Results 61-80 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Good afternoon members and witnesses. I have received an apology from Senator Gerard Craughwell. Our agenda for this afternoon is our meeting with Ms Julie Sinnamon, chair of the implementation oversight group of the high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. I welcome Ms Sinnamon and thank her for her work. I also welcome the following officials from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Sinnamon for what has been quite a comprehensive and detailed submission to our committee. I will start with Deputy Carthy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Berry is the next speaker but in view of the fact that Deputy Carthy has to leave to attend the plenary session of the Dáil at 4 p.m., I will invite Ms Sinnamon to answer the questions posed by Deputy Carthy. I am sure Ms Sinnamon will address these issues in collaboration with the team that can be called upon at her convenience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Before I come to Deputy Berry, Deputy Carthy mentioned in particular the importance of the working time directive. It comes as a disappointment to this committee that there has not been a greater level of progress. It has been put to this committee, and I heard it put in the Dáil Chamber, that this is an issue for another Department, namely the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: If I can interpret that reply as being less than satisfactory, I hope that I am sharing Deputy Carthy's view of it. As an independent or an external chair, what type of discussions are under way with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment? We are told on a regular basis that if there is one issue that causes grave difficulty or gives rise to real progress, it is the issue of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Does the witnesses accept it is less than satisfactory, having regard to previous predictions? If we look at the high-level steering board, which has been working for quite some time, it is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and consists of the chair of the implementation oversight group, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, the Secretary General of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I will take Deputy Stanton now because we are probably coming towards the conclusion of our deliberations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: We are nearing an end. I will briefly refer to comments made by Senator O’Reilly, Deputy Cronin and Deputy Carthy related to our Defence Forces serving overseas, particularly those in Lebanon, and offer our good wishes to them in this time of great challenge. I acknowledge the work they do on a 24-7 basis protecting the peace. The priority now must be their own protection and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Not at all. Like the vestal virgins with the torches, however, we have to be ready.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Even though there are more people in this room, notwithstanding those who are, and some on the fence like yourself, Senator O'Reilly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senator Wilson. We will give a final word to Ms Sinnamon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Engagement with Chair of Implementation Oversight Group (15 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Sinnamon. I wish her every success in her work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: We have lift-off in the form of a quorum. Our meeting will now commence in public session. I have received apologies from Senator Wilson. I received texts from two Senators to the effect that they are both chairing the Seanad, which is interesting. I am delighted Senator Clonan has joined us to allow us to commence our important meeting with representatives from Dóchas to discuss the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: That notwithstanding, I know he will fully comply with our standing orders and meeting regime. I thank Senator Clonan again for allowing us to kick off proceedings. I now call on Ms McKenna to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you very much. I thank the witnesses who are representing four of the leading groups involved in Ireland's humanitarian work overseas, namely Dóchas, Goal, Concern Worldwide and Trócaire. They have presented us with a stark and shocking assessment of life in Sudan currently, after 500 days of conflict, which involves hunger, famine, conflict, bombardment, sexual violence and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: I have a few points before we conclude. I acknowledge that all the witnesses primarily, if not exclusively, represent humanitarian organisations and it is often difficult to become involved or, indeed, embroiled in the political situation. It seems, however, that the power struggle along the Red Sea is playing a very important role here. It also seems that the crimes of the RSF appear to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: Are they organised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: How many field workers do we have in the region at present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: The matter of their own safety and protection is itself a big issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion (8 Oct 2024)

Charles Flanagan: We will come back to the Middle East before we conclude but I do not want to depart from Sudan for the moment.