Results 4,801-4,820 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (16 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The visit of Speaker Larijani was an interparliamentary occasion, and so his main engagements were with the Oireachtas. I met him for a courtesy call on 16 June, and in the event the meeting provided a good opportunity to discuss some current issues. My key message to Mr. Larijani was to encourage the Iranian authorities to go the extra distance in the nuclear negotiations in Vienna and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our position and we are keeping channels of communication with them open and sustained. I have had numerous conversations and meetings with my Egyptian counterpart, with other high level figures in the Egyptian system and with the Egyptian Ambassador here in Dublin at which I have raised my continuing concerns about this case. This engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1159, 1160, 1162 and 1174 together. I propose to take Questions 1159, 1160, 1162 and 1174 together. The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy for international development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1161 and 1163 together. The Embassy of Ireland in Singapore, which is accredited to the Philippines, as well as the Honorary Consulate General in Manila and the Consular Assistance Unit of my Department in Dublin have provided ongoing assistance to this citizen and their family since July 2013. This assistance has included providing a list of lawyers; making...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. When I met with the Colombian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Patti Londoño, in Dublin on 18 June 2015 I raised the human rights situation in Colombia with her, emphasising the importance Ireland places on protecting trades unionists, human rights defenders, journalists and others. I also raised a number of specific cases with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I reported on my meetings with Mr. Larijani in my reply to the Deputy’s Question no 637 on 16 July.Following the successful achievement of an agreement with Iran to end the long running concerns about its nuclear programme, I am cautiously hopeful that this very welcome achievement may in due course lead to a broader improvement in relations with Iran. There remain significant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting. Human rights issues are discussed on a regular basis with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings, including during the visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland in May 2015. Through the formal framework of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last month I launched a new guide to completing the passport application form. The photo guidelines page is a separate document. The Passport Service is currently redesigning the passport photo guidelines to provide greater clarity as well as to reflect the diversity of Irish citizens. These will soon be available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has long been a leading voice in the field of nuclear disarmament, since our introduction of the ‘Irish Resolutions’ at the UN in the late fifties which led to the negotiation of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). I addressed the NPT Review Conference on its opening day on the 27th of April in New York this year in order to highlight...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is the norm internationally to provide passports of a ten year standard validity to all adults. A reduced term of validity for children’s passports is necessary as their appearance can change significantly within a short period of years, which can lead to uncertainty as to the identity of the passport holder. However this is not generally the case for adults of any age. For these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1170, 1172 and 1185 together. The world is facing unprecedented levels of humanitarian crisis, driven by conflict, chronic instability, and economic and environmental shocks. There are now more than 59 million people globally who have been displaced, more than at any time since the Second World War. Ireland is firmly committed to responding to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I refer to the answer, that follows, which I gave to this House on 9 July 2015. Ireland fully supports the removal of the terrorist threat posed by the ISIS group, consistent with international law. Airstrikes have been conducted against ISIS in Iraq and Syria for a number of months. It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since the beginning of 2015, I have discussed conflicts in the Middle East and Africa with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council in January, February, April, May, June and July and at the Informal EU Foreign Ministers meeting in September. I also travelled to the Middle East in February, visiting Lebanon, and meeting Israeli and Palestinian politicians to discuss regional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There is a field on the hard data page of the Irish passport to record the place of birth of the holder. The county of birth is recorded for citizens born on the island of Ireland and the country of birth is inserted for citizens born abroad. International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations do not provide for the insertion of details of a “home town or village” on passports.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 6 July I met the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna in Dublin for discussions on a range of bilateral and foreign policy issues. We meet frequently at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers, including at the monthly meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Although I have no immediate plans to meet bi-laterally with the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Ms Vesna Pusiæ, we meet frequently at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers, including at the monthly meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Conflict Resolution (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1178 and 1179 together. The protection of all minorities in Syria and Iraq is central to the Government’s efforts and policies internationally on both Syria and Iraq. Ireland has consistently pressed for effective action to protect the rights of all minorities in international fora, including the EU and UN. I highlighted this issue in my previous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 to 1183, inclusive, together. I, together with my colleague Minister of State Sherlock, have been working closely with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the five main political parties with a view to finding a way through the current serious political impasse which is impacting on the operation of the devolved Institutions of the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The plight of refugees fleeing conflict and upheaval in the EU’s southern and eastern neighbourhoods is of deep concern to us all, and one demanding a comprehensive and coordinated response from the EU. Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Ministers have primary responsibility for matters related to immigration/asylum and refugees, into and within the EU. In April this year, the Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Policy (22 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The plight of refugees fleeing conflict and upheaval in the EU’s southern and eastern neighbourhoods is of deep concern, and one demanding a comprehensive and coordinated response from the EU. Within the EU, Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Ministers have primary responsibility for matters related to immigration\asylum and refugees. The agenda for the next Foreign Affairs Council has...