Results 5,081-5,100 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Turkey, Iran and Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of those countries, which are for decision by the Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders. Ireland raises human rights issues, including the rights of minority communities, in its political dialogues with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: 'Global Entry' is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk US travellers upon arrival in the United States. While the goal of Global Entry is to speed travellers through the process, no traveller is guaranteed expedited screening and members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Cases Data (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Depending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General's Office and the Chief State Solicitor's Office or the State Claims Agency which may brief outside lawyers as necessary. The cost of any such external lawyers engaged to litigate these cases are not charged to my Department's Votes, but related costs, such as those paid to documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A total of 12 former Temporary Clerical Officers in my Department were awarded Contracts of Indefinite Duration as permanent Clerical Officers. All of them were granted incremental credit for salary purposes for their previous service in the Civil Service.

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: They do not want to hear the reply.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: first, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is very much aware of the key significance of UK membership of the EU for our national interests. We know how important it is not just for our economy but also for the continuing strength of British-Irish relations and for peace and stability in Northern Ireland. It’s also our firm view that the EU is better and stronger as a whole on account of UK membership. That is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since my appointment in July 2014 I have met with the groups listed in the following table, on the dates indicated.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also receives many requests for meetings at Headquarters and in Missions abroad from a wide-range of groups and individuals whom it is not always possible for me to meet. Date of meeting Details of meeting 27 August 2014 Meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Examples of such events this year included the visit in May of HRH The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A table containing the information is set out as follows. My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since my entry into office in July 2014. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and particularly where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagements, these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The names and salaries of the Special Advisers appointed to the Ministers and Minister of States in this Department during the period in question are set out in the following table: Name Position held Annual Salary – years in question Period of service Mark Garrett Chief Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following the horrific attacks of 13 November in Paris in which 129 people were killed, and more than 350 injured, President François Hollande declared a State of Emergency. On 19 November the French Parliament, definitively adopted the three-month extension and expansion of the State of emergency. The French Government decided that in order to avert possible further terrorist attacks,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This citizen and his family have been the recipients of comprehensive consular assistance from my Department and the individual in detention has been visited on forty-eight occasions by Embassy officials, most recently on 23 November. Numerous positive interventions have been made with the Egyptian authorities on his behalf. The Embassy has also attended all his trial hearings to date, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I launched the Passport Card on 5 October. Since then over 12,000 applications have been received and over 11,200 cards produced. The card is accepted for travel in all EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland (31 countries in total) and gives exactly the same entitlements and protections as a passport book. There has been a positive public reaction to this Irish-led...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the announcement in October by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland that he has requested the PSNI Chief Constable to investigate the full range of alleged offences which relate to the activities of the individual commonly known under the codename ‘Steaknife’ or ‘Stakeknife’. This includes the investigation of any criminal activity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service has issued 644,481 passports to date this year which represents an increase of over 15,000 from the 629,446 passports that were issued in 2014. The ten day turnaround applies to those applications submitted in person at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and through the An Post Passport Express service. All applications which were submitted in person at the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I meet regularly with my foreign minister colleagues at the monthly Foreign Affairs Council meetings including with my Belgian counterpart with whom I have excellent working relations.I have no immediate plans to meet the Belgian Minister outside the Council framework at this juncture.