Results 5,441-5,460 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (24 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) comprises two main elements. Some 80% is accounted for under the budget allocation to Vote 27 - International Co-operation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which manages the Irish Aid programme. The remaining 20% is accounted for by Ireland’s share of the EU Development cooperation budget and by development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the holding of the recent Vienna meeting of the International Syria Support Group, but I am concerned about the absence of an agreed date for the renewal of negotiations. An early resumption of negotiations and progress on the core issue of a political transition are central to achieving a political solution. I discussed these issues with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (24 May 2016)

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 remains a priority for the new Government. Our Embassy in Washington and Consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration reform and the issue is also regularly addressed in high level political contacts between Ireland and the US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (24 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It has been over five years since the start of the conflict in Syria, and the suffering of the Syrian people has become a defining crisis of this generation. An estimated 400,000 people have been killed, and some 13.5 million people within Syria need humanitarian assistance. The UN estimates that more than 4.8 million Syrians have now fled to neighbouring countries. The Syria crisis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Prison issues in Northern Ireland have featured regularly in my discussions with the former Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, David Ford MLA and, on non-devolved aspects of the prison regime, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP. I would expect that discussions on prison issues will continue with the incoming Northern Ireland Minister for Justice once...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sports Events (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The European Championships are taking place against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in France, which remains in a state of National Emergency since the terrorist attacks of 13 November. Our advice to Irish citizens intending to travel to France is that they should exercise a high degree of caution. Detailed travel advice is available on my Department’s website...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My visit to Belfast last week was my first since my re-appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I undertook a series of meetings with political, community and sports representatives. During my visit, I put forward the Government’s position on the UK-EU Referendum and our priorities in the new Programme for Government, which has detailed commitments in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There have been three murders in Belfast in recent months – those of Adrian Ismay, Michael McGibbon, and Dan Murray – and a number of shootings. Each was a brutal act of criminality which should have no place in our society. I would encourage anyone with information regarding any of these crimes to bring it to the PSNI. My thoughts and sympathies are with the families and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has a unique perspective and interest in the outcome of the upcoming referendum on UK membership of the European Union. We fully respect that the outcome of the referendum is, first and foremost, a decision for UK voters to make on 23 June. However, I and my Government colleagues are committed to engaging with the debate to ensure that the Irish perspective is heard and understood....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of this case, which has just arisen with the refusal to renew the individual’s travel permit earlier this month. This appears to be on the basis of a review of his right to reside in Israel, and to return there after travel to the occupied territory and elsewhere. No request for assistance has been received from this person, by ourselves or – so far as we can...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights, is one of the key principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement. As co-guarantor of the Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles. The fundamental role of human rights in guaranteeing peace and stability in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is pursuing every avenue to secure the release of this 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 the detained citizen and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There been a strong emphasis on openness and transparency during the EU-US trade negotiating rounds. The EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström has initiated a transparency initiative that includes making public all EU negotiating texts and textual proposals in relation to the EU-US free trade negotiations. The EU Commission has also published summaries and clear explanations about...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Summits (25 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The first ever World Humanitarian Summit which took place in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May 2016 was called for by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the last year of his tenure. President Michael D. Higgins and Minister of State Joe McHugh represented Ireland at the Summit. Some 5,000 participants attended, including 50 Heads of State and Government, other global leaders, civil society...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I congratulate Deputy Darragh O’Brien on his appointment as foreign affairs and trade spokesperson for his party and on his election to the Dáil. I wish him good health and success in that position. I offer him the support and co-operation of my office at all times and trust that we will have a fruitful relationship. I also congratulate Deputy Crowe on his reappointment as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The public services card is used increasingly as an efficient and secure means to access Government services, including social welfare services for the purposes of the free travel. Already there are in excess of 1.8 million such cards in circulation. It is important that this measure be recognised in the context of the fight against fraud. Every effort is being made to ensure our...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I remind all Deputies that the passport service updates its website weekly with turnaround times. An Post's passport express renewal applications are taking 13 to 14 working days to process. The first time application takes somewhat longer. However, every effort is being made to meet this unprecedented challenge within the Passport Office and I will keep the Deputies fully informed having...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that this case remains a top priority for the Government and the Department. We continue to pursue every constructive avenue to secure the release of this citizen and we will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. The Egyptian Government is fully aware of the priority the Irish Government attaches to this case, and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are many different suggestions in regard to the action that can be taken in this case. All options for action are kept open by the Government, and we keep these activities under review at all stages. However, I again stress that we are at all times guided by the action that is most likely to achieve positive practical progress for our citizen at the earliest possible opportunity. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The next hearing of this case is scheduled for 29 June. Embassy officials will be in attendance, as they have been at every hearing over the course of his trial. They will monitor and report on the developments of the day. It is my hope that this matter will be completed in its entirety on that day, although I do not have absolute control over the listing or hearing of court cases in the...