Results 5,541-5,560 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that this case remains a top priority for the Government and for my Department. We are continuing 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. I am aware of media references to a letter written by this citizen concerning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and its Member States and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States combine both trade and development provisions. The mandate for their negotiation derives from the Cotonou Agreement of 2000, between the EU and the ACP states. Their central objective is the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty, consistent with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department did not spend any funds on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times Magazine in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department spent €22,450 on daily newspapers up to the end of September 2015. This is a reduction from €73,731 in 2011. This reduction was achieved by a move to a greater use of online newspapers and magazines for Headquarters and Missions abroad.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Human Resources Unit in my Department is split into two sections: HR1 deals with all matters relating to staff working in the Department’s offices in Ireland; HR2 deals with all matters relating to HQ staff posted to our Missions abroad and also locally-employed staff working in those Missions (80 overseas missions in total). A small number of staff in the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: On the commencement of each Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State. These guidelines are expected to be approved by Government shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department transitioned to PeoplePoint in April 2016. Staff in the Human Resources Unit are continuing to assist officers in the Department based at home and abroad during the stabilisation period of the new arrangements. A review of the Human Resources Unit is also being carried out on how to redeploy our resources more efficiently once the transition to Peoplepoint is fully implemented...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft landing in Ireland with the permission of the Government are not subject to searches or inspections. The principle of sovereign immunity applies automatically to such foreign State or military aircraft, in the same way that it applies to Irish State or military aircraft abroad. Ireland accepts the generally recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together. I am concerned by the recent reports of violence, social unrest and killings in Colombia to which the Deputy refers. The promotion and protection of human rights is a key priority for Ireland and we condemn unreservedly all attacks and threats against human rights defenders and other campaigners for social justice, wherever they take...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commemorative Events (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, State Ceremonial Events have marked the executions of the leaders of the Rising. Planning is underway for an event to commemorate the execution of Roger Casement on 3 August. In this context there have been some discussions with the British Government about access to Pentonville Prison in London. However, I would note that Pentonville...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on 23 May where migration, the threat posed by ISIL/Da’esh, and the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy were on the agenda. The FAC meeting was preceded by a ministerial meeting on the Eastern Partnership. The Council had a wide-ranging discussion on the external aspects of migration. The High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In my reply of 31 May 2016, I reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights as evidenced by Ireland’s signature of the Optional Protocol. In accordance with Ireland’s standard practice, in order to ensure that the State can meet its obligations under the Optional Protocol upon ratification, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his question regarding the individual concerned. Officials in my Department have been in contact with this individual and have endeavoured to provide all possible and appropriate assistance, and stand ready to continue to assist. I would invite the Deputy to advise the individual to make direct contact with officials in the Consular Division of my Department who would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 to 355, inclusive, together. My Department received a request dated 13 May 2016 in respect of an aircraft with the call sign to which the Deputy refers. The request sought permission to land at Shannon Airport on 31 May and to depart on 2 June 2016. The request stated that the aircraft was unarmed, carried no arms, ammunition or explosives and that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sports Events (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is acutely conscious of the safety and security issues associated with major sporting events. My Department is therefore actively engaging with the authorities and key stakeholders in France and Brazil in order that all appropriate measures are taken to ensure that Irish citizens travelling to both Euro 2016 and the Rio Olympic Games are safe. The primary responsibility, of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The core intention of the Agreement which emerged from the March European Council is to break the business model of the people smugglers who are profiting from the suffering of the vulnerable. In particular, it aims to discourage the victims of people smugglers from risking their lives and dangerous sea journeys. The very significant decline in the number of people attempting to cross the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Apology (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy’s Question refers to an individual who sought compensation for alleged mishandling of a recruitment process by the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) in 1997. APSO was a limited company which was wound up in 2004. This matter has been the subject of previous correspondence and representations with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department does not have a funding stream that would cover the reprinting of this publication.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: An Irish Passport is issued in accordance with the Passport Act 2008 and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004. If the applicant has an Irish mother or father who was born in Ireland, then they can claim citizenship through that parent. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of the long form of the birth certificate and a copy of the Irish passport of the parent. Where the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together. Full and timely implementation of the Fresh Start Agreement is a key priority for the Government and this is reflected by its inclusion in the new Programme for Government. The Government continues to work closely with all relevant stakeholders in this regard. A quarterly review process, originally established under the Stormont House...