Results 3,501-3,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I expected a little more from the Senator in this democratic forum.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Especially when we are talking about the fundamentals of democracy. Such events in Europe - the killing of hundreds of EU citizens and many others - obviously calls for a very strong response from within the European Union. Senators have rightly mentioned the events in Gaza in the context of the ongoing blockade, the need to end the occupation of Palestinian territory, and that settlements...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There was absolutely no silence, as the Senator knows. To have to resort to a narrow partisan political point does no service to the very constructive and wide-ranging debate that we had this afternoon.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the House that Ireland will continue to play a full and active part in the EU efforts to that end. I thank you, a Chathaoirleach, for facilitating the debate and the Leader for instituting it and giving me an opportunity to outline the current Government position which is not silence, far from it, as I have demonstrated today to very good effect. I also thank the Senators for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1201 together. Permission was sought for two US aircraft to fly over Croke Park in the context of the opening ceremonies on 30 August for the 2014 Croke Park Classic. This event gave a significant boost to tourism and provided a unique opportunity to showcase Ireland and encourage trade, investment and closer business collaboration between Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1165 and 1212 together. This has been, and will remain, a key priority for the Government in our bilateral relationship with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we are working closely with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond, such as ILIR, the Chicago Celts for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1166, 1182, 1189, 1193 and 1209 together. My Department and the Irish Embassy in Cairo continue to provide consular assistance to this individual and close consular support to his family, both in Ireland and in Egypt. I have taken a close personal interest in the case. I have met with the family concerned and have had a number of phone calls and contacts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has made clear on a number of occasions its continued strong concerns over the human rights situation in Egypt under a wide variety of headings. These concerns are widely shared by our European partners and have been repeatedly stressed by the EU and individual Member States, including Ireland, as central concerns in the future development of our relations with Egypt. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: At their extraordinary meeting on 6 March, EU Heads of State and Government set out a three-phase road map providing for progressively more punitive EU measures against the Russian Federation in view of its action in destabilising the situation in Ukraine. It was agreed at that meeting to suspend talks with Russia on visa liberalisation and on a new agreement to underpin bilateral relations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The release from prison of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in December 2013, followed a month later by the release of his business partner Platon Lebedev, was welcomed by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the Union at the time. The Government fully shares this position. I would also recall that over the last 10 years, the EU had continuously expressed its concerns about alleged...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Embassy in Vietnam, which is accredited to Myanmar/Burma, closely monitors this issue, and, in September 2013, Ambassador Damien Cole travelled to Rakhine state to assess the situation on the ground. Most recently, the Ambassador visited Naypyidaw on 23 May 2014 and met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. At that meeting he expressed Ireland’s concerns about the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The response to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 147 to 151, inclusive, of 15 July 2014 set out details of the overflights in Irish airspace by foreign military aircraft. My Department did not receive any requests to approve overflights by Russian military aircraft during the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Primary responsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft depends on whether such aircraft are designated as civilian or military. The regulation of civilian aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention) which came into force on 4 April 1947. Ireland’s rights and obligations under the Convention have been incorporated into Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department works closely with the Church in Chains organisation which is represented on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights. The situation of some Christian denominations in Iran, as highlighted by the work of organisations such as Church in Chains, is a cause of continuing concern. Some other religious minorities face similar persecution....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The position in relation to the EU-Israel Association Agreement has been set out in the Oireachtas by successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs. The Association Agreement with Israel, and the trade terms which are a part of that, are similar to agreements between the EU and most of its immediate neighbours in the Mediterranean and with some countries further afield. We have concerns about...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: During the course of the recent Gaza conflict, I repeatedly called for the end of attacks by both sides, and especially those which were aimed at or led to civilian casualties. I categorically condemned such attacks. In view of the very high level of civilian casualties in Gaza, I made clear in particular that the level of force being used by Israel could not in any way be regarded as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Good Friday Agreement, whose values continue to be central to the Government’s approach to Northern Ireland, enshrines the principle of self-determination for the people of this island and makes provisions for circumstances in which this right can be exercised. To date, these provisions have not been activated. The Government’s priority at this time is ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has received a publication listing 60 countries where Christians are persecuted from Church in Chains. Church in Chains is a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade- NGO standing Committee on Human Rights which meets 5 times a year. Ireland strongly condemns, and attaches great importance to combatting, all forms of persecution or discrimination based on religion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Staff who left the Department in the period 1 July 2013 – 31 December 2013 Reason for leaving Number of staff Approx. salary savings from date of departure to 31 December 2013 € Retirement 15.6* 246,190 Ministerial Appointees – following resignation of Minister of State 6 134,117...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. New staff employed in the period 1 July 2013 – 31 December 2013 Number of staff Grade Approx. salary costs from date of appointment to 31 December 2013 € 1 Assistant Legal Advisor 27,324 4 Ministerial Appointee 58,589 3 Development Specialist 36,003 2 Assistant Principal 31,852 1...