Results 6,881-6,900 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 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. In light of its exceptional circumstances, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Council of Europe (23 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Commission outlined its concerns and informed the Council on the state of play of its dialogue with Poland on the rule of law at the General Affairs Council on 16 May last. The Commission remains convinced that dialogue is in principle the best way to resolve this issue. The EU is a community of shared values including the Rule of Law. In his intervention, the Minister of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (23 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the situation of the Guarani-Kaiowá people in Mato Grosso Do Sul and as I have previously outlined, officials of my Department, including those in our Embassy in Brasilia, are actively engaged with issues relating to the rights of indigenous peoples in Brazil. Consistent with this ongoing engagement, Ireland used the occasion of the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (23 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Established under the Good Friday Agreement, the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has played a key role in developing consultation, cooperation, and action on the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. My Department works closely with the Department of the Taoiseach in regard to NSMC matters and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (23 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service does not collate issuance data based on place of residence, but rather on place of birth. As of the end of April this year there were 501,509 valid passports held by citizens born in Northern Ireland.

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

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service is obliged under the Passports Act, 2008 to obtain the consent of all guardians before issuing a passport to a minor. If a minor has only one guardian, the Passport Service can accept the consent of that guardian and a sworn Sole Guardian Affidavit. If a minor has two guardians but one guardian is unavailable or unwilling to provide consent, a court order is required...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chairman for the invitation to address the Joint Committee on developments at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. I wish to begin by expressing my sympathy and condolences to the victims of the appalling attack in Manchester on Monday last. The words "attack on the innocent" are particularly resonant when one thinks of young children, young fans, their families and friends simply...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy raised a number of issues, some of which had been the subject matter of discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: To answer Deputy Barrett directly, this issue is the subject matter of ongoing consideration and discussion. Over the past 12 months, there have been successful visits by Enterprise Ireland and An Bord Bia. Our ambassador who is currently responsible for the country of Iran and who is based in Ankara in Turkey visits the area regularly. I have met some parties who have recently returned...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: With the permission of the Chairman, I would like to contribute uninterrupted. With regard to the broader issue of the promotion and defence of the human rights of women and girls by the United Nations, I can assure the Deputy that Ireland works actively on these issues and will continue to do so. During my visit to Saudi Arabia in November of last year, I specifically and deliberately...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Rule 92 makes it quite clear that all elections shall be held by secret ballot. I do not intend to depart from that unilaterally because UN engagement is a vital aspect of Irish foreign policy. Like all my predecessors, I do not propose to undermine Ireland's position at the United Nations, nor do I propose to undermine the functioning of the United Nations by departing from the practice of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I can give a host of examples and tell members about the consequences involved for us. For example, elections involving close partners take place on a regular basis. On average, there are in excess of 30 per annum and we do not disclose how we vote in them. I am not talking about hypothetical examples. It happens on a regular basis and this is one of such example. Deputy Seán...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I apologise to Deputies O'Sullivan and Barrett, who raised a number of issues that I did not refer to in my previous round. On the basis that Deputy O'Sullivan is required for further business, I would be happy to arrange for a bilateral briefing with a senior official on the particular matter of the electoral register to address the Deputy's concerns about where we are going in that regard....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy also raised the issue of Yemen. Ireland has an involvement there from a humanitarian point of view. I raised this specific issue in the context of my bilateral engagements with the foreign Minister of the Arab Emirates and in Saudi. I apologise to Deputy Barrett for not referencing Brexit in my reply. The Chairman is correct, in that this is a major engagement under my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I understand that the Commissioner was speaking hypothetically about various possible scenarios. It is impossible to quantify any of this until such time as the negotiations actually commence and then the game becomes clear and there is a greater level of clarification. It is important that, from our point of view as a key member of the EU 27 in the negotiations, we continue to highlight...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Crowe mentioned Morocco and Western Sahara. There are a number of investigations, which are consequent on the referendum. A number of reports have been sought. They are not yet completed. Indeed, given the close result of the referendum, 51.3% to 49.7%, there are a number of reports, from the OSCE, the Council of Europe and others, expected in the course of the summer months....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Foreign Affairs Council (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Chairman.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: International Trade Agreements: Motion (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the committee for the invitation to attend. I begin by associating myself with the Chairman's expression of sympathy and I add my own condolences and those of the Government to the families of victims of the appalling attack in Manchester on Monday. On Tuesday I spoke with the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Boris Johnson, and told him that the Dáil and Seanad were united in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: International Trade Agreements: Motion (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I think it has been agreed. The target is that this would be completed and on the ground by the end of this year or early next year. There are a number of issues to be resolved, but the intent is to move forward. That will take place within the next 12 months.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: International Trade Agreements: Motion (25 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge Deputy O'Brien's support and that of his party. I regret the fact that Ireland and Greece are somewhere behind in terms of the formal ratification. There are a number of reasons for that. It was not to do with a principle issue but the fact that we were particularly busy in recent years in terms of the composition of committees, elections and so on. That is why I hope we can...