Results 4,181-4,200 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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...

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: Human Rights Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka which ended in 2009 caused the internal displacement of tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many of whom are members of the Tamil population. This remains an issue to the present day. There has been a change in Government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election last month, and I welcome the stated commitment of the new President, Maithripala...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following the resignation of the former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, TD, in July 2014, his personally appointed staff, including the Special Advisers mentioned, received redundancy and severance payments in accordance with the terms of their contracts of employment and instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

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

Charles Flanagan: On 11 February, I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers during her visit to Dublin, as part of our regular consultations. We discussed a broad range of issues including ongoing work on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, the justice and security situation in Northern Ireland, and a number of specific legacy cases. In relation to the Stormont...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 207 together. 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...

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

Charles Flanagan: I have strongly condemned the appalling acts of violence being perpetrated in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries by Boko Haram. These include the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April 2014 and the appalling use of children as suicide-bombers, recently including a girl thought to be as young as seven. I have given...

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

Charles Flanagan: I am very concerned 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 warring parties signed another ceasefire agreement in February following regional talks led by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The ten lowest ranked countries in Africa in the UN’s Human Development Index are Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Chad, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Guinea and Mozambique. Two of these, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, are key partner countries for Ireland’s aid programme.The Government’s approach to Africa is...

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. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials in both Dublin and in our Embassy in Cairo remain in ongoing contact with the Egyptian authorities on this case. From my first day in office, I have taken an active role in this case and indeed in my first...

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

Charles Flanagan: The promotion and protection of human rights is a central objective of our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the...

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 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: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The primary objective of the TTIP is to promote growth and jobs, greater compatibility in regulation, high standards, and common rules to facilitate trade and investment.The EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on behalf of the EU states that the Agreement will exclusively contain provisions on trade and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I approach prison issues in the North with great seriousness and am very conscious of the increase in tensions in Roe House, Maghaberry Prison over recent weeks. I have discussed these issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with a member of the Independent Assessment Team, which undertook the stock take of the August 2010 agreement between prisoners and the Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I remain deeply concerned at this individual’s continued detention as well as the recent further postponement of his trial. I am not in a position to predict the timing of developments in this case that are dependent on decisions of the Egyptian authorities. However, I would like to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Vote 27 - International Cooperation. No payments have been made to the firms listed in the Deputy’s question by my Department from 2011 to 2014 nor is my Department contracted to use these firms. There are no agencies or State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Death of Russian Politician (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Bradford for raising this important matter. The murder of the prominent Russian opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov, in central Moscow early on Saturday morning was a brutal and cowardly act which was met with widespread shock and disbelief. I have already expressed my sadness at Mr. Nemtsov's death and extended my sympathies to his loved ones. His murder highlighted the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Death of Russian Politician (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As I noted earlier, this murder is an appalling act that must be fully and effectively investigated. I believe a failure to find and prosecute his killers will raise serious questions about the criminal justice system in Russia. As I have said already, a culture if impunity must not be allowed to develop in Russia and cannot be tolerated. With regard to Ukraine, I agree with the Senator....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (5 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: All applications which are witnessed by members of An Garda Síochána must have Section 9 of the application form completed by the witnessing Garda. This requires the Garda’s signature, Name, Rank, Garda Number and Garda Station to be completed on the form.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Boston College Archives (5 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In March 2011 the British Government, acting on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, initiated proceedings with the US Department of Justice under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries for the release of selected archived interviews held in Boston College. The archives are part of the Belfast Project,an oral history of Republican and Loyalist former...