Results 4,141-4,160 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government fully supports the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all documents in its possession relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I have raised this issue on several occasions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, MP, including, most...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Both groups have received a significant amount of financial support, the purpose of which is to acknowledge the important work they do, including in the context of dealing with the legacy of the past. Between 2003 and 2008, Justice for the Forgotten received just over €1.2 million from the Remembrance Commission, through the Department of Justice and Equality, in respect of...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The fall of the Gadaffi regime in 2011, which followed NATO intervention, was welcomed by my predecessor. It was clear at the time that building a democratic future for the people of Libya from the ashes of the Gadaffi dictatorship would be a difficult task. The optimism and expectations of a better future for Libya, which then prevailed, have not yet been realised. A more recent false...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be familiar with the wording of UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorised all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat and attack in Libya, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory. I acknowledge that the situation in Libya is completely unacceptable. The European Union is...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I stress that Ireland is one of a number of states which continue to pursue a policy of neutrality or non-alignment in times of peace. It is a matter for each of these states, including Ireland, to determine the nature and characteristics of its policies. Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, which has been pursued by successive Governments, is characterised by our...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 27 January 2015, Nikos Kotzias was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece. I have held no formal meeting with the Minister since his appointment. I spoke briefly to him on the margins of the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 29 January, when I wished him well in his new and challenging role. I look forward to working closely and constructively...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that this is a matter primarily for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, who has been actively engaged, along with his European colleagues, in dealing with the current situation in Greece. I confirm that there is solidarity in Europe, and indeed in Ireland, in terms of assisting the Greek Government and its people, and this was shown by the Eurogroup...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I believe the most appropriate fora for engagement and negotiation are the meetings of the EU finance Ministers, ECOFIN. This was where Ireland was successful in achieving savings in the past through negotiations such as the extension of maturities, the deal on the promissory notes and, most recently, the early repayment of loans to the International Monetary Fund. Like all member states,...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have consistently highlighted the Government’s deep concern at the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, which are actively undermining the prospects for a comprehensive peace agreement to end the conflict. I have publicly condemned recent Israeli Government announcements of further settlement expansion and called for these decisions to be reversed. I repeated these concerns...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I accept the continued expansion and development of Israeli settlements constitute a major barrier to peace in the region. Last week I had the opportunity to visit an area in the Palestinian territory adjacent to land that has been marked out for further settlement. I had the opportunity to engage with local public representatives in that regard. Settlements and their related policies...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: When I visited the region last week it brought home to me in a very practical and visible way the impacts of the settlements on the daily lives of the people in the region and also the impact on the prospects for future negotiations and peace. I share what the Deputy has said. It is very clear that only the ending of the occupation will resolve the issue of the settlements and other...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As I have outlined in previous replies, responsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft is determined by whether such aircraft are designated as civil or military aircraft. The regulation of civil aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Chicago Convention, which came into force on 4 April 1947. Ireland's rights and obligations under the...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of issues before the court, as indeed is the Deputy. She will be aware of the current regulations in respect of the inspection of civil aircraft. In that regard the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport bears responsibility. Authorised officers of the Irish Aviation Authority have the power to inspect all civil aircraft in Ireland for the purposes of ensuring full compliance...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: If there are people, including the Deputy and the Deputy by her side, who have evidence, I ask that it be transmitted directly to the appropriate authorities. I believe there is a scheme of regulations and conditions involved that are transparent. I reiterate that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport bears primary responsibility for the regulation of civil aircraft. My Department...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There has been an increase in tensions in the prison in recent weeks. This is due in part to the issuing of threats by prisoners against Northern Ireland Prison Service officials in a context where a serving prison officer, David Black, was murdered by dissidents in November 2012. It is also related to recent construction work in Roe House intended to increase the space available to...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Northern Ireland Prison Service has accepted the recommendation of the stock take report that forum meetings take place at least every two months with an agreed agenda in advance. I acknowledge there have been some difficulties in achieving agreement on a mutually accepted share of the prisoners' forum but I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that it is essential that prisoners engage...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The UK’s continuing membership of the EU is a strategic objective for the Government. That is because we believe it is critically important for our economy and for the ongoing development of British-Irish relations. It is also our view that the EU itself is stronger and better with the UK as a full and committed member. We must therefore do what we can to help to encourage the UK to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government in our contacts 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 for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the Deputy’s question and the opportunity to discuss this important issue. I share the very serious concern about the situation in South Sudan, which achieved its independence in 2011 but has been in turmoil since the outbreak of conflict in December 2013. Continuing violence and threats have forced almost two million people to flee their homes. The country’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Venezuela is a matter of great concern. As I have indicated before, the deaths, casualties and detentions arising from the unrest there require full, impartial investigation in accordance with due legal process. The apparently high levels of impunity in the case of serious crimes is a matter of further concern as is, indeed, the serious economic situation affecting the...