Results 1,101-1,120 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy and return now to members' questions. The next speakers are Deputy Gannon followed by Senators Joe O’Reilly and Wilson, and I am very keen then to accommodate Deputy Paul Murphy who has joined us as a visitor. I call Deputy Gannon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Murphy was here at the start of our meeting and I am sure that he is a member of other committees of the House. I remind him of the the long-standing parliamentary practice that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the House, or any official by name or in such a way as to make them in any way identifiable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy has heard what the Secretary General has said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I would ask him to accept his bona fides on the matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: There were a lot of articles written by a lot of people as Deputy Murphy well knows.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I take it neither the Secretary General nor the Minister wishes to add to anything that has already been said at the meeting. That being the case, I will bring the matter to a conclusion and we will draw a line under this issue. I thank the Secretary General for coming here and for the comprehensive report which was circulated to members some time ago in preparation for this meeting. I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: 39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when funding will be made available to progress to phase 3 of the N52 Tullamore Kilbeggan link road scheme in the context of having been identified as a key piece of infrastructure for the economic and development of the wider Tullamore area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5204/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome all present to our meeting with the ambassador of Russia to Ireland, H.E. Mr. Yuriy Filatov, to discuss foreign policy and security in Europe. The ambassador is welcome. I thank him for agreeing to meet the committee to discuss matters of mutual concern to our respective countries and our people. At a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West, this meeting gives us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ambassador Filatov for that opening address. With his assent, I propose to open the meeting to our members to pose questions and make comments and observations. Given the high level of interest in the ambassador's statement, and with his consent, I will group the contributions of several members together and then come back to the ambassador for his response. I will continue the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: As I indicated earlier, and with the ambassador's consent, for the purposes of careful management and to ensure that all members have an opportunity to contribute, I will group the questions and comments from two or three members, and then ask the ambassador to respond. I call Deputy Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy. I will take one more contribution from among the members and then I will ask the ambassador to respond to the specific questions already tabled. I call Senator Joe O'Reilly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: We will have time to come back in any event, ambassador, thank you. Moving on to the second round, Deputy Gannon will be followed by Senator Ardagh, Deputy Lawless and Senator Craughwell. I would remind members to desist from repeating the exact same questions as have been asked already because the likelihood is that the ambassador will give the same answers he has already given. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I will call Deputy Clarke now because the Deputy has indicated that she has to leave to go to the Chamber and also promises to be brief. Then I will come back to the ambassador.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I will give the floor to the ambassador now to answer the questions raised and then I will resume with Deputy Berry. I cannot grasp the motive beyond the question about the neutrality of Ireland. This is a fact. This is Ireland's choice and this is your policy that is enshrined in your Constitution. What else is there for me to say? We certainly respect the choice of the Irish people. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Was it about cyberattacks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Was it the Russian presidency of the Security Council and how that might assist in the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the ambassador. I move back to members, beginning with Deputy Berry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I am going to return to the ambassador now, having regard to the fact that we have had a number of specific questions and specific issues raised by Deputies Berry and Stanton and Senator Wilson. After we hear the ambassador's replies we will return to Senator Craughwell. Then I think Deputy Gannon has a quick supplementary and perhaps Deputy Brady does also. However, I am conscious of time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Russia's Foreign Policy and Security in Europe: Engagement with Ambassador of Russia (2 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: As time is moving on, I will ask a couple of brief questions before we conclude. I very much welcome the ambassador's presence. I was struck by a number of statements in his opening commentary. He stated that he felt that his government saw no reason to invade Ukraine and in reply to Deputy Stanton, he spoke of the need to de-escalate. I will raise three issues, the first of which...