Results 6,801-6,820 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: We are satisfied to move forward in the negotiations with that being an important part of the process. On the common travel area-----

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: On the common travel area, I take very much the point raised by the Deputy. It is very much welcome that the guidelines provide that existing bilateral arrangements and agreements between the United Kingdom and Ireland which are compatible with EU law should and will be recognised. This will be an issue to dealt with in the negotiations. I am encouraged by a commitment on the part of the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will underline the importance of this debate and what Deputies have said about future arrangements. I am anxious that we all work together on this issue. To Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly I say the Government will ensure all parties represented in the House are fully involved in the process. I acknowledge the attendance and contributions of many Members of the House in, for example, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The State is not currently subject to any fines for breaches of EU law. The responsibility for transposing EU legislation into Irish law rests with those Departments with responsibility for the policy areas covered by those measures. In this regard, the Government places high priority across Departments on timely transposition of EU legislation to reduce the risks of financial penalties...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and very substantial resources and time are being devoted to it. This case has had an extraordinary degree of high-level political engagement, investment in terms of person-hours, consultation with third parties worldwide, and consular visits and trial monitoring. The Government has been doing everything possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland and the European Union do not recognise as legal or provide assistance to the development of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. We maintain very clearly the position that settlements are illegal, and harmful both to the Palestinian people and to the prospects for peace between Israel and its neighbours. Ireland has consistently highlighted the issue of settlements in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 622, 623, 626, 627, 630 and 650 together. I am aware of alarming reports by international human rights organisations and in the media of a campaign of abduction, abuse and ill-treatment of men in the Chechen Republic on the basis of their sexual orientation. If confirmed, these actions would amount to serious violations of fundamental human rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has made a formal submission to the Health Insurance Authority’s (HIA) review of the Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) legislation, and recently held a follow up meeting with HIA representatives. As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has responsibility for the administration of foreign postings for officials from all Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, a person must, among other things, be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. This requirement is set out in the Passports Act, 2008, which stipulates the conditions under which the Passport Service is permitted to issue passports. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is in turn subject to the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is participating in the 27thUniversal Periodic Review which began yesterday, and will make a statement on the human rights situation in Morocco when it is reviewed today. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and very substantial resources and time are being devoted to it. This case has had an extraordinary degree of high-level political engagement, investment in terms of person-hours, consultation with third parties worldwide, and consular visits and trial monitoring. The Government has been doing everything possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the situation of the Guarani-Kaiowá people and the challenges faced by indigenous populations in Brazil and across Latin America, to which the Deputy refers. Ireland condemns any intimidation, violence, or discrimination perpetrated against indigenous and environmental human rights defenders in Brazil or elsewhere. Officials in my Department, both at home and abroad,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A central pillar of the Government’s response to last year’s UK referendum on EU membership has been strategic outreach to EU partners and Institutions to ensure that the unique Irish perspective on Brexit is understood before negotiations begin. To that end, a significant programme of engagements with EU partners began after the referendum and is continuing. To date, there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). The Act provides that a person must, among other things, be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is, in turn, subject to the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. Up until 29 November 2005, spouses of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland and our EU partners have consistently condemned the building of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and the evictions, demolitions and land seizures from Palestinians which are an integral part of that project. In my view these actions are illegal under the Geneva Convention, both because the population under occupation should be protected from such actions, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The group in question is supported by funding from my Department, and their work naturally helps inform our views. I have not yet seen the report in question as it is not yet available in English. The statistics for the 2015/16 period are deeply concerning, although it should be recognised that a number of these fatalities relate to the wave of attacks by individual Palestinians which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In my role as Minister for the Diaspora, and in particular through my role as Chair of the Inter-departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which was established in the Government’s 2015 ‘Global Irish – Ireland’s Diaspora Policy’ document, I work to facilitate the cross-Governmental effort to ensure coherence in Government policy, and to see that issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently considering strategic priorities around all aspects of our engagement with the global Irish as part of the review of the implementation of the 2015 Global Irish - Ireland's Diaspora Policy. Any decisions on the future of our engagement with diaspora communities will be made on the basis of that strategic review and will be announced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The large majority of passport applications are currently submitted through the post office networks on this island. This includes more than seventy post offices in Northern Ireland and more than one thousand post offices in this state. With the availability of both the online passport renewal service for adults and the An Post Passport Express service, very few applicants in Ireland are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (2 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Historical statistics relating to the applications in progress for a particular date in the past are not available. However, as of 27 April, there were 83,560 passport applications on hand in the Passport Service. This figure includes applications submitted both in Ireland and abroad, as well as online applications.