Results 5,601-5,620 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I cannot, Chairman.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (23 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I would like to thank the Chairman for his engagement and wish him well in his capacity as Chairman of this important committee. I also wish the members of the committee well and I look forward to close engagement with the committee over the course of this Government.

United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (27 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I want to acknowledge the importance of this afternoon's debate. I thank the Government Chief Whip for ensuring it took place. As a Government, we welcome all the views in the House. I detect and acknowledge a collective determination across the Government and Opposition benches to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the period ahead. Our work together over the next months and years...

United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (27 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: After all that.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Homeless Persons Supports (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade receives correspondence from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on a regular basis. Where such correspondence relates to domestic policies, Departments with lead responsibility for the relevant policy issues are asked to provide input for the reply to the United Nations. The response to the correspondence from the UN Special...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together. To facilitate arrangements for the US Vice President’s visit to the Mayo area, permission was sought for two unarmed US military transport aircraft, type C-17A, to land at Ireland West Airport Knock on 20 June 2016. The aircraft were carrying passenger vehicles in support of the visit. The requests stated that the aircraft were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: We have already welcomed the latest report by the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Syria in a national statement delivered in the Council earlier this month. I want to acknowledge the authoritative and comprehensive nature of the report. The report, based on direct testimony from survivors, makes clear the horrific crimes against the Yazidi population...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 325 together. I am aware of the decision by the Bahraini authorities to revoke the citizenship of this person. The right to a nationality is a fundamental human right. I am aware that since 2014, Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of over 250 people. This is a worrying development, in particular in light of other recent moves in Bahrain to...

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

Charles Flanagan: A decision was taken in the 2005 budget to exempt applicants aged 65 and over from the passport fee. In 2011 the Government decided in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the exemption and to apply the same ten-year passport fee to all applicants aged 18 years or over. The annualized fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In the course of my visit, I met with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu. I also met with the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, Mr. Isaac Herzog, and with the Chair of the Knesset’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Mr. Avi Dichter. In Ramallah, I met with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Rami Hamdallah, and the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I learned with concern of the death of eight refugees on the Turkish-Syrian border on 19 June. I am also aware that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has refuted allegations that the refugees were shot by border guards, saying that Turkish security forces ‘act fully within the legal framework’. Furthermore, I am aware of recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The effectiveness and universality of the United Nations system has been a central principle of Irish foreign policy for very many decades. Successive Irish Governments have accepted that Israel, like any other state, should be able to stand for election to, and occupy positions in, UN structures. On this basis, Ireland has agreed to the inclusion of Israel in relevant Western European and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s National Plan on Business and Human Rights, when completed, will implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which were endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011. The Guiding Principles provide a globally recognised framework which outlines the roles of States and business enterprises in protecting human rights. On the occasion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has long been concerned about the growing frequency of the use of force, including lethal force, by Israeli security forces in non-life-threatening situations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and by an evident lack of accountability in relation to incidents involving the security forces. The same behaviours are not seen where the security forces are engaged in similar...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Data (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the recent report by Value Added in Africa that reviews trade between Ireland and six countries in Africa over the period 2011 to 2014. The enhancement of economic relations with Africa is a central pillar of my Department’s Africa Strategy.Two-way trade, in goods and services, between Ireland and Africa increased by about one third between 2010 and 2014, from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service takes every opportunity to remind citizens to check their passport validity including through messaging on the Department’s website, via social media and also as part of media campaigns such as that for the launch of the Passport Card. In briefing to Members of the Oireachtas I regularly emphasise the need for citizens to apply at least six weeks in advance of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is aware of the case of this Irish citizen, including with regard to recent developments. The Consulate General in Edinburgh has followed up on this matter and is ready to offer all appropriate assistance. As is the case with any imprisoned Irish citizen abroad, any concern related to ill-treatment is treated with the utmost seriousness.

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senators for attending this important discussion, which takes place less than a week after the most recent Seanad debate on the UK referendum. I have been heartened over the past few days to witness the shared sense of determination across political lines to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the period ahead. We must work together to further, and safeguard, Irish national...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: They are incomparable.