Results 3,801-3,820 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I want to acknowledge the comments of the Deputy, with which I agree fully. During my visit to the US in September, I had a wide range of meetings on this important issue across a range of Irish community groups in Washington, New York and Boston, and with high level government contacts, including Vice President Joe Biden, White House Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, and Secretary of State...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Perhaps the House will permit me to refer specifically to the question of travel. Details as to how the travel provision will work in practice have yet to be confirmed but, through our embassy in Washington, we are following up on this point directly with the White House and the US Department of Homeland Security.

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I want to confirm to the House that there are a number of Irish immigrant centres across the USA which receive funding from the Government and are providing the information and advice on the changes as we speak. Information on who to contact is available on my Department's website, www.dfa.ie, and on the websites of Irish embassies and consulates in the USA. I agree with Deputy Naughten....

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the House that the funding will continue. I agree that further action will be needed to resolve immigration reform in the USA. While President Obama's action is of course welcome and is a major step forward, it does not end the debate on further immigration reform. He has made it clear that he considers that there is a need for further legislation in this area and that...

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government continues to follow closely the situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar-Burma. I believe strongly that the underlying root causes of ethnic tensions in Rakhine State between the ethnically distinct Muslim population and the Buddhist population must be addressed as a matter of urgency. I also strongly believe that it is imperative that there should be a guarantee of...

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Embassy in Vietnam, which is accredited to Myanmar, as the Deputy will be aware, is closely monitoring the situation. In September 2013, the ambassador travelled to Rakhine State to assess the situation. Most recently, the ambassador visited the area on 23 May 2014 and met the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the region. At that meeting he expressed Ireland’s concerns about...

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: In terms of the Irish Government support, as well as at political level, in the context of our participation at the UN and the passing of resolutions and the need to ensure that the resolutions are implemented, we also have expressed our support for members of the Rohingya community here in Ireland, and 82 members of the community were settled in Carlow and five others were settled in Dublin...

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I will provide the balance of the reply to Deputy O'Sullivan on the outline of our funding to the region.

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016 will be the centrepiece of the Government’s decade of commemorations programme. The Taoiseach launched the outline plans for the commemoration of the Easter Rising 1916 on Wednesday, 12 November last. These outline plans are now subject to a period of consultation to enable members of the public to comment and to submit ideas in regard to...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to reignite the Deputy's confidence in the commemoration process by inviting her to participate. We are now in the process of consultation which is important in the context of any plan. If this Government were to present a plan without any form of consultation, not only with Members of this House but with the wider community, I am sure we would be subject to the type of...

Other Questions: Commemorative Events (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Let me repeat that all these issues are under active consideration during the course of the consultation period, which is now under way. Members of the Irish diaspora will have an opportunity also to present their ideas and plans to the 1916 project team in the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will be keeping in close contact...

Other Questions: Election Monitoring Missions (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Wallace has been very patient. He has been in the House since we started.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge that the Deputy has been in the House since the start of Question Time. It is unfortunate that time will not allow for a more detailed reply to his question. Ireland as a state has always looked forward to being in a position to recognise a state of Palestine but in reality and not only as a symbolic gesture. I refer the Deputy to the statements and stances of successive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has consistently expressed concern at the ever increasing tension caused by Israeli policies on the ground, and in particular the relentless growth of settlements. Israeli settlements and their continued expansion constitute a major barrier to peace. Settlements, and related policies in Area C (which is the majority of the West Bank), seem designed to drive Palestinians off the bulk...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The DFAT NGO Forum on Human Rights which took place in Dublin Castle on 07 November 2014 focused on the theme of "Business and Human Rights", including how Ireland will go about implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Forum provided an opportunity for business, NGOs, trade unions and academics to exchange views on best practices in relation to Business and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There have been a number of recent calls for the removal of the Kurdistan Workers' Party – the PKK – from terrorist listings. They have been prompted by the Turkish government's negotiations with the group and the role played by PKK-affiliated Kurdish groups in Syria. Any designation or listing by the EU of a group as a terrorist organization is done on the basis of Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my reply to Question No. 3. Policing and justice powers were devolved to the Northern Ireland institutions following the Hillsborough Agreement of February 2010. Since that time, David Ford MLA has been Minister for Justice with responsibility for prison policy. An executive agency of his Department, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, is responsible for implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to fully support the aim to find a solution to the Cyprus issue that provides for a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Ireland believes that a successful resolution would have a positive impact on the whole region and most significantly, it would benefit both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Banking Sector (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is referring to the extraterritorial application of US legislation in connection with that country's sanctions against Cuba. Together with our partners in the European Union, we have firmly and continuously opposed extraterritorial measures that seek to extend the US's embargo against Cuba to third countries as contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade. Our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his question, which relates to a hugely significant issue for Ireland. The UK's continued membership of the European Union is clearly of great importance to us. Amongst all the EU member States, the UK is our biggest trading partner; it is a key ally on a range of policy issues at the negotiating table in Brussels; and it is, overall, the country with which we have...