Results 14,161-14,180 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Policy (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The migration crisis has been one of the greatest challenges facing the EU for the past two years. Migration has featured on the agenda of almost every European Councils in the same period and will be on the agenda of next month’s European Council too. It has also featured prominently on the Foreign Affairs and Justice and Home Affairs’ Council agendas. The EU has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Electoral Register (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The position regarding eligibility to vote, as set out by the UK Electoral Commission in the context of the current UK general election, is as follows: a person must be registered to vote; must be 18 years of age or over on polling day; must be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen; must be resident at an address in the UK; and must not be legally excluded from voting (i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Following the Assembly election, I spoke on 5 March with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Taoiseach spoke with Prime Minister May. Both Governments agreed on the need for intensive engagement to address outstanding issues and commitments to ensure the early establishment of an Executive. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have a role to play...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to continue to advance North South cooperation, particularly through cross-border bodies and the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and to harness the potential of the Stormont House Agreement to develop new areas of cooperation in areas such as trade, health, tourism, sport and security. In the current absence of a Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to assist people in accessing a range of Government services from different departments. It is not confined to passports. As such there are no plans to make holding the Public Services Card a requirement for passport applicants who are not resident in the State. These applications will continue to be subject to the highest standards of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Since January 2017 almost 230 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Service and appointed to the Passport Offices in Balbriggan, Mount Street and Cork. Temporary Clerical Officers in the Passport Service are typically hired on twenty-six week contracts. The salary scale for these officers is the Clerical Officer salary scale, which ranges from €438.46 per...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Following the Assembly election, I spoke on 5 March with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Taoiseach spoke with Prime Minister May. Both Governments agreed on the need for intensive engagement to address outstanding issues and commitments to ensure the early establishment of an Executive. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have a role to play...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 332 together. The Public Services Card (PSC) is designed to assist people in accessing a range of Government services from different departments. It is not confined to passports. As such there are no plans to make holding the Public Services Card a requirement for passport applicants who are not resident in the State. Passport applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the Programme for Partnership Government. The Agreements, and the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island. The Government will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: While I have not written to or spoken to Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull in relation to the proposed changes to Australia’s 457 visas, officials from my Department, both at headquarters and at Ireland’s Embassy in Canberra, are monitoring this closely and are in regular contact with their Australian counterparts on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable foundation for all Government engagement on Northern Ireland. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government’s focus and responsibility is to ensure that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Human rights protections form a vital part of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (30 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 seen an exceptional level 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: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 331 together. Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: 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 the Taoiseach co-chairs the NSMC Plenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the situation of the Guarani-Kaiowá people in Mato Grosso Do Sul and the challenges faced by indigenous populations in other parts of Latin America. I condemn unreservedly any intimidation, violence, or discrimination perpetrated against indigenous people and those seeking to defend their rights, whether in Brazil or elsewhere. As the Deputy will be aware, the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Purchase of equipment for the Permanent Defence Forces is a matter for the Minister for Defence. I am not aware of any sales of armaments by Ireland to Israel. In relation to general trade with Israel, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 94 today on this topic.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (30 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. The Government has been doing everything possible to secure this citizen’s release. We have supported petitions for him to be returned to Ireland under Egyptian Law 140; we have appealed for him to be released under the Egyptian President’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Since the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016, the EU and its Member States, including Ireland, have continued to monitor developments, and have repeated our serious concerns about democracy, human rights, rule of law and freedom of expression, including media freedom. The ongoing negative developments in Turkey, particularly in light of the referendum passed by a narrow majority on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Commission on the Status of Women (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The policy positions which Ireland takes at the UN are a matter of public record as voting on resolutions takes place in public. However, voting on membership of UN bodies involves expressing preferences between Member States or between individual candidates nominated by Member States. This can have implications which go beyond a particular election and the policy issues addressed by these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Further to parliamentary question number 267 of 28 March 2017, I have not raised the issue in question at the UN level or bilaterally with China. Nonetheless, I remain concerned about reports of cases of DPRK refugees and asylum seekers being arrested in China and facing refoulement to the DPRK. I would urge the Chinese authorities to ensure that they do their upmost to meet their...