Results 4,361-4,380 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government believes that addressing the legacy of the past is essential to further progress towards reconciliation in Northern Ireland. For this reason, the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a number of important new mechanisms, including an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government wishes to acknowledge the dedicated work undertaken by Spencer Oliver in developing the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE during his tenure as Secretary General of the OSCE Parliament Assembly (PA). While supportive of many aspects of the work of the OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly is independent of the key decision making bodies of the organisation. State governments are...

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

Charles Flanagan: Active representation in Irish civic life is of significant importance to Irish citizens overseas as evidenced by the submissions to the public consultation process undertaken to inform the Diaspora Policy. The issue of voting rights for citizens overseas was raised in a number of submissions received during this process. At the time of finalising the Diaspora Policy, two important...

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

Charles Flanagan: There has been a change in Government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election in January 2015, and I welcome the stated commitment of the new President, Maithripala Sirisena, to freedom, good governance and respect for human rights. At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9 February 2015, which I attended, the Council agreed a number of...

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

Charles Flanagan: The practice of vigilantism in certain parts of Northern Ireland continues, notwithstanding the transformed political, social and security environment since the Good Friday Agreement. A recent RTÉ documentary ‘Above The Law’, broadcast on 23 March, and corresponding work published by investigative website The Detail, on the issue of punishment beatings, were a reminder of...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s 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...

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

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of the reply I gave to Question No. 216. The Government’s 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...

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

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the steps taken by the United States last month to impose financial and travel restrictions on seven named individuals in leadership positions in Venezuela whom it states have been involved in human rights violations. I am aware also of the accompanying Executive Order signed by President Obama which provides the legal basis for the sanctions.This matter has, clearly, given rise...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 545, inclusive, together. The effective and expeditious implementation of the totality of the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement is a key priority of the Government. It is important to ensure that the recent developments in relation to the Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland do not have a corrosive impact on the wider implementation of...

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

Charles Flanagan: The effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement is a major focus of the Government with a view to advancing its twin aims of economic prosperity and reconciliation for Northern Ireland. The work of implementing the Agreement continues at political and official level. In accordance with the review and monitoring provisions of the Stormont House Agreement,...

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

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to 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 of...

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

Charles Flanagan: No, this issue has not been discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council. As I have stated in reply to other Questions, the outline agreement on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme represents a significant and very positive achievement, for which I congratulate EU High Representative Mogherini and the Foreign Ministers of all seven countries involved.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Like each of the 57 participating state governments of the OSCE, the Irish Government is represented on the key decision making bodies which are based in Vienna. These are the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-Operation, both of which are accountable to the Ministerial Council. While complementary to the work of these Vienna-based OSCE bodies, the Parliamentary Assembly is...

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...

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

Charles Flanagan: Travel advice for individual countries worldwide, including the level of caution recommended, is available on my Department's website at . This advice is published in order to make useful information available to assist Irish citizens in making well informed decisions when planning their trips and when travelling. Irish Embassies closely monitor developments in countries to which they are...

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

Charles Flanagan: In 1987, the Government formulated a policy to bring together, where feasible, our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies in a single location, designated as "Ireland House". The policy has been implemented on a gradual basis over the intervening years. The precise model for implementing such an arrangement would, of course, vary and have to reflect local...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is co-facilitating the 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 at a major UN summit of world leaders in New York in September. It will involve a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will...

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

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to the following table which details the information requested. The source for this data is the Central Statistics Office. Bilateral Trade with Egypt Year Imports (€ 000) Exports (€ 000) 2007 62,859 481,453 2008 76,366 233,130 2009 76,184 316,902 2010 83,956 428,424 2011 95,937 474,447 2012 94,039 422,648 2013 60,867 458,458 2014* 25,505 166,741...

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

Charles Flanagan: The brutal activities of terrorist groups such as al Shabab, Boko Haram and ISIS involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and are a direct threat to education and education facilities. The abduction just over a year ago by Boko Haram of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in north-eastern Nigeriaand the recent appalling killing of more than 140...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 557 together. As the Deputy is aware, citizens' trust and confidence in the EU and its institutions has been negatively affected by the depth and duration of the financial and economic crisis in the Union and its Member States. It is welcome therefore that the evidence suggests that Europe is now emerging from this deep and protracted...