Results 3,761-3,780 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Transport (19 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Listed below are details of the cost of Ministerial transport in my Department in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Official cars are not provided to Ministers of State. The figures reflect the motor travel allowances claimed for official travel undertaken in accordance with guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Subsistence paid to the official drivers is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am happy to confirm that the Ambassador took up duty in Rome on the 15 September 2014 and presented credentials to Pope Francis last week.The process of re-establishing a resident Embassy to the Holy See is ongoing. The Ambassador is addressing a variety of logistical and other tasks, including securing accommodation appropriate to the objectives of the Embassy, the staffing level and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The issue of a landing of a Hercules C130 aircraft at Shannon airport on 30 September or 1 October has been raised on three previous occasions and I have responded on the basis of information provided by the Shannon Airport Authority. The details of the Questions and replies are as follows: On 7 October, in my reply to Question 38084/14, referring to a Hercules C130 registration 16/8073 at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Report in question, which is available at , is a Value-for-Money and Policy Review (VFMPR) that examined the work of Ireland’s bilateral diplomatic network in the other 26 EU member states over the years 2008-2011, a period of significant challenge for Ireland. The review was directed by a Steering Committee chaired by an independent chairperson and included key officials from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on 17 November. This FAC – the first chaired by the new High Representative Federica Mogherini – had a very busy agenda, with discussions on Ukraine, the Middle East, Ebola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Libya. Ukraine was the first item to be addressed. Our discussions focused on the path to peace, the reform...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I have addressed in replies to recent Questions and also outlined in some detail, when meeting the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 11 November, the Government’s position on the possible recognition of Palestine. Since Ireland has not yet decided to recognise Palestine, it would not be appropriate for us to suggest to EU partners that they need to do so. At the recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has within its Corporate Services Division one nominated officer who is the contact person for Data Protection requests for the Department. This officer liaises as appropriate with the data holders and data processors in the Department to ensure that best practice is followed and that requests for personal information are met within the prescribed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The question of excluding settlement products from the market has been discussed many times in the Oireachtas. Ireland is a member of a trading union, and external trade policy is a competence of the European Union. It is not therefore possible to exclude settlement products from the Irish market alone. Ireland has stated previously that it could support the exclusion of settlement products...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: While it is difficult to estimate the exact number of undocumented Irish citizens in the US, Irish immigration centres, community groups and the relevant US authorities, estimate the number at around 50,000. They are individuals who are in breach of US immigration law but have no means of regularising their status. Most have deep ties in the US, where they have been otherwise compliant with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Considerable efforts have been made in recent years, most notably the work of US Secretary of State Kerry, to work towards a lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East. But in current circumstances, with no negotiations taking place between the parties and a deteriorating situation on the ground, and in the aftermath of the disastrous conflict in Gaza earlier this year, no-one could...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Reports of the systemic mistreatment of Palestinian children in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are of deep concern and an issue on which Ireland has been active for some time. In October 2013, during the universal periodic review of Israel’s human rights record, Ireland expressed this concern and urged Israel to fully implement the recommendations of the February 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The ceasefire in Gaza which came into effect on 26 August achieved the overriding objective of bringing an end to the massive violence and loss of life caused by the fighting. Since Ireland is not privy to the terms of the ceasefire, we are not in a position to comment on the extent to which the ceasefire agreement is being fulfilled, although the general judgement is that it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The case in question has not previously been raised with my Department. The devastating humanitarian impact of the recent conflict in Gaza continues to be felt on the ground. It compounded an already serious humanitarian situation. In this bleak context, access for humanitarian workers, including doctors and health workers, is all the more important. Initial media reports had suggested...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 396 to 404, inclusive, together. The North South Ministerial Council, NSMC, was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement to foster mutually beneficial co-operation in agreed areas on an all-island basis. My colleagues in Government and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive in the various NSMC formats to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (25 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 encourage closer links between these communities and Ireland. 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 Irish emigrants and Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Strategy on the Diaspora (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: At the Third Global Irish Economic Forum, which took place in October 2013, it was announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would undertake a comprehensive review of our Diaspora policy to examine all elements of our engagement with the Irish abroad. That review is now underway. As part of the review a public consultation was launched and a number of individuals and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Primary responsibility for engaging with emigrant communities and the wider Diaspora falls within the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Irish Abroad Unit of the Department takes the lead role on this engagement and administers a number of schemes and programmes targeted at and supporting Irish communities abroad, including the Emigrant Support Programme. Since 2004,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 to 408, inclusive, together. Since 16 October, discussions have been ongoing in the political talks in Northern Ireland convened by the Irish and British Governments. These talks bring together the Northern Ireland Executive Parties and the two Governments, in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. The procedure for seeking permission for the landing of foreign military aircraft at Irish airports is that the Embassy of the country concerned submits a request for permission for each and every...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of recent press reports on the conditions of workers in the leather industry in Bangladesh. We have requested our officials in Brussels to obtain further information on the EU’s support programme to workers in the leather industry in Bangladesh and we will forward the information to the Deputy once it has been received. The Government is concerned regarding the current...