Results 5,201-5,220 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 505 together. On a number of occasions in recent years it has proven possible, albeit with very considerable international effort, to bring both Israelis and Palestinians into a process of direct talks. International pressure has not, unfortunately, been sufficient to bring those talks successfully to a conclusion. Many reasons can be suggested for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ethiopia is currently experiencing one of its worst droughts in almost 30 years. Official Ethiopian Government figures indicate that 10.2 million people will require food assistance in early 2016. This is in addition to the 7.9 million people receiving food and cash transfers as part of the Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme. The Ethiopian Government is leading the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Turkey is a candidate country for accession to the European Union. As such, it is working towards aligning itself with all aspects of the acquis communautaire, including Chapter 31 which deals with foreign, security and defence policy. The European Union maintains regular dialogue with Turkey, including on issues of foreign policy, and at a meeting of heads of state or government on 29...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland, along with our EU and UN partners, has consistently condemned the brutal activities of Boko Haram which represent a serious threat to the peace and security of Nigeria, and the wider region, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They also involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and a direct threat to education and education facilities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Food security, human rights and the use of child soldiers remain key concerns for the United Nations and the European Union, including in the Horn of Africa. The region is facing severe food security challenges over the next six months. Unpredictable weather conditions, due to the current El Niño weather event, are already causing severe droughts and flooding in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently five countries which have Candidate Status, including four in the Western Balkans – Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries. Ireland has long been a supporter of Enlargement. The European Commission continues to work actively to support prospective member states in implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is continuing to support efforts by the Iraqi Government, together with the EU and UN, to promote a political resolution of the current conflict in Iraq. We have repeatedly stressed that only a political solution based on reconciliation which recognises the rights of all Iraqis, in line with the September 2014 programme of the Government of PM Al-Abadi, can achieve a sustainable peace...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The issue of euro-scepticism is complex and multi-faceted. The Spring 2015 Eurobarometer survey provides some insights into the views of EU citizens, recording that the image of the EU across the Union improved for the fourth consecutive time since autumn 2013. The same study showed that the proportion of Europeans who see the EU in a positive light has increased by six percentage points in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Ukraine remains a key concern for the European Union. On Monday, the Foreign Affairs Council considered Ukraine as part of a broader discussion on Eastern Partners and it is expected that Ministers will discuss Ukraine, again, early in the New Year. The European Council meets today and tomorrow in Brussels where Ukraine will feature on the agenda. As the deadline of 31...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The recent elections in Myanmar, which attracted significant international attention, mark a historic moment in the country’s democratic transition. Along with my counterparts in the EU and the wider international community, I welcome the broadly peaceful and well-organised manner in which the elections were carried out, while stressing that the legal framework of the electoral process...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s development co-operation programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy, recognises that international trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty. The World Trade Organisation-led Aid for Trade initiative encourages developing country Governments and donors to recognise the role that trade can play in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The advancement of Ireland’s trade, tourism, investment and education promotion objectives is of central importance to our foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. Irish Embassies and Consulates-General provide a global platform for the promotion of Ireland as a business, investment, tourism and education destination. While...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emergency Planning (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Under Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade manages a roster of highly skilled and experienced individuals who make themselves available to deploy overseas at short notice to work in severe, large-scale humanitarian and emergency crises around the world. The Rapid Response Corps roster currently comprises 120 individuals with specialised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The 10thMinisterial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is taking place from 15th to 18thDecember in Nairobi. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the lead Department on WTO matters. My colleague, Mr. Damien English T.D., Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation is representing Ireland at the Ministerial Conference. At the WTO, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. I discussed the question of implementation of the Commission’s recent interpretive notice on place of origin labelling, or indication of origin, during my meeting with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 25 November. The Interpretative Notice on Indications of Origin, published by the European Commission on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The amount my Department has received in fees from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests in 2014 and 2015 to date is set out in the following table. Only certain FOI requests will accrue search and retrieval fees. A minimum fee threshold of €101, or 5 hours of an officer’s time, for FOI request exists. Below this threshold, no search, retrieval or copying fees are charged. Total...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The details of my Ministerial Appointees and those of the Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are set out in the following tables. Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD Role/Title Number Annual Salary Special Adviser Personal Assistant Personal Secretary Civilian Driver 2 1 1 2 €82,587 €25,074...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process RIA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since 9 March 2011 my Department has sponsored two items of legislation which are set out in the following table. A regulatory impact assessment should be applied to all proposals for primary legislation involving changes to the regulatory framework. However, most of the legislation brought forward by my Department does not impact significantly on the regulatory environment. Since March 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 524 together. The issue of violence by groups of Israeli settlers has been a matter of growing concern for some time now. This applies not just to certain highly publicized attacks, but to ongoing and endemic violence against Palestinians and their property, including the so-called ‘price tag’ attacks. By any standards, some of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government works consistently to achieve a sovereign Palestinian state not just in theory but in fact, and all of our actions on the Israeli/Palestinian issue are directed to that end. It is central to our objective of a two state solution that will ensure the security and prosperity of both peoples. I continue to consider carefully whether the recognition by Ireland now of a state of...