Results 6,121-6,140 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 13 November. The programme of the trade mission also included a visit to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government's trade, tourism and investment strategy. I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I want to make it clear that Ireland has close economic ties with Saudi Arabia. The country is a designated priority market for Ireland under our trade, tourism and investment strategy. Saudi Arabia represents a significant market for Ireland. Total bilateral trade in 2014 was worth over €1.4 billion, with €1.3 billion of this in Ireland's favour. The economic relationship...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that we do not disclose our voting intentions or the actual votes in those elections. However, I would like to say for the record that Saudi Arabia ran for an election on a clean state. It was unopposed but I had the opportunity to raise a number of the issues mentioned by the Deputy, in particular the role of Saudi Arabia in Yemen. This is a matter of great...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: If that is in order?

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Question Nos. 31, 45, 51 and 53 together. I wish to assure the Deputies that I have repeatedly stated my serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Turkey since the attempted coup on 15 July. My most recent statement of 4 November expressed my deep concern at the arrest of the two co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, HDP, and several of its...

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has raised a number of issues. I will continue to call on all parties to engage in constructive dialogue. Ireland shares concerns about the situation in Turkey. I note the Deputy's comment on Members of the European Parliament and the resolution which calls on the European Union to suspend accession talks with Turkey in response to the ongoing crackdown on fundamental freedoms....

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My officials remain in ongoing and continuous contact with representatives of the Turkish Government here. I have repeatedly called for a resumption of dialogue to allow the political process on the Kurdish issue to resume. The escalation of violence as referred to by the Deputy since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the PKK in the summer of last year...

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the eventual accession of Turkey to the European Union. We have been clear that all of the benchmarks, conditions and criteria in the process must be met fully and that there must be no shortfalls as far as accession is concerned. The rule of law, fundamental rights, in particular freedom of expression and the media, minority rights and democracy are core...

Other Questions: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The European Union and Turkey have been working for many months on the matter of the appalling migrant crisis. As Deputy Darragh O'Brien will be aware, Turkey is hosting in excess of 2.7 million migrants, an enormous number for any country. Ireland, like our EU colleagues, is committed to finding a solution to this most serious problem. From listening to some Deputies, one might be excused...

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Officials at the embassy of Ireland in Madrid and the consular assistance team of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have provided extensive consular assistance to the family in this case since the time of the Irish citizen's disappearance eight years ago. The Garda liaison officer based in our embassy in Madrid remains in ongoing contact with the Spanish police authorities...

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy that we have already provided extensive consular assistance to the family. I wish to make it quite clear, however, that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will not and cannot play any role in the investigation process as that is a matter for the Spanish police. We would be pleased to offer whatever consular assistance we can in the circumstances.

Other Questions: Missing Children (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am sure we can arrange for representatives of the Department to meet representatives of the family. In this regard, we should have one family contact point.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Defence Capabilities (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State for European Affairs, Dara Murphy, T.D., attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 14 November, where Turkey, Eastern Partnership, the Southern Neighbourhood, and the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy were discussed. My reply will focus on the specific issues raised by the Deputy. EU Foreign and Defence Ministers,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Security Strategy (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The EU Global Strategy commits the EU to promoting peace, security, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These objectives are to be pursued through a comprehensive approach using the range of instruments available to the European Union, including political, diplomatic, economic development, trade, peace-keeping and crisis management tools. Five priority areas have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As the Taoiseach, myself and other members of this Government have stated on many occasions: Ireland remains fully committed to our membership of the EU and the Eurozone. Membership of the European Union has brought great benefits to our country and remains profoundly in our interests. In addition to specific work on Brexit, we fully accept that there needs to be reflection and debate on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. The programme for this trade mission also included a visit to Riyadh on 13 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are seeking to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I met with Secretary of State Kerry on 30 October, in advance of him being awarded the 2015 Tipperary Peace Award. Most of the discussion focussed on Brexit and the Northern Ireland Peace Process, but we also spoke about other matters, including a brief discussion about the situation in Yemen. We discussed the prospects for political negotiations, to bring an end to the fighting. There...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 43, 46 and 57 together. I am, as I am sure all members of the House are, very frustrated at the latest adjournment in this trial. The Irish Government is continuing to pursue every constructive avenue to secure the return to Ireland of this citizen and we will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In a Communication issued on 7 June, the European Commission set out a new results-oriented concept of cooperation with third countries, the Migration Partnership Framework. The European Council of 28-29 June mandated the Commission to build on this Communication and draft ‘Migration Compacts’ have been drawn up for the first five priority countries identified, all in Africa:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the tragic death of the fish trader in Hoceima, and the protests the incident sparked. While we do not have an Embassy on the ground in Morocco, our Ambassador in Lisbon is accredited to Morocco and she is also aware of the case. I understand there have been several arrests following the man’s death and that the outcome of the official investigation is unclear as of...