Results 6,461-6,480 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, is anxious to speak on the matter of Vote 27. We might like to be brief in order to facilitate that. The Department's work under programme D, which was previously programme C, will focus on leveraging our resources to drive job creation, our exports including cultural exports, inward investment, tourism and education. There will be a particular focus...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will mention St. Patrick's Day again. Gone are the days when St. Patrick's Day was seen as an opportunity for Ministers to go abroad for purely political purposes. St. Patrick's Day now has a huge trade and commerce dimension. That focus will be seen again this year. I want to acknowledge the role of the parliamentary tier of this committee in that respect.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: We are looking at mid-March, earlier if we can, but we are certainly on target for a March publication.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Members will be aware that this time last year we were engaged in an election campaign which was followed by a period of uncertainty. In the context-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: -----of St. Patrick's Day it meant that we had a slimmed-down engagement. I would hope that this year there would be a more whole of Government approach to St. Patrick's Day, particulars of which I would be happy to share with the committee when finalised. Can I say to Deputy O'Brien that I would be very happy to bring the new trade strategy to this committee at a very early date, which...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Last year?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: We did not really commence until the summer.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Can we move on to programme E?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Is it possible to take programmes E and F together?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Okay.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chairman. The focus of programme E will be on strengthening our corporate performance with a view towards an improved level of public service. This will include enhanced corporate governance, increased public diplomacy, strong commitment to transparency, customer satisfaction engagement and reviewing and upgrading key corporate processes and procedures. The allocation is...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will be pleased to do so. From my engagement with embassies from abroad, due recognition of what the consular services do for citizens abroad is always evident. It needs to be underlined.

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Breathnach for raising this important issue. More than 733,000 passports were issued last year, which represented an increase of more than 9% on 2015 and the strong demand has continued this year. At present, my Department forecasts further growth of 7% in passport applications in 2017. Last year saw an increase of 26% in applications from Northern Ireland and almost 41%...

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy and all Members that this issue frequently becomes the subject matter of parliamentary questions, committee discourse and Topical Issue matters, as is the case this evening. I assure Deputy Breathnach that we will continue to keep matters under review to ensure we can provide the best possible service to the citizen. The passport express service works...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The number of passport applications and percentage changes, as requested, is listed in the following table: - January 2016 January 2017 Percentage change (+/-) Applications Total 53,174 68,759 29% Northern Ireland 3,973 6,841 72% Great Britain 3,525 6,006 70% United States 1,025 1,414 38% The significant increase in passport applications in 2016 and to date this year is due to a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The person referred to in this question is not notified to the Department as an accredited person at a diplomatic Mission in Ireland. A full list of diplomatic Missions and accredited diplomatic staff is available at .

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has been clear and consistent on our four headline priorities for protecting Ireland’s interests in the upcoming EU-UK negotiations. These are minimising impact on trade and the economy, protecting the peace process and Northern Ireland, maintaining the Common Travel Area and influencing the future of the European Union. The Government welcomed the further clarity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Missile Tests (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The launch of a ballistic missile on 12 February 2017 by North Korea is a provocative and unacceptable act which threatens the peace and stability of the region. I expressed my condemnation of this act in a statement issued on 13 February 2017. Ireland’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva also issued a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Department currently has a dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives, and any passport-related queries through this channel are dealt with without delay. Details are regularly circulated to Oireachtas members. I will make arrangements to have the details recirculated in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The position on the possible recognition of Palestine remains as I have reported to the Dáil on a number of occasions recently. I am keeping under continuous review the question of whether and when an immediate recognition by Ireland might be helpful, bearing in mind the positive and negative arguments which I have previously outlined, and developments both on the ground and in the...