Results 5,241-5,260 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 726 and 727 together. Irish Embassies, Missions and representatives overseas stand ready to assist Irish citizens, in line with our consular policy, when assistance is requested. In this instance we do not have any record of being contacted by this citizen upon his arrest. The Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi was made aware of the deportation of this Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. I am firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and Ireland works for its suspension and abolition around the world. We have expressed concern about its increased use of late in a number of countries, including the recent cases in Saudi Arabia which I condemn without reservation. The abolition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Living Wage (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s public procurement activity involves the acquisition of services, supplies, goods and works. Open public procurement procedures are used to engage external contractors to provide non-core services involving ICT, programme administration and general services. The Department meets its statutory obligations relating to minimum pay by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: All missions have systems for out-of-hours contact. Public contact details for Irish diplomatic and consular missions abroad are listed on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website and are also available in various publications, such as for example the Institute of Public Administration yearbook. In addition, each Mission (Embassies and Consulates General) has its own website...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passports Data (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service has issued 10,570 passports on average per year between 2011 and 2015 to applicants aged 75 years or over. Taking this average and given the passport fee of €80, the estimated cost of providing passports to persons in this age category without charging a fee would be €845,600 per year.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: At present, Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 61 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions, 11 Consulates General and one Representative office. The scale and presence of the network is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. Any decision to adjust the State’s external representation, including the opening of missions, will have regard to national priorities and available...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (13 Jan 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests include: - Promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts. -...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, clearly articulates the Government’s commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and to making...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (14 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Many skilled electricians, and other qualified people, have moved from Ireland to work in Canada over the past few years. The high standards of training of these Irish skilled people are recognised by Canadian employers who have actively recruited in Ireland in recent years. As is true for all skilled people who did not receive their trade qualifications in Canada, it is currently the case...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (14 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I have engaged extensively on this citizen’s case with my Egyptian counterpart, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, and with Egypt’s Ambassador to Ireland, Ms. Soha Gendi. The Taoiseach has also directly engaged on this case at the highest-level with the Egyptian President, Mr Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Furthermore,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (14 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is aware of this tragic case and provided consular assistance to the family at the time. The Embassy in Madrid has made enquiries with the Spanish authorities and has been informed that the criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths has closed. However the family may still have the option of pursuing a civil legal action in relation to the case and,...

Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America: Referral to Select Committee (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I move:That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America on the other, signed at Tegucigalpa, Honduras on 29th June, 2012, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 6th January, 2016, be referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Deportation Orders (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In line with our consular policy, my officials and staff at Irish Embassies, Missions and Consulates overseas stand ready to assist Irish citizens when such assistance is requested. In this case we do not have any record of being contacted by this citizen at the time of his arrest. The Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi was only made aware of the deportation of this Irish citizen six months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I understand from our contacts with B’Tselem that the fire in their offices is believed to have resulted from an electrical fault.However, Ireland and our EU partners have expressed our concerns about long running efforts by some political elements in Israel to hinder the work of NGOs which are active on justice and human rights issues, particularly in the occupied Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have seen reports of a further Holocaust cartoon competition being planned in Tehran. I do not have the details, including whether this would be an officially supported event. Media reports of this nature from the region are not always firmly based, and need to be confirmed. However, if true, the holding of such an event would be deeply inappropriate and grossly offensive, and I would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the concerns about the detention of this man, who was arrested on 21 November and given a six-month Administrative Detention order on 20 December, after a month of questioning. The subjects of these orders are given no indication of the allegations or concerns for which they are being detained. This person has been on hunger strike, reportedly taking only water, since 25 November,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. My Department has three offices in Australia, the Embassy, which is located in Canberra, a Consulate-General in Sydney and an Honorary Consulate in Perth. The Embassy and Consulates meet regularly with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and with the Australian Border Force (ABF) on all visa-related issues affecting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish.The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that: -address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; -enhance access...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Grades (19 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: All civil servants in my Department with the requisite skills and experience are eligible to apply for internal promotion competitions irrespective of their grade. Since the change in eligibility rules for promotion came into effect in December 2013, one Clerical Officer has been promoted to Higher Executive Officer. No Executive Officer has been promoted to Assistant Principal Officer.