Results 5,641-5,660 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I stress again that the Government acknowledges the unique circumstance that is Northern Ireland and the unique circumstances that exist on the island of Ireland. These will remain our priorities in the context of our relationship with the United Kingdom as it prepares to withdraw from the European Union but, more particularly, our relationship with the European Union in the context of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: At my meeting with the Secretary of State we agreed that, irrespective of the result or of any utterances that may have taken place in the course of the campaign by any political leader or otherwise, the Good Friday Agreement remains the foundation stone for the two Governments' approach to Northern Ireland. The result of the referendum does not in any way diminish the importance, centrality...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My understanding is that we are grouping two questions together in this reply, Nos. 23 and 24.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together. MSF Ireland informed my Department on 15 June that the organisation globally had taken the decision that it would no longer accept European Union or member state funding for its humanitarian programmes. It explained that MSF opposed the EU-Turkey refugee facility agreed by the European Council and believes that EU asylum and migration...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: While I am speaking on the subject of migration policy, I want to clarify a matter. During statements on migration and the refugee crisis on 28 April, I reacted to remarks made in the House by Deputies Mick Wallace and Clare Daly by making a rather flippant remark about Deputy Wallace's visit to Dunkirk and Calais. I subsequently apologised to Deputy Wallace outside the House but I now wish...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I will say, again, that Médecins sans Frontières is mainly funded by private donations. If it takes a view that it will no longer accept donations, that decision remains one for the charity. With regard to Turkey, it remains an essential partner in the very difficult and challenging attempts to manage the current migration crisis. The European Union and Turkey have engaged deeply...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: EU Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My officials are available at all times to meet any groups who may request a meeting and I am sure that includes the groups referred to by the Deputy if such a meeting is sought. It is important to remember that a key element of the intensified engagement with Turkey is to assist in alleviating the suffering of those most affected by the migration crisis who are those who have had to flee...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s clear priority in this context is to maintain the good functioning of the European Union in the current highly uncertain environment and to protect Irish interests, including in relation to Northern Ireland, the common travel area and trade. Our ongoing efforts will continue to involve engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Oireachtas and its various...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I very much regret that Deputy Howlin takes that view. Of course there is an information note. It was an information note on the current crisis and the critical issues involved. I assure the House that there will be full and detailed engagement. I am very pleased that Deputy Howlin was in contact with the socialist group, as I am sure all Members are in contact with their own affiliate...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Contingency planning is challenging because many of the impacts in Ireland depend on the new arrangements that can ultimately be agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Nevertheless, a substantial body of work has already been undertaken across Government to identify the key strategic and operational risks involved. This work is now being not only prioritised, but...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Several existing structures will be strengthened as necessary. These include the Cabinet committee on EU affairs, the North-South Ministerial Council-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: -----the British-Irish Council at official level, the joint Ireland-UK secretaries, the group of secretaries general, the EU senior officials group, interdepartmental group and the stakeholders group. Only today the Oireachtas agreed the setting up of the European affairs committee, which will have a very important role and I trust that Deputy Howlin’s party will be represented on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The passport service is in peak season with 53,139 applications in the system as of 1 July. The level of demand is very high this year with an 11% rise in the number of applications year-to-date compared to the same period last year. However, the situation has improved somewhat in recent weeks. On 31 May, there were a total of 68,009 applications in the system and this figure has fallen...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the Deputy's kind words. I will be more than happy to convey his very kind and well-received remarks directly to Mr. Austin Gormley in the passport office and his team. I acknowledge that they work very hard in challenging circumstances. It is not often that the House is witness to kind remarks of the type we heard from Deputy Healy-Rae. I take them as they were given,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy makes a very important point. The passport service offers a passport reminder service to customers, which can be accessed via the passport service web page, www.passport.ie. It automatically sends an e-mail three and six months before a passport is due to expire to those who register. Registration simply requires passport holders to record their names, e-mail addresses and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Government maintains contact with the United States on a broad range of issues, both bilaterally and through European Union structures. Bilaterally, there are regular contacts between political leaders from our two countries, such as through those that took place during the recent visit by Vice President Biden to Ireland and the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality which has been pursued by successive Governments is characterised by the non-participation of Ireland in military alliance. This commitment was reconfirmed last year in the context of my Department's foreign policy review and in the White Paper on Defence which was also published last year. Successive Governments have made overfly and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Prior permission is required for all foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports and permission, if granted, is subject to very strict conditions which I have outlined. Bilateral relations between friendly nations are founded on mutual trust. Both parties have an interest in maintaining that trust. Details provided by diplomatic missions, including confirmation that the aircraft...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 41 together. My Department is monitoring closely the current political situation in Brazil, including the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff. Our embassy in Brasilia provides regular reports on the latest developments and their possible repercussions. In addition, the events in the country are also the subject of ongoing discussion at European...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The constitutional process in Brazil involves both the legislature and the judicial branches of the federal government. President Temer has been appointed for a period of 180 days while the impeachment of President Rousseff is considered by the Brazilian Senate under the chairmanship of the current chief justice. Ireland will continue to monitor the situation via our embassy in Brasilia....