Results 14,421-14,440 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: While I do not have lead responsibility for the Loughs Agency or aquaculture I am very conscious of the current difficulties arising from unlicensed activity in Lough Foyle. Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve jurisdictional issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case in question. Irish representatives have discussed the case with this person, and attended his most recent court hearing, along with other EU colleagues. It is my understanding that he wishes his case to proceed to a full trial in order to demonstrate injustices in the system applied to Palestinian activists like himself. More broadly, the increasing use of legal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The difficulties experienced by this person have been discussed on a number of occasions here in the Dáil, and the European Union has previously made representations on his behalf with the Israeli authorities. On this occasion he has been arrested on suspicion of tax evasion, and it is a condition of his bail that he remain in the country. There is growing concern about the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are no statutory or state agencies under the aegis of my Department so the issue raised by the Deputy does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. Within my Department, the key Divisions with responsibility for Brexit matters are the European Union Division and the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division, both headed at Second Secretary General level. Additional resources have been assigned to both Divisions to cover the issues arising from the UK exit process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (5 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently considering strategic priorities around all aspects of our engagement with the global Irish as part of the review of the implementation of the 2015 Global Irish - Ireland's Diaspora Policy. Any decisions on the future of our engagement with diaspora communities, both locally and abroad, will be made on the basis of that strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements is a priority for my Department and indeed the Government as a whole. In this context we are of course also guided by the aspiration contained in Article 3 of the Constitution as amended by the people in 1998. The principle of consent and the possibility of a change in constitutional status in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has an extensive list of eligible witnesses for passport application forms for citizens who are resident outside of Ireland. This list is available on the Passport Service website at www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/great-britain/passports/top-passpor t-questions/how-to-get-your-passport-application-witnessed/. It is not a requirement to know the applicant, but to be satisfied as to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together. I have been monitoring Yemen with concern, in particular in recent months as the humanitarian situation has reached crisis point. The war has entered into its third year, the country is on the brink of famine, the political process has stalled and, despite recent conclusions by the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen that an outright...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I deeply regret the deaths of all civilians in every military conflict. I am conscious of multiple reports, including from civilians in Mosul, claiming that Daesh is deliberately using civilians as human shields. I am also aware of the reports that airstrikes by the US-led counter-ISIS coalition have led to a significant number of civilian deaths in Mosul last month. I would also note...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Security Council Resolution 2334 was an important restatement of principles in relation to the Middle East conflict, particularly as relates to Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. The Resolution stated that these settlements have no legal validity and are a major obstacle to peace; it called for an immediate end to settlement activities, and underlined negative trends operating on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Article 50 process for the UK exit from the EU has now formally commenced. Since the UK Referendum result last year my Department, like other Government Departments, has been preparing for and engaging on the Brexit process. The 2017 Allocation for my Department included an initial allocation to support the Brexit negotiation process. Specifically my Department received an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I warmly welcome the recent decisions by New Zealand and Peru to open resident Embassies in Dublin. Working with like-minded countries to achieve our common goals has always been a cornerstone of our foreign policy. Resident Embassies are an important resource in this regard as they allow us to deepen our understanding of the local context and to communicate clearly and effectively our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The migration crisis has been one of the greatest challenges facing the EU for the past two years. Migration was the main focus of the informal European Council held in Malta on 3 February, at which a Declaration addressing the external aspects of migration was issued. The Declaration restates the EU’s commitment to assist Libya. Priority is to be given to supporting the Libyan...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The EU has responded to the migration crisis by adopting a suite of measures, including engaging with countries of origin and transit to address the root causes of migration. Draft 'Migration Compacts' have been drawn up for the first five priority countries identified under the Migration Partnership Framework: Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and Ethiopia. The objective of these Migration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is committed to deepening and broadening its existing good relationships with all other EU Member States. I would emphasise that, while we have never been part of a geographical subgroup, ever since joining the then EEC in 1973 we have worked closely with on a sector-by-sector or issue-by-issue basis with like-minded partners. Much of this work takes place between Permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has strong relationships with both the EU and the UK and we firmly intend to maintain both in the new environment which will exist following the UK’s exit. There are numerous channels for Irish-British engagement, some of which were developed in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and some of which were established more recently. All will be used to the full, not least...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Conventions (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles, including in the area of human rights. The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), is one of the key principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement. At their first...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This consular case continues to be a matter of top priority for the Government and exceptional levels of resources are being devoted to the provision of consular support to the citizen and his family. The Government is doing everything it possibly can in our ongoing engagement with the Egyptian authorities to seek to have this young man returned to his home and his family at the earliest...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Information (4 Apr 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department has not received any requests for material to be made available in braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016.