Results 3,621-3,640 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Adoption Records Provision (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department retains over 2,200 files relating to passport applications for children sent abroad for adoption between the late 1940s and the early 1970s. These files are not a comprehensive record of all children sent abroad for adoption. It is not possible to provide an exact number of persons for which records are held as, in cases where more than one child was adopted by the same...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: UN Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters was adopted unanimously in New York on 24 September 2014. Ireland co-sponsored the Resolution along with 103 other States, including all other EU member states. This Resolution takes a comprehensive, human rights compliant approach to tackling the foreign fighters problem in accordance with international law. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Trade sanctions are a political tool and a response to specific political situations or crises, all of which are unique. Sanctions can also have different aims, and the measures which might be effective in one situation may be unsuited to another. In short, the possible application of sanctions depends on what the EU, or UN, as a whole can agree is the best action to take. If partners do not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is monitoring the situation in Hong Kong closely and is in regular contact with our Consulate General in Hong Kong and with our Embassy in Beijing. Ireland supports Hong Kong’s Basic Law protections of internationally recognised fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We encourage all parties to refrain from any actions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: In my earlier reply to Question 89 (37724/14) I dealt with the broader consideration of this issue, in particular at the United Nations and the recent General Assembly session. At EU level, the Foreign Affairs Council meeting which I attended on 15 August adopted Conclusions setting out the EU response at this stage. The Council stressed its major concerns regarding the human rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Settlements (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The European Union applies a sanction to settlement goods in that they are excluded from the lower tariffs applied to goods from Israel (and many other countries), and administrative measures to implement this distinction are periodically reviewed. More recently, in 2013, the EU published guidelines to ensure that any EU research funding received by universities or other institutions in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: On the evening of my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I spoke by telephone with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. Our conversation largely focused on the prospects for 12 July parades, which were taking place the following day, but also touched upon the need to resume political dialogue on the legacy issues which formed part of the earlier Haass...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Referendum (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: On 18 September, the people of Scotland voted in a referendum to remain a part of the United Kingdom. The Government took the view that the referendum question was one for the people of Scotland to decide and that public speculation or comment in advance of the vote would be neither appropriate nor helpful. Notwithstanding this approach, the Government and our diplomatic missions in London...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Over the recent period, the Northern Ireland Executive has been faced with a number of challenges on which it has been difficult to find agreement. These include longstanding issues such as parades, flags and dealing with the past. It also includes more recent difficulties in relation to budgetary issues. The Executive parties need to reach agreement on such issues to ensure the effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The practice of successive Governments has been to nominate Ambassadors who are established civil servants. Generally, Irish diplomats, including Heads of Mission, are career civil servants employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The State has in my view been very well served by the current system, which draws on the skills, experience and professionalism of dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commemorative Events (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016 will be the centre-piece of the Government’s decade of commemorations programme. I understand the format and programme for the commemoration of the Easter Rising 1916 in Dublin is still being developed by the relevant Departments. The attendance of Ireland’s international partners, including representatives from Britain, will be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Reform (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The working methods and the priorities of the UN must be kept under regular review to ensure that resources are directed to the areas of greatest need and used with the utmost efficiency. The work of the UN Security Council is an area of particular importance. Few can doubt that there is considerable scope for improving the functioning of that body. Ireland is a member of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: During the recent extended fighting I repeatedly condemned the excessive use of military force by Israel in Gaza, and also stated clearly that both Israel and Hamas were disregarding the effects of their actions on innocent civilians. I am repeatedly asked, as were my predecessors, to break diplomatic links with Israel. I have explained elsewhere that Irish foreign policy is based above all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Referendum (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 413 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. I hope that all parts of Scottish society can come together in a constructive and inclusive way in shaping...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The case of the individual mentioned by the Deputy has has been raised regularly with the Bolivian authorities at Ministerial and senior official levels, since he was killed by Bolivian security forces in April 2009. Indeed, I discussed the case as recently as 25 September directly with the vice-Foreign Minister of Bolivia, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: During the months of July and August 2014 permission was granted for ninety US military aircraft, including military transport aircraft, to land at Shannon airport.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 408 and 416 together. In the context of the ceasefire in Gaza on 26 August, which finally brought to an end the recent disastrous period of conflict, the European Council, at its meeting of 30 August, adopted Conclusions on the situation in Gaza, similar to and reinforcing those adopted by the 15 August extraordinary meeting of Foreign Affairs Council,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Since the formal negotiations between the European Union and the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) began in July 2013, seven negotiating rounds have taken place. The 7th round of the TTIP negotiations took place in the US from 29th September to 3rd October. This was the last round before the current European Commission ends its term on 30 October and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Certificate of Irish Heritage (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Since the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in September 2011, 2,863 Certificates have been issued – 149 in 2011, 1,317 in 2012, 1,172 in 2013 and 225 to date in 2014. This includes 278 promotional Certificates presented to various individuals since 2011. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has spent €3,461 to date on the Certificate of Irish Heritage, broken...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Referendum (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Arrangements for the governance of any EU Member State are a matter for determination through that country’s democratic processes.Hence, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on such processes in any particular Member State of the European Union.