Results 6,101-6,120 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A unilateral withdrawal from the EU-Turkey deal would not be in migrants' best interests. The deal is far from perfect, but since it was agreed to, there has been an alleviation of the plight of the many hundreds of thousands of migrants in the region. I assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to play an important role in the debate on Turkey, its relationship with the European...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Taoiseach and I visited Belfast on 3 November for a series of meetings with political parties. We met the deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, MLA; the Sinn Féin President, Deputy Gerry Adams, the SDLP leader, Mr. Colum Eastwood, MLA, and colleagues; the UUP leader, Mr. Mike Nesbitt, MLA, and colleagues, and Alliance Party MLAs, Mr. David Ford and Dr. Stephen Farry. The...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I very much agree with the Deputy that we have many challenges in respect of Northern Ireland, the fragile political process and the institutions as established under the Good Friday Agreement. The Deputy is correct that it is essential in the context of Brexit that we ensure the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement as a legally binding international document. It is fair to say that...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: We have a very full agenda with particular reference to the issues as raised.

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: One practical example is the consequence of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom for the Border counties. That is an issue on which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, has been particularly anxious to ensure is a priority focus of his engagement. I described our meeting last week of the North-South Ministerial Council as being a Brexit impact assessment where we had...

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union provides the legal framework for withdrawal by a member state. The British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, has said that she intends to trigger Article 50 not later than the end of March next year. An agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on British withdrawal has to be concluded within two years. Further negotiations on a future...

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: On the contrary, rather than my reply being vague, there is an unprecedented amount of detailed planning across a range of Departments on the matter of the Brexit challenge. It is natural that the Taoiseach, who leads the overall Government response, should be the lead figure. He has chaired all three meetings of the new Cabinet Committee on Brexit, which will meet again at 9 a.m. tomorrow....

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It is appropriate for me to repeat that there is daily contact among senior officials across a range of Departments with the Department of the Taoiseach as the lead Department, and close engagement with other Departments. Many Departments have already established dedicated Brexit teams to deal with this issue. I am happy to brief the Deputy at any stage on our progress and engagement. I...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly stated my serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Turkey, including its impact on the lives of the Kurdish population. The increasing tensions in the south east of the country are deeply troubling and I am also gravely concerned at the mounting threat to civil society by breaches of human rights and democratic norms. On 4 November, I issued a statement in...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly called for a return to dialogue to allow the political process to resume. The Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, also emphasised this issue during the extensive debate on Turkey which took place at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 November. I have also clearly stated Ireland’s position at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Council of Europe where I engaged...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I would be happy to raise the issue the Deputy mentioned. I am scheduled to meet the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. MuiŽnieks, tomorrow. I will discuss with him his views on the pathway forward in terms of commitments already made to Turkey as a member of the Council of Europe. I will continue to raise these issues at every opportunity, particularly since the...

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important ongoing issue. I have consistently called for the Israeli Government to cease demolishing Palestinian structures, including houses and infrastructure such as water and power structures and animal housing, in the West Bank and elsewhere. We have also made known our opposition to forced relocations of Palestinians. This practice is growing in...

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy made specific reference to Area C. It is important that we acknowledge the situation there in terms of confiscations and demolitions. I would be anxious that Ireland, along with our EU colleagues, would play a lead role in requesting compensation in respect of Area C issues. While I know the European Union has not reached a final decision on that, from our perspective it is not...

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The demolitions, unacceptable as they are, need to be placed in the wider context of the settlement issue, on which I have made my position clear in this House and outside. I had the opportunity of speaking directly to the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, when I met him in his office in June. The continuing expansion of illegal settlements, in effect, threatens the viability of the...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Policy on the placement and treatment of a country’s nationals in prison in the European Union is a matter for the democratically-elected government and the relevant competent authorities in each member state in accordance with domestic, European and international law. Issues relating to Basque prisoners held in Spain are, therefore, exclusively a matter for the Spanish Government and...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I will not depart from what has been long-standing tradition in the House and in the country of commenting in a way the Deputy invites me. On a more general issue, the Government continues to support and encourage all efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the Basque region. As Deputy Barry is aware, we welcomed the declaration by ETA in October 2011 that the organisation had...

Other Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome commitments towards the cessation of hostilities and the ending of conflict. We on our island have particular experience of a peace process over a long number of years. I hope all parties involved can see their way towards entering discussions for a lasting peace and stability in the region. It would, however, be inappropriate for me to comment on the individual issues as raised...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the recent meeting held by the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee on the situation in Maghaberry Prison, at which the Deputy was present. In addition to hearing from a prominent solicitor, the committee was briefed by two members of the independent assessment team set up to monitor implementation of the 2010 agreement between separated prisoners in Maghaberry...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the Deputy's disappointment that the forum has not progressed in the manner in which we would all have wished. I am very familiar with the situation in Portlaoise Prison, the high security prison being in my constituency. The Deputy will be aware that the reasons for the forum not progressing are complex. We need to see how best we can move matters forward and I continue to...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy refers to a number of issues on which I would like to see progress. My officials continue to remind the Northern Ireland Office of our continuing interest in the humanitarian welfare of prisoners, particularly in the care and supervision unit of Maghaberry Prison. I hope to meet the Stormont justice Minister, Claire Sugden, later this afternoon and I would be happy to raise the...