Results 6,021-6,040 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: At last week's European Council, EU leaders strongly condemned the ongoing aerial attacks on Aleppo by the Syrian regime and Russia and urged both states to bring an immediate end to the atrocities being committed. They repeated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed that all necessary steps be taken to ensure humanitarian access to Syria. The need to ensure that those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It is the norm internationally to issue passports of a ten year standard period of validity to all adults. A reduced term of validity for children's passports is necessary as their appearance can change significantly within a short period of years, which can lead to uncertainty as to the identity of the holder. However this is not generally the case for adults of any age. For these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on the 17th of October where Syria, the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, Tunisia and migration were discussed. The ongoing conflict in Syria is causing untold human suffering and displacement. At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Ireland and the EU strongly condemned the excessive and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the US remain key objectives for the Government. The issue is regularly addressed in high level political contacts between Ireland and the US Government and our Embassy in Washington and Consulates elsewhere in the US are very active in advocating for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Along with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. and the Minister of State for European Affairs Dara Murphy T.D., I met the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis MP, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP, at Iveagh House on 8 September. We discussed the challenges posed by the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the Deputy's deep concern about and condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The conflict in Syria is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation. Since 2012, Ireland has provided a total of €62 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. At present, it is Ireland's largest response to any humanitarian crisis. At last week's European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I met with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, in June during my visit to Cairo and again in September during my visit to the United Nations. In the course of my meetings, I raised the case of Mr Ibrahim Halawa, Ireland's concerns about human rights and civil society in Egypt, bilateral relations between Ireland and Egypt and EU-Egyptian relations. I have no plans...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emergency Planning (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I cannot comment on matters relating to national security or responses that might be taken in the event of a terrorist attack. I can however confirm that the Government's engagement in international security co-operation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland's long standing policy of military neutrality.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Demolitions by Israel of Palestinian structures, including houses and infrastructure such as water and power structures and animal housing, are an ongoing issue and matter of serious concern. This practice is growing in intensity at a time when international opinion has repeatedly called for an end to provocative actions on the ground. Demolition of structures which have been funded by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are two Ministers of State at my Department, Joe McHugh T.D. and Dara Murphy, T.D. Minister McHugh has special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development. Minister Murphy has special responsibility for European Affairs and Data Protection at my Department and at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Justice and Equality. The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment)...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Missions (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, which was established by decision of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on 21 March 2014, is composed of international staff from OSCE participating States and unarmed, civilian monitors, supported in their work by local staff from Ukraine. As of 12 October 2016, there were 693 international monitors in Ukraine, of whom 10 are Irish. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: While I do not have lead responsibility for the Loughs Agency or aquaculture I am very conscious of the current difficulties arising from unlicensed activity in Lough Foyle. Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve jurisdictional issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The consular case of this citizen continues to be a top priority. The Government is using every possible opportunity to stress to the Egyptian authorities our concerns about this case. At the last hearing (29 June), the trial was adjourned following an application by defendants for an expert review of the audio-visual evidence in this case. The next hearing is now scheduled to take...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The conflict in Syria is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation. Since 2012, Ireland has provided a total of €62 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. At present, it is Ireland's largest response to any humanitarian crisis. Of the €20 million in funding provided by Ireland so far in 2016, €14 million has been delivered through the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: On 12 January 2010, Haiti was struck by one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history, causing some 230,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries. The earthquake destroyed much of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas, left about 1.5 million people homeless and caused losses estimated at €5.9 billion. Two months after the earthquake, the international community pledged US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism, and particularly by Daesh, has been and remains high on the EU agenda. Foreign Ministers have consistently underlined that ultimately there will be no defeat of Daesh without a political solution to the crisis in Syria. This is reflected particularly in the comprehensive conclusions on a 'Regional Strategy for Syria and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 354 together. The issue of euro-scepticism is complex and multi-faceted. Obviously it arises particularly in the wake of the outcome of the UK referendum in June. Of course, I am well aware that, in individual Member States, there are those who would wish to leave the Union. However, this is not the position of any other Government or Parliament....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The migration crisis remains a top priority for the European Union. In the past two weeks alone, migration has been discussed at the European Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The European Union has responded to the crisis by adopting a range of measures including engaging with countries of origin and transit through high level dialogues to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 358 together. Advancing Ireland's trade, tourism, education and investment objectives through economic diplomacy and related activities is a key goal Ireland's foreign policy, informing and directing the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our mission network. The mission network comprises eighty embassies, consulates and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department, working through our diplomatic missions abroad, takes its trade promotion role very seriously. Our Embassies and Consulates take every opportunity to promote Irish business abroad, conscious that trade is a key driver of the Irish economy. Ireland's merchandise trade continues to grow. Last year it reached more than €182 billion, the highest figure ever. The...