Results 6,341-6,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my answer to Priority Question no. 47 / 3262-17. Dealing with the legacy of the past relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland is a major priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. This commitment is reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which makes specific reference to pursuing the issue of the Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 89 together. Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future migration between Ireland and the US are longstanding Government objectives. We continue to be committed to these aims notwithstanding the changed political context in the United States. The Government has raised the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Taoiseach had a phone call with then President-Elect Trump on the day following his election. The Taoiseach was able to raise issues of Irish interest, and President Trump extended an invitation to the Taoiseach to visit the White House on the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 2017. A similar call was also made by the Taoiseach to then Vice President-Elect Pence. A new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 84 together. UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December, was an important and timely re-statement of key international positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its resolution. The Security Council stated unambiguously its support for a two state solution to the conflict, and focused particular attention on the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Ireland has not taken a position on the future status of the territory, so long as that status is decided in a genuine exercise of self-determination. At present, Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory. Under international law, the economic resources of a non-self-governing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The preparation of the new EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy was led by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini (HRVP). She consulted closely with the Member States, but presented the Strategy on her own responsibility to the European Council in June 2016 which adopted Conclusions welcoming the presentation of the Strategy and invited the HRVP,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Extradition Arrangements (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As this individual is a U.S citizen, this is a matter for the United States and the Russian Federation. I do not intend making representations to either Government.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Permission granted for landings by all foreign military aircraft at Irish airports is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, must carry no arms, ammunition or explosives. The aircraft must not engage in intelligence gathering and the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. The increase in requests...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The question of Ireland’s ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined in some detail by the Government and Offices concerned. While the objectives and achievements of the ATS are of considerable importance and the commitment of the signatories is commendable, the direct benefits to Ireland of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP, as part of the Government’s intensified engagement in recent weeks on the political situation in Northern Ireland. I met in Belfast with the Secretary of State on 14 December, 12 January and 19 January. We have also spoken by phone on a number of occasions. It was clear,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: St. Patrick’s Day has always offered a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. Against a background of unprecedented uncertainty and change, Ministerial travel in and around St. Patrick’s Day is a particularly valuable opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement have not yet been fully implemented, including a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and the successor Agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The Agreements, and the principles and values underpinning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (25 Jan 2017)

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. The practical implementation of this provision is guided by and reflects Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case in question, and have had representations made on behalf of this person to my Department by members of the public. I strongly support the right to freely and peacefully express opinion in all circumstances, regardless of a person’s status, profession or role in society. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. There have been worrying...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Safety of Irish Citizens Abroad (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am very awareof the extremely difficult circumstances in which this individual and his family find themselves. I have personally raised my concerns about the case, and about the health and wellbeing of the individual concerned, with my Philippines counterpart, most recently at the UN in New York last September. As the individual himself makes clear in the video clip released before...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I understand that there are worrying suggestions that this individual’s safety in prison may be under threat. The security measures surrounding prisoners are, of course, a matter for the Turkish authorities. I have asked my officials to raise the concerns that have been brought to my attention with the Embassy of the Republic of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: To respond to the seasonal spike in demand as well as a more general increase in passport application numbers, a total of 233 Temporary Clerical Officers were employed by my Department last year. This was an increase of 62 officers compared to 2015. It is expected that passport application volumes will continue to increase in 2017. To effectively manage rising volumes, including via timely...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware that the state of emergency, which has been in place since 20 July, was extended for the second time this month, and that three new decrees have already issued which provide for the dismissal of public sector workers, the closing of some 80 civil society organisations, increased powers for the security forces to investigate online activity and increased government powers of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cyprus Reunification (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland fully supports the achievement of a mutually acceptable and comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Our Ambassador in Nicosia reports very regularly on developments, as do our Embassies in Athens and Ankara, and my officials are also in touch with the Embassy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my reply today to Oral Question 56, in which I reported in detail on the Paris Conference. The effort was certainly worthwhile, in bringing together the international community to restate its support for the two state solution to the conflict, at a time when other crises in the region have dominated international attention. But it has not been possible as yet to...