Results 5,141-5,160 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I confirm and reassure the House that the Irish Government has a long track record of defending and promoting the rights of victims and survivors. Records show that successive Irish Governments have rigorously and vociferously pursued justice and truth for those affected by the Troubles, in Strasbourg through the European Court of Human Rights and bilaterally on all occasions with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I wil be happy to pursue the issue raised by the Deputy. I assure the House that the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, and I are actively engaged in this matter. Notwithstanding the fact that the intensive round-table talks have been concluded in a positive way by agreeing the fresh start agreement, there will always be issues of concern in terms of North-South relations, Northern Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his question. On 29 November, the Taoiseach attended an EU Heads of State or Government meeting with Turkey at which it was agreed to activate the EU-Turkey joint action plan, which is 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that Ireland is not silent on these issues. With our European colleagues, we will continue raising them. We raised them most recently at the meeting of Ministers' deputies at the Council of Europe on 2 December, when the arrest of two journalists, the importance of freedom of the press and expression in Turkey and the need to ensure a strong and healthy democracy were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to repeat for the benefit of the Deputy that these are concerns of a most important nature. Ireland has raised them and will continue to raise them. I assure the Deputy that officials in my Department, both at our headquarters in Dublin and in our embassy in Ankara, will continue to follow developments across a range of human rights concerns closely, but in particular regarding Mr....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last Friday, I met Northern Ireland's Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford. We discussed in detail the situation at Maghaberry Prison, including the regime for separated prisoners. My last meeting with the Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP, was on 17 November as we concluded the negotiation of the fresh start agreement. We will meet before the end of this month when I will again...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: All Deputies will agree that there is no room or place for any form of threats or intimidation, implied or otherwise. It is important to make that absolutely clear in the context of a functioning democracy. In the course of my meeting with the Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA, he updated me on progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the recent report by the criminal justice...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In general, it is important that we continue to report progress on the matter of prison reform in Northern Ireland. Comprehensive reform of the Northern Ireland Prison Service based on the October 2011 review conducted by Dame Anne Owers concluded in March this year. It is disappointing that, despite the prison reform process, the inspection report found that conditions for prisoners under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the US is a priority in the Government’s relationship with the United States. Our embassy in Washington and consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration reform and the issue is also the subject of high level political contacts...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The President's executive action is now the subject of court proceedings and I do not have a date on which this matter will be decided. I assure the Deputy that this is a matter of priority on the part of the Government. I intend visiting the United States in early January and I will raise this issue again. It is difficult to put precise figures on the exact number of undocumented Irish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of and have raised the matter of the waivers for three-year and ten-year travel bans in relation to US visa applications for Irish undocumented who have overstayed their visa in the United States. At my request, the Secretary General of my Department wrote to the US ambassador earlier this year requesting that he further explore the question of such waivers. The US Embassy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the hearing that took place in Egypt on 15 December concerning this citizen. Officials from our embassy in Cairo attended this hearing, as they have all previous ones, and met directly both with members of this citizen's family and with his Egyptian legal team who represent him in court. At this most recent hearing, the trial was adjourned for five days until Saturday, 19...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that the concerns raised by him and others are treated with the utmost gravity and importance by the Irish Government. We continue to keep in very close contact with the citizen, and with his family here in Dublin, while he is in detention. There have been many different views and suggestions for actions on the case. We keep the possibilities for action under ongoing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I note the debate in the European Parliament. The Deputy will be aware that I have specifically raised this case through discussion with High Representative Mogherini on a number of occasions. She has assured me that the case of the Irish citizen will continue to remain high on the European Union's bilateral agenda with Egypt until his release. The European Union remains supportive of our...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Multiple conflicts across the Middle East region have necessarily occupied much international attention in recent times. These include the conflict in Syria and the rise of Daesh and their impact on Europe. However, I continue to stress at EU and international levels the importance of retaining a focus on the continuing Israel–Palestine dispute. I am aware of the case referred to...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that my officials and I will keep a very close eye on this case and monitor events and developments in respect of it. I condemn attacks on innocent people and any use of force that results in avoidable injuries or death. Once again, I call for an end to attacks and for calm and responsible leadership. Any necessary security measures should be proportionate and...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: We need to focus on the current causes of violent activity and to play our part, along with our EU colleagues, in ensuring the Middle East peace process gets back on track. The direct talks broke down at the start of 2014 and there is no immediate prospect of a resumption. There is a considerable lack of trust in the intentions of each party, in addition to reluctance on the Israeli side to...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ending the catastrophe which has befallen Syria and imposed enormous burdens on the states neighbouring Syria is critical to the stability of the Middle East region and the security and safety of the Syrian people and their neighbours. This has been a key priority for Ireland and its EU partners in recent years. I welcome the announcements of 30 October and 14 November by international...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with the Deputy, particularly on the horrific acts of terrorism perpetrated by Daesh in Syria and across the region. It is imperative that appropriate action be taken. On the situation in the wider region, the Deputy will agree that ending the Syrian conflict is essential to the stabilisation of the Middle East region, ending the threat of terrorism and the humanitarian and security...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: By the end of the year Ireland will have pledged support for the Syrian people in excess of €42 million. This is Irish Aid’s largest response to a single crisis in recent years. Ireland’s funding is channelled via the United Nations, the Red Cross and our NGOs in the region. The money is expended on meeting priority needs in the area, including for food, water,...