Results 4,161-4,180 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: The enhancement of our connections to the global Irish community remains central to Government policy.The establishment of the position of Minister for the Diaspora is a tangible demonstration of the Irish Government’s deep commitment to the Irish community abroad. Since taking up this role I have visited many Irish communities and the universal reaction has been very positive. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The question of outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements was considered during the Stormont House talks. Throughout the talks, the Government maintained the view that the best way to strengthen peace and reconciliation across this island was to implement fully the commitments undertaken in these Agreements. In relation to the Good Friday Agreement...

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

Charles Flanagan: During my visit to Gaza last week, I reaffirmed Ireland’s longstanding support for UNRWA. I witnessed the critical work of the Agency in delivering services and assistance to some five million Palestine refugees across the region. I am aware that international financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services resulting in recurring financial...

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

Charles Flanagan: The EU has been at the forefront of international efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, which has claimed over 5,500 lives, left many thousands more injured and forced almost a million people to flee their homes. The conflict has had a devastating impact on local civilian populations in eastern Ukraine who have endured dreadful suffering since fighting broke out in the Donbas...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my answer to Question no. 11. 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Ireland has not taken a position on the future status of the territory, so long as that status is decided in a genuine exercise of self determination. At present, Western Sahara is a non-self governing territory. Under international law, the economic resources of a non-self governing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: International law imposes restrictions on the use of the death penalty. Ireland is completely opposed to the death penalty in time of peace or war and is party to various UN and European human rights treaties that have successively limited (and, in the case of the Council of Europe, completely outlawed) the practice. Furthermore, Ireland condemns all forms of arbitrary, summary and...

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

Charles Flanagan: Irish Design 2015 (ID2015) emerged as an idea from the Global Irish Economic Forum convened by my Department in 2013. My Department is committed to the success of this excellent initiative with a global reach. ID2015 aims to create 1,800 jobs and 200 new businesses by promoting Ireland as a hub for design excellence and by encouraging investment in design as a key component of...

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

Charles Flanagan: I visited Israel and the Palestinian territory from 16thto 19thFebruary. The purpose of my visit was to gather information and develop a deeper understanding of the situation on the ground in the context of the Middle East Peace Process. I met with a range of interlocutors, including the the Foreign Minister of Israel, Avigdor Liberman, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland, like our EU partners, has a strong and unequivocal opposition to the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances and accordingly seeks its universal abolition. We believe that its abolition would contribute to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 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. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians. I am deeply shocked by recent reports of the brutal killing of Coptic Christians in Libya by ISIS and the kidnapping of 150 Assyrian Christians in eastern Syria. These are monstrous acts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I remain deeply concerned at this individual’s continued detention as well as the recent further postponement of his trial. From my first day in office, I have taken an active role in this case and indeed in my first week in office I spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry setting out my concerns. I have spoken to FM Shoukry on a number of further occasions, stressing that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the events in question and am deeply concerned by such reports. Ireland has continually advocated that civil society actors must be free to operate in a safe and enabling environment, free from repression. Ireland’s concerns on such human rights issues in Bahrain have been conveyed regularly to the Bahraini authorities. At the second Universal Periodic Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Expenditure (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s diplomatic network currently comprises of 61 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 12 Consulates General and other offices. Through them, we maintain diplomatic relations with 176 states.Staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade promote Ireland as a destination for investment and lobby and negotiate for Ireland on issues that could impact our economic interests:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The focus of the Government is currently on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. In this context, I represented the Government, together with Minister of State Seán Sherlock, at the first implementation and review meeting of the Agreement in Belfast on 30 January last at which a detailed implementation timeline was agreed. Both the British and...

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

Charles Flanagan: On 12 February, an agreement was reached in Minsk on a new peace deal aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine which has claimed over 5,400 lives, left many thousands more injured and forced almost a million people to flee their homes. The declaration agreed in Minsk by Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, President Putin and President Poroschenko and the package of measures signed by...

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

Charles Flanagan: The crisis in Libya is a cause of grave and ongoing concern for the European Union, its member states, and the international community. The most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 9 February was an important opportunity for me to discuss the fluid situation on the ground in Libya with my counterparts from other EU Member States. We considered how the EU can best respond to the...

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 Aid (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...