Results 14,201-14,220 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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...

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

Charles Flanagan: These would be standard agreements. It is not that any of these issues particularly refers to Mongolia or any issues of concern in terms of our relationship with Mongolia. In terms of this partnership co-operation, the essential aspects are that the European Union would work towards supporting the democratic and economic development of the country. In order to do so in a way that is...

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

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his support. He makes two points that warrant response. On the matter of the form of framework agreement which members will have, it is a rather standard agreement with a wide range of references and issues from human rights to trade to counter-terrorism. I do not see any aspect which is specifically designed for the EU's relationship with Mongolia. Rather, it is...

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

Charles Flanagan: Trade between Ireland and Mongolia is modest in value and, indeed, in volume. In 2015, total merchandise trade was valued at €8.2 million. Of that, exports from Ireland were at €7.4 million while imports were roughly 10% of that figure. There is potential, however. While the figures are modest and the engagement is little more than minimal in terms of our own international...

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

Charles Flanagan: I agree and would point to the UN's universal periodic review of Mongolia which contained 164 recommendations, 150 of which have been accepted. Those recommendations refer to a wide range of pursuits, including those just mentioned by the Chairman.

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...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 to 364, inclusive, together. Trade figures are available from the Central Statistics Office. I am not aware that separate statistics are kept for the Western Sahara. Trade statistics normally relate to where goods are imported from, not necessarily to ultimate point of origin. Furthermore, it is likely that the volume and value of goods from Western...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service is currently processing almost 80,000 applications. Total applications so far this year are up over 15% on the same period in 2016. Different turnaround times apply depending on whether the applications are for passport renewal, to replace a passport that has been lost, damaged or stolen or for a passport for the first time. At present the turnaround time for Passport...

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

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a surge in passport applications in recent months. From 1 January to the end of April almost 350,000 applications had been received, representing an increase of over 20% over the same period last year. This exceptional level of demand is likely to be sustained into the summer months and my Department has put a number of measures in place to handle...

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

Charles Flanagan: Opinion 2/15 of the European Court of Justice, issued on 16 May, is currently being analysed by relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. While the Opinion concerns the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Singapore, the Court’s conclusions as regards identifying matters of exclusive competence and matters of shared EU...

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.