Results 4,001-4,020 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims, and attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, and freedom of thought, conscience, religion or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to overfly or land in the State. Requests for permission are considered in consultation with relevant Government Departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence, and procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is 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 continue to work closely with our high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond towards achieving some relief...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I warmly welcome the historic decision by President Obama and by President Castro on the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. As noted in my press statement of 19 December 2014, this is a positive step towards the normalisation of relations between the two countries. Ireland’s concerns about the US economic, commercial and financial measures...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Conferences (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The three-day conference, Representing the Global Island,which I convened last week, brought together more than 90 Irish Ambassadors, Consuls General and senior diplomats with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Government Ministers, other Government departments, the State agencies and representatives of Irish companies, as well as third level institutions and representatives of the creative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Action Plan for Jobs (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy (2010-2015) is being implemented over the course of the current Programme for Government. It was reviewed in a process led by my Department and involving relevant Departments, State agencies and private sector members of the Export Trade Council. In the Review, published in February 2014, the original plan of 25 individual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am familiar with the case of Mr Nabeel Rajab and the circumstances of his arrest last year, and that the charges against him reportedly relate to ‘publically insulting official institutions’ under Article 216 of the Bahraini penal code on foot of an opinion he expressed on Twitter. On Tuesday of this week, Mr Rajab was reportedly sentenced to six months in prison. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to assure the Deputy that the overarching goal of the European Union’s development policy remains the eradication of poverty in a sustainable manner, within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Negotiations are currently under way on a new framework to succeed the MDGs beyond 2015 and Ireland is playing a significant role in this process, having...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Jan 2015)

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. These diplomatic immunities are intended to facilitate the conduct of effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Outstanding commitments undertaken in the two foundational agreements of the peace process, the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements, arose in the context of the recent Stormont House talks, which concluded successfully on 23 December. Throughout the talks, the Government maintained the view that the best way to strengthen peace and reconciliation across this island is to implement fully...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case of the person referred to, who was convicted of obstructing military operations in the West Bank, by blocking a military bulldozer engaged in construction. His is one of a series of cases of concern related to the protests around construction of the separation barrier on Palestinian land belonging to the villagers of Bil’in. As is normal practice, EU Missions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Programme for Government states that the Government will enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law. The Government has repeatedly stated that Ireland would not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on 19 January. The agenda items for this FAC were Counter Terrorism, EU relations with Russia, and Climate Change Diplomacy. The first issue discussed was Counter Terrorism, following recent events in France and Belgium. Ministers present re-affirmed the EU’s commitment to preventing and combating terrorism and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The EU remains at the forefront of international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The situation in eastern Ukraine is extremely fragile at present, with a worrying escalation in hostilities and violence in recent days after a period of relative calm over the Christmas and New Year period. I had the opportunity to discuss the crisis in Ukraine with High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I participated in the discussions on Counter-Terrorism at the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on 19 January, following the brutal murders in France and the violence in Belgium. Together with my colleagues, we re-affirmed the EU’s commitment to preventing and combating terrorism and discussed how our collective efforts, within the EU and in partnership with third...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. I have strongly condemned the appalling acts of violence being perpetrated in Nigeria and the neighbouring region by the terrorist group Boko Haram. These include the recent killings of a large number of civilians in an attack in the north-eastern state of Borno, and the kidnappings in recent days in Cameroon. I am appalled by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The locations currently experiencing warfare, victimization, starvation and abuse, remain a constant concern to the EU, UN and wider global community. Promoting stability and supporting efforts towards peace and security in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East continue to require and receive major international attention. UN-authorised peacekeeping missions have a major role in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following the end of the recent round of direct negotiations in April 2014, the EU, UN and others, including the US administration, have made clear their continued support for a renewal of dialogue and negotiation, which is the only way to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement. However, there is no move under way at the moment to try to achieve such a resumption, nor is such a move expected...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last November President Obama announced new measures which should benefit thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants based in the US. Pending further possible measures being considered by the US Congress, the President’s announcement is a step forward which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on immigrants’ lives. At the core of his proposals is that undocumented immigrants...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (22 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The advancement of Ireland’s trade, tourism, investment and education promotion objectives is a central aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is...