Results 5,761-5,780 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A table containing the information follows. My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since my entry into office in May 2016. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Treaties (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Constitution was amended in 1972 to enable Ireland to accede to the European Communities. Upon accession, the treaties establishing the European Communities, as they stood in 1972, were made part of Irish law by the European Communities Act 1972. Subsequent amendments to these treaties were enabled, as necessary, by further amendments to the Constitution and the 1972 Act was also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Iraqi Conflict (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I condemn absolutely and unreservedly the recent attack in Baghdad in which hundreds of Iraqis were murdered. I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s total condemnation of Daesh’s murderous totalitarianism and its numerous crimes. The May 2016 Foreign Affairs Council agreed on a comprehensive review of the EU regional strategy for Syria, Iraq and Daesh, which had been adopted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department does not have any EU funding programmes that are the subject of pre-financing.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has deployed seven rapid responders to Greece and the Balkans since mid-2015 through Irish Aid, our overseas development and humanitarian assistance programme managed by my Department. These experienced specialists have provided, and continue to provide, much needed surge capacity to our UN partners’ refugee response operations on the ground, helping to improve water supply...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State bodies or agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose taking Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together. I welcome the democratic transition which is underway in Myanmar following the historic elections which took place there in November 2015. Last week saw the new Government’s 100th day in office, and so the transition is still in its early phases. I welcome the positive steps that the new Government has taken to date which have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As a result of the El Niño weather effect, Ethiopia has experienced its worst drought in decades, with 10.2 million people in need of assistance. This is in addition to 7.9 million people already receiving food and cash transfers through the Ethiopian Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which Ireland funds. The humanitarian situation in the country is now...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have stated consistently that I believe the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is now a major driver of the continuing conflict. The EU and the wider international community have repeatedly identified settlements as threatening the prospects of achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict, by making the establishment of a coherent Palestinian state...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The conference held in Paris on 3 June was the first part of an initiative by the French Government based on their concern at the worsening prospects for the achievement of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and their strong feeling that the international community had to act to try and retrieve the situation. These are views which Ireland has also consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It was for the French hosts to decide who to invite to the conference in Paris on 3 June. Ireland was one of only ten EU member States invited, and I participated on behalf of the Government. The French initiative on the Middle East is aimed toward a broad conference towards the end of the year, to which I understand France intends to invite both Israeli and Palestinian participation....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on many occasions for direct negotiations without preconditions. Indeed he repeated this to me when I met him in Jerusalem on 14 June. As a principle this, of course, sounds positive and reasonable. However, all peace processes are unique, and what is said must be understood in context. It is clear to all that a final agreement in the Middle East can...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (12 Jul 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 annualised fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Embassy of Ireland in Thailand and Consular Assistance section at HQ in Dublin are aware of the case and are providing assistance to this Irish citizen.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The US Embassy has reconfirmed details which it had provided previously in relation to the aircraft that transited through Shannon Airport last month. The Embassy has reconfirmed that the aircraft were unarmed, carried no arms, ammunition or explosives and did not engage in intelligence gathering. The Embassy further reconfirmed that the aircraft were not part of a military operation or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no such staff working in my Department; there are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The vast majority of passport applications from both sides of the border are made through the post office networks on this island. This remains the most efficient and cost effective way to apply and applications can be submitted at some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. An appointment service is in operation in the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork. This service provides...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (13 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. Like other Deputies, I myself received a copy of the letter referred to, which appears to have been drawn up by the Irish NGO concerned, and then Palestinian signatories gathered. The Government remains active and engaged on the objective of trying to achieve a two state solution in the Middle East, including a fully sovereign and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, clearly articulates the Government’s commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and to making...