Results 3,661-3,680 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs Group’s profiled budget to end of September 2014 is €560,186m and the actual spend to end of September 2014 is €506,610m resulting in a period variance of €53,576m. These variances in the main arise in Vote 27 and are due to timing differences between the planned or profiled draw down of funding by implementing partners and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commissions of Investigation (8 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: On foot of the detection of internal fraud in the Passport Service in 2013, the Secretary General requested an external group to undertake a review of Passport Service systems, processes and controls including a wider examination of the spectrum of challenges/risks to the integrity of the Irish passport – both internal and external. The Review Group was chaired by a retired Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (8 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held at Dublin Castle on 3 October 2014. This was the 18th Plenary meeting of the NSMC. At the meeting, discussions covered a wide range of financial, economic and EU matters including the employment situation in both jurisdictions and measures to encourage job creation. Also discussed were actions to build...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (9 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: In November 2011 the Passport Service received a complaint from a family member that a passport had issued to the person concerned on the basis of a false passport application i.e. it had been completed by an individual, who did not have authority to act on behalf of the applicant. The Passport Service contacted the individual who had completed the passport application, put this to him, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (9 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held at Dublin Castle on 3 October 2014. This was the 18th Plenary meeting of the NSMC. At the meeting, discussions covered a wide range of financial, economic and EU matters including the employment situation in both jurisdictions and measures to encourage job creation. Also discussed were actions to build...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Data (9 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A number of contracts of indefinite duration were awarded to Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) in my Department in the years in question. Five TCOs employed in the Passport Office in Dublin were awarded such contracts with effect from 1 July 2008; three of these officers have since retired. Four TCOs employed in the Passport Office in Dublin were awarded such contracts with effect from 3...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, it is the duty of all persons enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the host State. Consistent with its obligations under the Vienna Convention, my Department works to ensure that the law is upheld and my Department will assist, as appropriate, in any investigation being undertaken by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 223 to 225, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I have been appalled by the atrocities perpetrated by ISIS, including the murders of journalists and aid workers. As I have stated previously, there needs to be accountability for all such actions, including through referral to the International Criminal Court. The international community is responding to the very considerable threat which ISIS poses, not just to the Middle East but to us...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s engagement with the European Union is reviewed regularly to take account of evolving priorities and policy challenges, as well as the wider EU and international context. The Cabinet Committee on European Affairs, of which I am a member, plays a key role in overseeing our strategic approach and agreeing priorities for the period ahead. The Review of Ireland’s Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Economic diplomacy, including trade promotion, is a central part of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and of Ireland’s network of Embassies and Consulates abroad. My Department is committed to using its full resources, at headquarters and through the Embassy network, to promote Ireland’s economic and trading interests, cultural profile and reputation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the tragic deaths in question. I extend my deepest sympathy to the bereaved families and, indeed, to the families of all the victims of the violence that is, sadly, so widespread in Venezuela. I am deeply concerned at the ongoing situation; in particular with regard to the deaths, casualties and detentions arising from the continued unrest and at the apparently high level of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Shannon Airport Authority has confirmed that no aircraft with the registration number 168074 was at the Airport on the dates in question. Arrangements under which permission is granted for US military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Ankara and I have requested the Embassy in Ankara to contact colleagues from the EU in Islamabad for further information regarding this report. I would further add that we continue to work through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that human rights are respected in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State Boards operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Marching Season (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Secretary of State Villiers and I met on 7 October to review progress in preparations for all-party talks. Minister of State Seán Sherlock TD also participated in the meeting. We discussed the key areas for resolution in the forthcoming talks process and the Secretary of State’s proposals for a mediation panel on the parade situation in North Belfast, which had been published...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A pipe bomb device was thrown at a police patrol on the Crumlin Road, North Belfast, early in the morning of 6 October. The PSNI stated their belief that the pipe bomb, later found outside the front gates of Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne, was intended to kill police officers. Eight nearby homes were evacuated while Army bomb experts made the device safe. I have been undertaking intensive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Rehiring (14 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Details are set out in the following table of the retired officials of my Department who were re-hired temporarily during the period in question: 2012 Grade Position Held Duration Assistant Secretary Passport Appeals Officer Three-year contract from 20 January 2012 to deal with appeals as and when they arise (resigned from the position on  25 April 2014) Deputy Secretary...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: In deference to the Deputies with just 90 seconds, I will start as quickly as possible. I am honoured to deliver my first budget speech as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I begin my remarks by paying tribute to my predecessor, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, who as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade steered the Department through an unprecedented time of economic crisis with a skilful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The longstanding policy of neutrality remains a crucial element in Ireland’s foreign policy. Guided by the principles that inform our broader foreign policy, we continue to take an active approach towards crisis management. We remain fully committed to meeting our obligations in accordance with the UN Charter, which requires us to make resources available to the UN Security Council...