Results 4,881-4,900 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (14 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The 2008 Passports Act provides that the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant before a passport is issued. This serves to maintain the good reputation and integrity of the Irish passport worldwide which in turn protects Irish citizens as they travel abroad. The witnessing of applications by An Garda Síochána in the state has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I deeply regret the tragic loss of life that occurred in the air strikes at the MSF hospital in Kunduz and I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and injured. The services of medical personnel from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the most difficult of situations across the globe in alleviating suffering caused by armed conflict deserves the highest praise. With the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The recent upsurge of violence in and around Jerusalem has led to the killing of civilians on both sides. I have deplored this and urged responsible leaders to work to calm the situation. In the longer term, I have expressed before my concern at the growing use of force by Israeli forces in policing non-life threatening situations in the occupied territory, which has led to a steady toll...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have had several conversations with my Egyptian counterpart, Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss this case; there has also been extensive contact between my Department and the Egyptian Embassy here in Dublin, and between our Ambassador and Embassy and the Egyptian authorities in Cairo. The Taoiseach has also recently discussed this case with the Egyptian President in New York. Ultimately...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware that the air conditioning system in the reception of the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi is not currently functioning at full capacity. The staff at the Embassy are actively working to rectify the problem. The Embassy chancery building in Abu Dhabi is a rented property and officials at the Embassy have raised this issue with the landlord, who is working to resolve it quickly....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (20 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I was appalled to hear of the devastating terrorist attack in Ankara on Saturday, 10 October. This brutal act resulted in a tragic loss of life and wide-scale injuries. I have expressed my condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people of Turkey. We updated our travel advice for Turkey in the wake of the Ankara bombing. We advise Irish citizens in Ankara, or those intending to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of these and other similar and unhelpful comments. It is no secret that a number of Ministers and parties in the new Israeli Government are openly opposed to the two state solution, or to any serious compromise with Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that this is not the policy of the government. However, it would be fair to say that the Israeli Government has a lot...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Naval Vessels (21 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, all vessels have a right of innocent passage through the territorial seas of a coastal state and there is no requirement to seek the consent of the coastal state. However a coastal state may regulate entry to its internal waters and in Ireland the consent of my Department is required in relation to any foreign naval vessels wishing to enter the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Military Aircraft (21 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in the State. My Department considers requests for permission to transit Irish airports or airspace in consultation with relevant Departments and agencies. In September 2015 permission was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Issues (21 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Reaching Critical Will (RCW) is the disarmament programme of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), the oldest women's peace organization in the world. RCW was created to encourage civil society engagement in UN disarmament processes and to support NGO interaction with governments and the United Nations; to provide timely and accurate reporting on all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Requests (21 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests 2015 Number of FOI requests received to date Number of FOI requests where the period of consideration was 20 working days Number of FOI requests where the period of consideration was a period of up to 40 working days Number of FOI request currently under consideration 103...

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

Charles Flanagan: Questions relating to the management of the Social Investment Fund are devolved matters that are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. My Department oversees the Reconciliation Fund which provides grants to organisations working to further peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, on a cross-border basis, and between Ireland and Britain. Over 140 organisations received...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Migration Crisis (21 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The scale of the migration challenge facing the EU is an enormous one requiring a comprehensive and coherent response. The political and economic circumstances behind the displacement of millions of people must be addressed, if the flow of migrants is to be managed. The conflict in Syria (which is the biggest driver behind this year’s migrant flows) has led to the world’s...

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

Charles Flanagan: Our objectives in this case are twofold: Firstly to see this citizen 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 the Government has been to further these objectives, and most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The process of recruiting locally-employed staff for Irish Embassies is managed locally by each Mission. These positions are generally advertised, including on the relevant Embassy’s website. A link to these websites can be found at . Diplomatic staff are recruited in Ireland through a competitive process administered by the Public Appointments Service. These vacancies are also...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 319 to 322, inclusive, together. Following the request by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron, I and my colleague Minister of State Sherlock, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, facilitated a return of all the five main parties in Northern Ireland to round table talks. These talks resumed in round table format on 21...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is the norm internationally to provide passports of a ten year standard period of 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....

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

Charles Flanagan: We have all been shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic human cost of the migration crisis – which continues to develop dramatically. Such is the scale, complexity and evolving nature of the crisis, that identifying and implementing workable solutions is a challenge for us all. While some other EU partners and neighbouring States have had to face disproportionate pressures, all...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) features regularly on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. It was discussed in detail at the Council’s meeting on 20 July. It was also discussed by Ministers at their informal, or Gymnich, meeting last month in Luxembourg. The Council Conclusions adopted and published at the July Council meeting were wide ranging. They reiterated the...