Results 14,181-14,200 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy also to my reply today to Question 94 on trade with Israel. In relation to illegal Israeli settlements, I agree that these are deeply damaging to the prospects of a peace agreement, and are tending – intentionally – to make a two state solution impossible. I have consistently argued for stronger international action on settlements, and Ireland has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware that the Elliniko migrant facility based in the former Athens international airport is being closed. The site was unsuitable as a longer-term facility and the Greek government decided to move the residents to other locations in the Attica region. The closure is part of the Greek government's plan to close substandard camps and to upgrade better functioning facilities. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland chose to voluntarily Opt In to EU arrangements to relocate migrants from Greece and Italy and accept up to 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers both on humanitarian grounds and as a gesture of solidarity with our partners in the EU. For administrative and other reasons, progress in receiving migrants has been slower than anticipated, as it has in many other EU member states. However, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I was horrified by news of the chemical attack against civilians at Khan Sheikhoun in April. At that time, I unreservedly condemned the attack, which killed over 80 people and injured many more, including children and babies. The attack further underlines the need for accountability and a genuine political transition in Syria. The search for a sustainable peaceful resolution to the...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 350 together. My Department, in collaboration with other Government Departments and State Agencies, works to support Irish businesses identify new opportunities for their products and services by diversifying into new markets as well as intensifying efforts in existing markets. The Government’s new trade and investment strategy, Ireland...

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

Charles Flanagan: On 1 March the European Commission published a White Paper on the Future of Europe. As well as setting out the main achievements of the EU over the past six decades, the White Paper addresses the challenges that Europe is facing and presents five scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025, depending on how it chooses to respond. The White Paper is presented as the start of the process,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (30 May 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 348 and 353 together. Migration has been close to the top of the EU agenda since the current crisis emerged a little over two years ago. It has featured on the agenda of almost every European Council over the period, as well on the agenda of many Foreign Affairs and JHA Councils. The migration crisis will again be discussed by EU Heads of State and...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government has been clear since the outset that its key priorities for the Brexit negotiations included minimising the impact on trade and the economy and protecting the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement. Economic prosperity is an integral part of deepening peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The achievements of peace and the operation of the institutions of the...

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

Charles Flanagan: The stability of the countries of the Western Balkans continues to be a priority for the European Union. At the European Council on 9 March the Heads of State and Government, including the Taoiseach, reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the European perspective of the region. Promoting good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation is a key focus of EU efforts in the Western...

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

Charles Flanagan: The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism, evident once again in the horrific attack in Manchester last week, but also in the recent attacks in London, Stockholm, Paris and Egypt, has been and remains high on the EU agenda. Foreign Ministers remain focused on implementation of the Council Conclusions on Counter-terrorism agreed in February 2015 and on the contribution...

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

Charles Flanagan: Over the course of the past eleven months since the referendum in the UK, I – along with my Government colleagues – have been engaged in an extensive programme of engagement with our EU partners on Brexit. There have been over 400 such engagements with the 27 EU Member States and the EU Institutions, which has included most recently the visit of the EU’s chief...

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

Charles Flanagan: The growth in support for populist parties holding eurospectic views has been a feature of the European political scene in recent years. One factor behind this is disillusionment among Europe’s citizens that their everyday concerns are not being addressed by their political leaders. In response, they have been listening more closely to those offering easy answers and all too often,...

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...