Results 5,101-5,120 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government, on foot of proposals made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, nominates officers to Ambassadorial posts. The nominated Ambassadors are subsequently appointed by the President. The former Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria retired from his post in October 2015. Candidates for this post are currently being considered and I will bring a proposal for a successor to...

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

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

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legal Costs (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject-matter, domestic litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this most important issue this evening. It is important to start with the positives and what was achieved by the Fresh Start agreement. It has placed the Government in Northern Ireland on a sound budgetary footing, which is so important for economic stability and development, and new financial supports that will help to unlock the full potential of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the commentary of Deputy Smith and, indeed, acknowledge his support and that of his party, both in recent times and prior to that, in terms of our approach here to matters pertaining to Northern Ireland. The Government has a long track record of defending and promoting the rights of victims and survivors. The record clearly shows that successive Irish Governments, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that I last met formally with the Irish Ambassador to China, His Excellency Mr Paul Kavanagh, on 17th May 2015 at Ashford Castle, on the occasion of the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The landing referred to by the Deputy has been raised in this House on a number of previous occasions. In response to a parliamentary question regarding compliance by foreign military aircraft with conditions applied by my Department, my predecessor stated that contrary to notification, one US military aircraft landed in Shannon Airport in September 2013 armed with a fixed weapon. This was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form any part of military exercises or operations. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The decision to grant a firearms certificate is made by the Minister for Justice and Equality, in consultation with the Garda Síochána, which at all times retains responsibility for law enforcement matters generally and in relation to visiting VIPs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Navigation Orders (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Where permission is being sought for the landing of a military aircraft, the requesting state is required to confirm that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives, is not engaged in intelligence gathering and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. In addition, the requesting state is required to provide the airports of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In my reply of 3 November I stated that in requesting permission from my Department, the US Embassy indicated that the purpose of the landings was crew rest. My reply also set out the conditions which apply to landings by all foreign military aircraft, including that the flights in question must not form part of a military exercise or operation. I am satisfied that the US authorities are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort underway to tackle the threat posed by Daesh and other UN-designated terrorist groups. Security Council resolution 2249 grants authority for States to take all necessary measure to suppress and eradicate terrorist acts by Daesh and Al-Nusra Front in territory under Daesh...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 29 November, the Taoiseach attended an EU heads of state or government meeting with Turkey, at which it was agreed to activate the Joint Action Plan aimed at managing the current refugee and migrant crisis, as well as several further shared commitments and actions. The Joint Action Plan contains short- and medium-term measures to be undertaken by the EU and Turkey to assist Turkey in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. Implementation and follow-up to the Fresh Start Agreement, agreed on 17 November 2015 following 10 weeks of intensive discussions, is already underway. The Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly have already taken measures to implement what was agreed on welfare reform and finance matters. Contacts have begun at official level on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (10 Dec 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 in Ireland.Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions, including the stipulation that the aircraft concerned must be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that I am aware of the initiative described and that postcards received by my Department will be forwarded to Ambassador Cole in Cairo for onward transmission to the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Rehiring (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: No such applications for re-instatement were granted in my Department.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Human Rights Issues (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Zappone for raising this important issue. I assure her and the House that the objectives on the part of the Government in this case are two-fold: first, to see the release of Mr. Ibrahim Halawa by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Dublin; and, second, to provide consular support for his health and welfare while he remains in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Human Rights Issues (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to clarify a few points. On behalf of the Irish Government, I wish to assure the Senator and this House that we fully support all and any applications that have been made to the court regarding bail and the Presidential decree 140. Ultimately we do not have a final say in the judgment. I am sure the Senator will agree this is a matter exclusively under the jurisdiction and remit of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Death Penalty (15 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has a longstanding policy of strong and unequivocal opposition to the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances, and we are actively engaged in EU and international efforts to secure its universal abolition. Along with our EU partners, Ireland actively supports UN resolutions on the death penalty at the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. We also support EU...