Results 4,341-4,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my answer to Priority Question No. 2 Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my answer to Question No. 181 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 high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of this case but as it is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings it would not be appropriate for me to make representations to any of the States mentioned or, indeed, to comment.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There have been no meetings between the Government and either Ministers or officials representing the Kurdistan Regional Government. No official requests for any such contacts have been made to the Government. Ireland supports the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have had regular and ongoing contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP. In recent months the primary focus of our discussions has been on the effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. However, we have also discussed a range of other areas of mutual interest including specific legacy cases. In terms of our discussions on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 17 February my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, announced that he was not proposing to proceed with the development of a National Diaspora Centre but rather he was encouraging local communities to develop their own unique narratives of diaspora engagement.The enhancement of our connections to the global Irish community remains central to Government policy. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The brutal activities of Boko Haram continue to represent a serious threat to the peace and security of Nigeria, but also the wider region, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They also involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and a direct threat to education and education facilities. The abduction just over a year ago of more than 200...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The EU Foreign Affairs Council considered the situation in Yemen at its meeting in Luxembourg yesterday. At this meeting, I participated in a discussion of the deepening crisis in Yemen with my fellow Ministers and with High Representative Mogherini. At this meeting, conclusions were adopted which set out the EU position in full. In recent weeks, a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Balochistan province of Pakistan, and will reply on that basis. I am conscious that Balochistan, which has the largest land area of Pakistan’s four provinces, is one of the poorest regions of Pakistan and has witnessed armed conflict. The Government does not consider that the problems of Balochistan can be resolved through violence and we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland, in common with all other EU Member States, was unable to support the UN General Assembly Resolution last September on the modalities for the implementation of General Assembly Resolution 68/304 on the establishment of a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes. The main focus of the resolution was the establishment of an ad hoc committee to elaborate a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that since PQ 539 of 31 March 2015, the five women’s rights activists have been released in China.On 14 April last, the EU Delegation in Beijing issued a statement noting with relief the release of the five women’s rights defenders, who were detained on the grounds that they wanted to launch a campaign against sexual harassment on International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Proliferation (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On behalf of the Government, I wholeheartedly welcome the agreement in principle reached between representatives of the international community and the Government of Iran on 2 April. I urge all responsible parties to support this agreement and the continuing work of their governments to finally bring it to a successful conclusion.The extended presence at the negotiations in Lausanne of the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government recognises global climate change as one of the key challenges of this century. Failure to address it effectively will seriously affect all countries. Ireland’s policy for International Development “One World One Future” was published in May 2013, and identifies “Climate Change and Development” as one of six priority areas of action.The most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question 154 on 25 March 2015, which was as follows: “The comments of Prime Minister Netanyahu before the recent election, in relation to the two state solution, were both disappointing and unwelcome. Such statements are particularly regrettable in the tense and inflammatory situation in the Middle East. We know from our own peace process how words...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: 2015 marks the centenary of terrible events which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. President Higgins recently expressed the sympathy of the Irish people for the enormous suffering of Armenians in that era to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The Ambassador of Ireland to Armenia, John Biggar, will represent Ireland at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Millennium Development Goals (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is co-facilitating intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations to agree a framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015. The new sustainable development agenda should be adopted in New York in September. It will involve a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will complete the work of the MDGs on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Colombia, including human rights, workers’ rights, the ongoing peace process and the European Union's relations with Colombia, have been discussed regularly at EU level. The Foreign Affairs Council meeting that took place in Luxembourg yesterday addressed the subject of Colombia with particular emphasis on how the EU might assist. Human rights in Colombia are a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A reduced term of validity for children’s passports is necessary as children’s appearances change significantly within a short period of years, which can lead to uncertainty regarding the identity of the passport holder. This is not generally the case for adults of any age and it is the norm internationally to provide standard validity passports to all adults. Introducing an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There is little doubt that the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is hugely important for Ireland. There are a number of well-documented reasons for this, not least the key role the EU and the common market play in sustaining the strong British-Irish trading relationship. Our joint presence within the Union is also especially beneficial to the people of Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these...