Results 5,501-5,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 156 together. I have long made clear that the best means of protecting the Syrian people from the effect of violence is to reach a sustainable political agreement, based on the principles of the 2012 Geneva communique. I have repeatedly made clear, including to UN Secretary-General Ban and UN Special Envoy de Mistura, that Ireland strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has long been a supporter of the enlargement policy of the EU, which is widely regarded as one of the most successful policies of the EU in promoting stability, peace and prosperity. Turkeywas granted Candidate status by the European Council in December 1999 and the European Council agreed to begin accession negotiations in December 2004. Progress has been slow, due in part to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Since its inception over seventy years ago the United Nations has played a critical role in the resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of international peace and security. It does this primarily through the UN Security Council which has, under the UN Charter, ‘primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security’. The Council’s ability and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The international community is currently challenged by an unprecedented scale of humanitarian need globally. Conflict is a major driver of humanitarian need, and 80 per cent of humanitarian work is now in countries affected by conflict. Over 60 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes, the highest number since the Second World War. This year the El Niño weather...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students taking the opportunity to experience life and work in the US over that time. The Government of Ireland does not have any role in administering the J-1 scheme, which is a programme of the US Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram in Nigeria and the wider region, which have resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of an estimated 2.2 million people, have been discussed and condemned at numerous EU and UN fora. These brutal activities continue to represent a serious threat to the peace and security of the region, and involve the clear and persistent abuse of human...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Partnership for Peace (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has been a member of the Partnership for Peace since 1999. Our engagement with the programme is carried out via a Liaison Office in Brussels. Ireland’s participation in the Partnership aims to ensure that our Defence Forces have the necessary capabilities to continue to partner effectively and securely with other nations in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations. The cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The UN Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights opened for signature by UN Member States in New York in September 2009. To date, forty five States have signed the Optional Protocol, including eleven of the twenty eight European Union Member States. Twenty one States have ratified the Optional Protocol, including eight European Union Member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that the two applications referenced have been processed and approved. Passports were subsequently delivered by An Post on 27 May. Both passport applications were received by the Passport Service on 29 April through Passport Express. This service which is operated in partnership with An Post offers a target turnaround time of fifteen working days from posting for correctly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Waiver Programme (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together. 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 in the new Government’s relationship with the United States. Our Embassy in Washington and Consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, and if granted, is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Vote 27: International Cooperation. Advertising undertaken by the Department typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, employment opportunities that arise in the Department from time to time, as well as public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The general issue of growing pressure on NGOs in Israel has been discussed in the House on a number of occasions recently, including in last week’s oral Questions. I have stated that this pressure is a matter of growing concern, both to me and in the wider international community, while recognizing nonetheless that Israel still enjoys a much stronger civil society sector than is the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, and if granted, is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Female Genital Mutilation (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together. We regard the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) as a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It represents one of the most pervasive forms of gender based violence. Its prevalence in certain regions is in general not the result of Government policy but of traditional practice, based on a complex range of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has raised freedom of expression and media freedom in a wide range of countries, both through national statements and bilateral diplomatic contacts and through the EU. In the most recent session of the UN Human Right Council in March 2016, the EU statement delivered a Statement in which it raised concerns about “increased pressure – including through travel bans - on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students taking the opportunity to experience life and work in the US over that time. The Government of Ireland does not have any role in administering the J-1 scheme, which is a programme of the US Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. The total amounts spent on professional fees in 2015 was as follows: Votes Amount Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade): €5.992m Vote 27 (International Cooperation): €1.364m Total €7.356m The application of 10% reduction to this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (31 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. The total amount spent on travel in 2015 is as per the following table: - € Vote 27 1.647m Vote 28 4.434m Total 6.081m The application of 10% reduction to this expenditure would result in a savings of approximately €0.6m. Reductions of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (1 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Full and timely implementation of the Stormont House Agreement 2014, and indeed the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015, is a key focus for the Government, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. A quarterly review process established under the Stormont House Agreement, and now also taking account of commitments under the Fresh Start Agreement, tracks progress on the...