Results 3,821-3,840 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my answer to Question no. 8. The centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016 will be the centre-piece of the Government's decade of commemorations programme. The Taoiseach, launched the outline plans for the commemoration of the Easter Rising 1916 on Wednesday 12thNovember. These outline plans are now subject to a period of consultation to enable members of the public to...

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

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Kobane is of deep concern. The effort by ISIS to spread their campaign of brutality and lawlessness to Kobane is a direct threat to the survival of the entire Kurdish population within that region of northern Syria. Ireland, in common with the entire international community, is committed to strong coordinated efforts to combat the threat posed by ISIS, a group which has...

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: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The 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 engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. Requests to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Global Economic Forum (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government decided in March of this year that there should be a fourth Global Irish Economic Forum. However, no date for this has been decided as yet. The Global Irish Network and the Global Irish Economic Forum have given greater strategic direction to the Government's engagement with our most senior Irish contacts around the world. Over the past five years, the Network has proved...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my previous answer to Question No. 2. This is, 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 towards achieving some relief for undocumented Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Climate change is already having an enormous effect on the lives and the livelihoods of some of the poorest people in the world. Last year the Government launched our new Policy for International Development, ‘One World, One Future’. It clearly identifies the impact of climate change on development as a priority area for action. My Department has been working very closely on...

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

Charles Flanagan: The EU Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru signed in Brussels on 26 June 2012 aims to promote growth and jobs and to increase the global competitiveness of the European Union, Colombia and Peru. Its economic provisions are intended to encourage trade by eliminating tariffs and obstacles and improving market access generally. The Agreement’s human rights provisions are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is very actively engaged at the United Nations in the negotiations for a new set of Sustainable Development Goals which will steer the development agenda beyond the year 2015. These goals will build on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. We are determined that they will include a clear commitment to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. The...

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

Charles Flanagan: The scale and severity of the crisis in Syria and the surrounding region requires a sustained response from the international community. Ireland is one of the most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis. At the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria and the region held in Kuwait last January, Ireland pledged to provide €12...

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

Charles Flanagan: I am deeply concerned by the significant deterioration in the security situation in the east of the country. Of particular concern is the sharp escalation of hostilities in recent weeks and reports of large movements of tanks, artillery and troops from across the Russian border into rebel held areas, which have threatened progress towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis. I participated...

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

Charles Flanagan: As a global actor, the EU is continuously engaged, both directly and in conjunction with the UN and other international partners, in making a positive contribution to help prevent and overcome conflicts around the world. Peace building and conflict prevention are central to the EU’s actions on the international stage, and particularly in the context of the pressing conflicts with which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my previous answer to Question No. 2. This is, and will remain, a 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 towards achieving some relief for undocumented Irish...

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

Charles Flanagan: I continue to closely monitor developments in Ukraine and am deeply concerned by the significant deterioration in the security situation in the east of the country. The sharp escalation of hostilities in recent weeks and credible reports of the large movement of tanks, artillery and troops from across the Russian border into rebel held areas seriously threaten progress towards peace. At the...

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

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question No. 11 on the same topic, which was as follows. 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...

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

Charles Flanagan: 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 and on economic renewal. These include budgetary and financial...

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. 34. 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 and on economic...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply today to Priority Question No. 40 on the same topic, which was as follows: Ireland has worked for many years, under successive governments, to achieve a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, involving the realisation of a sovereign Palestinian state. We have therefore always looked forward to...

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

Charles Flanagan: I have included in the table below the dates of meetings of my Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC) in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. In principle, each meeting involves the Secretary General of the Department as Chair as well as the Heads of Division at HQ at Assistant Secretary and above grade. An innovation introduced in 2013 has seen the appointment on an annual basis...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 together. I have strongly condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April. I am also appalled by continuing reports of other violent attacks perpetrated since then by Boko Haram, including the explosion on 10thNovember at a secondary school in Yobe State in North-Eastern...