Results 5,281-5,300 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. My concerns regarding this case are twofold: firstly, this person has been convicted for activities that would be widely regarded here as the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression, and, secondly, due to the nature of the sentence, which included corporal punishment. Concerns about this case have been raised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has not spent any funding on capital projects and other initiatives in the constituency of Louth East Meath in the last 5 years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In 2011 the Government decided in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the arrangement whereby persons over the age of 65 could avail of a reduced passport fee. The annualised fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. At €8 per year, the Irish passport fee compares with approximately €8.60 for a French passport,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of two recent reports of crop spraying in the restricted area on the Gaza side of the border fence. This practice is now said to have been going on for some years, but to have just come to wider attention. The Israeli NGO Gisha, which is supported by Ireland, has put a series of questions to the Israeli authorities about the reasoning for the action and what chemicals have been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. I have consistently made very clear my opposition to and condemnation of the whole process of settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the related policies of land seizures and forced transfer of population which are an inherent element of the settlement programme. These processes are clearly contrary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland consistently expresses strong and forthright criticisms of Israeli policies in the occupied territory, and its treatment of Palestinians there. There are also concerns about some issues relating to minorities in Israel, be they Bedouin or other Arab Israelis, which indeed have been the subject of considerable debate in Israel itself. These concerns have been discussed at EU level....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and in particular 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: Public Inquiries (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently no tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations underway. The only investigation for which my Department had responsibility during the period in question was the investigation by Mr. Justice Peter Cory, a retired judge of the Canadian Supreme Court, of allegations of collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Allowances (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Listed below are the details of expenses paid, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed by the Minister of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and each of the Ministers of State at my Department over the period 2011-2015. Tánaiste Gilmore was provided with a State car and Garda drivers. Year IN OFFICE MILEAGE SUBSISTENCE HOTEL Costs OTHER EXPENSES 2011 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has not subscribed to external media clipping or media monitoring services during the period to which the Deputy refers.My Department and Ireland’s network of 80 Diplomatic, Consular and other offices overseas perform a wide range of functions in pursuit of Ireland’s foreign policy interests. These include representing and advancing government policies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly condemned the crimes committed against religious and ethnic minorities across the Middle East, including Christians, who have been the victims of appalling crimes, including murder, sexual violence, enslavement and forced conversions. Ireland, in conjunction with 57 other States, sponsored a resolution calling for the Security Council of the United Nations to refer the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Jan 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Martin should be worried about his own crowd.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Government is pursuing every avenue to secure the release of this Irish citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. Significant resources continue to be deployed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Cairo and in Dublin, in the provision of comprehensive consular assistance to both this citizen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has long been a supporter of the Enlargement process, and is in favour of Serbia’s membership of the European Union. Serbia is making steady progress on its European path and we were pleased to see that the first chapters in the acquis communautairewere opened on 14 December last, meaning that negotiations on Chapter 32, Financial Control and Chapter 35, which deals with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that I last met the Irish Ambassador to Japan, Ms Anne Barrington, on 27 January 2016. We had a useful, wide-ranging discussion on the Ireland-Japan bilateral relationship including on preparations for the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations which will occur in 2017. The priority Ireland attaches to the relationship with Japan is reflected in the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the developments referred to by the Deputy, notably the recent decision of Haiti's electoral authority to suspend the second round of elections for security reasons. Officials from my Department continue to monitor the situation in Haiti. We are concerned by any disruption of the democratic process. It is our view that political leaders in Haiti should reject violence and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Expenditure (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department keeps the running cost of our Embassies and Consulates to a minimum and ensures the delivery of a value for money service for the taxpayer. During 2015 the following factors contributed to an increase in our Embassies and Consulates running costs. Firstly, in January 2014 the Government agreed on the expansion of the Irish Embassies and Consulates network. Embassies were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards Data (2 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State Boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the issue regarding the treatment of allegations against British soldiers who have served in Iraq. I have no information to suggest that there are any proposals to extend the same approach to British soldiers who are alleged to have been involved in criminal acts while on duty in Northern Ireland. The Stormont House Agreement provides a comprehensive institutional framework...