Authority of Ireland’s Register of Foreign Adoptions plus full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Independence (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 827 and 828 together. Following its referendum on 18 September, there is now a roadmap for further devolution in Scotland. I welcome the fact that the process will allow for the many different groups in Scottish society to express their views. Through that process, I hope that all parts of Scottish society can come together in a constructive and inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Political talks began on 16 October. The British and Irish Governments convened the current talks in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal in Northern Ireland, including budgetary and financial issues, legacy issues (parades, flags and identity, dealing with the past), the working of the political institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Through the Reconciliation Fund, my Department awards funding to organisations and to projects aimed at advancing peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, on a cross-Border## basis and between Ireland and Britain. The link below contains a list of all grants awarded to organisations through the Reconciliation Fund since 2005.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians.Ireland attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: While the human rights situation in Colombia remains an area of considerable concern, it is important to note that significant efforts are being made to address abuses and their causes. In recent years, the government has introduced a victims’ and land restitution law and protective measures for vulnerable persons. This improving trend has been noted in the most recent annual report...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Insufficient information has been provided related to this specific case to enable the question be answered in full. However, in general, a person acquires Irish citizenship through one of the following ways: - by an entitlement to Irish citizenship for certain persons born in the island of Ireland; - entitlement by descent if one of his/her parents was an Irish citizen at the time of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 836 and 837 together. 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 public statements on 1 September and again on 28 October I explicitly condemned Israeli government announcements of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (4 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There are no organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (23 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland supports the full achievement of a Palestinian state. We believe this should happen soon. Our policies are designed to be supportive of the negotiated comprehensive peace agreement which we believe is fundamental to the achievement of this objective.I believe substantive political talks on a peace settlement must take place as a matter of urgency and I reiterated that view recently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government remains very concerned about this case, particularly following the recent decision of the High Court of Lahore to uphold this person’s conviction.The Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad in 2013 to convey our concern at the conviction and sentence. He also expressed our disquiet at the nature of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The British and Irish Governments convened the current talks in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal in Northern Ireland. We convened these talks as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. It is on that basis that we participate in them, taking account of the three Strands outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (23 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: No bonuses are paid to the staff of my Department. There are no semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (22 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland does not possess, and has never possessed, any weapons, armaments or ammunition containing depleted uranium. It is the firm policy of the Government that depleted uranium munitions will never be used by the Defence Forces. Research carried out to date by the relevant international organisations, including by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government regularly raises human rights issues in Iran with the Iranian authorities, including in ongoing regular contact with the Iranian Ambassador and Embassy here as well as at EU level and in international fora. For the most part we do so in relation to the type of activity or human rights abuse which is of concern, rather than on specific cases. This is both because we wish our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am familiar with the individual referred to in this question, Mr Nabeel Rajab and the circumstances of his recent arrest, including the reports that the charges against him relate to ‘publically insulting official institutions’ under Article 216 of the Bahraini penal code on foot of an opinion he expressed on Twitter. The apparent arrest, detention and prosecution of Mr Rajab...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the disappearance of the students in the incident that took place at Iguala, in Guerrero State, in Mexico recently. I wish to extend my sympathy to the families of those affected and to record my hope that the Mexican authorities will be able to resolve speedily this terrible case. In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers, which relates to a campaign in respect of Cuban citizens, imprisoned in the US, on charges connected to activities as unregistered agents of a foreign government and related offences. As this is a bilateral consular issue between the US and the Cuban authorities, the Government has no standing in the matter.