Results 3,841-3,860 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 117 together. 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: Ukrainian Conflict (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ending the conflict in Ukraine remains a key priority for the EU. The issue has been discussed by Ministers at every meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council this year, most recently on 17 November. Since the outset of the crisis, the EU has been at the forefront of efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We have strongly supported the OSCE, including through financial...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the enlargement process, which is generally seen as one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives of the European Union. For Ireland, it is important to work intensively to advance the accession process with the current candidates and potential candidates. The European Council has granted Candidate Status to six countries including Turkey,...

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

Charles Flanagan: The European Union actively supports and monitors peaceful coexistence in the Western Balkans, and the perspective of EU membership is a key stabilising factor. Overcoming the legacy of recent conflicts in the region and promoting good neighbourly relations form an essential part of any candidate country’s progress along its EU path. An assessment of the contribution to regional...

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

Charles Flanagan: The spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa continues to present a huge challenge to the international community and the international response has been the subject of detailed discussions and briefings at meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council since the most recent outbreak, as well as a host of other international meetings and cross-departmental meetings inIreland.It is clear that this...

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

Charles Flanagan: The recruitment and use of child soldiers continues to be a serious problem and a matter of grave concern to Ireland and the international community. Each year, the United Nations Secretary-General issues a report on children and armed conflict which lists all armed groups – both state and non-state – that recruit and use children. The most recent list, published in July of this...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 115 and 116 together. Advancing Ireland's trade, tourism, education and investment objectives, and economic diplomacy more generally, is an important aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. My Department has responsibility for the Export Trade Council, which I...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland will continue to support all international efforts, including by the EU and UN, to promote a political resolution of the current conflict in both Syria and Iraq. We will also continue to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and provide urgent assistance and support to the civilian populations within Syria and Iraq who have been displaced or suffered violations of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland and the other member states of the European Union are firmly of the view that the lifting of the embargo would facilitate an opening of the island’s economy to the benefit of its people. In addition, we and our EU partners are not persuaded that the continued embargo is contributing in a positive way to the democratic transition in Cuba. Ireland’s concerns about...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government remains very concerned about this case, particularly following the recent decision of the High Court of Lahore to uphold this person’s conviction. Our concern at the conviction and sentence was first conveyed by the Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan (from Ankara, Turkey) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad in 2013. Most recently, the Ambassador...

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to be before the Seanad to report further by way of update on developments in the Middle East and Ukraine, following on the specially-convened emergency debate held here in July. I will commence by addressing the Middle East peace process. Three months after the end of the latest Gaza conflict, the humanitarian situation remains dire. A total of 24,000 people are still...

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge with thanks the contribution of Members to this debate. If time will allow, I will conclude with some remarks on the issues and questions raised. If the House will agree, I will deal with the matter of Ukraine first, then the issue of Syria and I will retain the bulk of my commentary for the Middle East peace process, which Members will acknowledge did form the majority of the...

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There are a range of issues on which the European Union needs to clarify its position and it needs to intensify its hand in the negotiations. Undoubtedly, the Middle East peace process is important to the European Union because the countries of the region are our neighbours. I acknowledge that over recent years, the matter has not been as high on the agenda as it could have been. Following...

Personal Explanation by Minister (2 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Arising from new information which has been brought to my attention, I would like to correct the record of the House in respect of an error in responses to four parliamentary questions from Deputy Clare Daly starting on 7 October 2014 and finishing with Question No. 110 on 20 November 2014. I replied to the questions on the basis of the information provided by Shannon Airport Authority....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs Group’s profiled budget to end of October 2014 is €609,378m and the actual spend to end of October 2014 is €560,575m resulting in a period variance of €48,803m. 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 actual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Since 16 October I have been in Belfast each week for political talks on a range of issues with a view to advancing reconciliation and the economic recovery agenda in Northern Ireland. Minister of State Seán Sherlock, T.D. has accompanied me most weeks. During that period work has been done across the four streams of discussions of the talks: (1) financial and budgetary issues,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government remains very concerned about this case, especially following the decision to uphold this conviction by the High Court of Lahore.The Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan (from Ankara, Turkey) has conveyed our concern at this conviction on a number of occasions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, most recently in early November 2014. In the course of his meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The RTÉ documentary ‘The Torture Files’ alleged that the British authorities purposely misled the European Commission on Human Rights and the Court by withholding information in the case. It also alleged that the decision to employ the interrogation techniques had been taken at UK Cabinet level.These and other allegations made in the documentary were taken very seriously by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (4 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between states. To date, it has been ratified by 190 countries. The Convention provides for privileges and immunities for diplomats and certain other persons working in embassies. Under the Convention, it is the duty of all persons enjoying diplomatic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (4 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department performs a wide range of functions in pursuit of Ireland’s values and interests overseas. These include advancing reconciliation and cooperation on the island of Ireland; representing and advancing Government policies with other States and in international organisations; economic, trade and cultural promotion; front-line consular and passport services to Irish citizens;...