Results 14,481-14,500 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Every country has of course the right to determine for itself the conditions for entry to its territory. Nonetheless I consider that the recent Israeli law on visa restrictions, which was strongly opposed by many parties in the Knesset, is deeply regrettable and unjust. It aims to exclude people on the basis of their having expressed non-violent political opinions, and is cast in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The appointment of Ambassadors by the United States is a matter for the US authorities, in accordance with the relevant US legal and constitutional provisions. Pending the nomination and confirmation – by the US President and Senate respectively - of a new US Ambassador to Ireland, we will continue to engage closely with the US Embassy in Dublin under the leadership of its designated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State boards or 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: Departmental Funding (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Iveagh Scholars programme is an island-wide competition which offers Transition Year and Year 12 students the chance to spend a week at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This aims to encourage second-level students to consider Ireland’s role in the world in an independent and creative way. The competition inspires students to learn the basic tenets of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There is currently a very high volume of Passport applications in the system (over 60,000) and applications for the month of February ran at over 20% higher than the same month last year. Up to 16 March a total of 191,428 applications were received compared to a total of 155,163 for the same period in 2016. The turnaround times for the each category of applicant are updated weekly on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the decision by the Bahraini authorities to revoke the citizenship of this person last June. In addition to revoking his citizenship, this person was tried on a number of grounds. Judgment was due to be handed down on 14 March, but latest reports are that a verdict will now be delivered in May. Officials from my Department met this month with an official from the Bahraini...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad oversees the implementation of “Global Irish – Ireland’s Diaspora Policy.” Chaired by the Minister for Diaspora Affairs, the Committee works to ensure that Government works in a joined-up way to realise the objectives of the diaspora strategy, including addressing issues affecting the Irish abroad and those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As stated in my response of 2 March, under the Passports Act, 2008, my Department must be satisfied as to the identity of an individual before a passport can issue. The provision of an original birth certificate is a key requirement for the purposes of identity verification before the issuance of a passport. All citizens are required to submit full, civil birth certificates in order for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The numbers of passports issued by the Passport Service issued between 2006 and 2016 inclusively to citizens living outside the State are as follows: Year Passports issued 2006 92,243 2007 88,603 2008 85,961 2009 86,494 2010 84,762 2011 82,300 2012 86,115 2013 83,150 2014 85,738 2015 94,634 2016 114,455 The Passport Service does not have detailed statistics for the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: All applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act), which provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must, therefore, demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her application. The applicants referred to were born in 2007...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly raised my ongoing concerns about human rights, democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression in Turkey. I am monitoring closely the Constitutional amendment package which was approved by the Turkish Grand Assembly on 21 January and which is now to be put to the people in a referendum scheduled to take place on 16 April. If passed, the amendments will invest considerably...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Further to parliamentary question 268 of 23 February 2017, I confirm that there is one such case in my Department. It would not be appropriate for my Department to provide the additional details requested as so doing could potentially identify the individual in question. My Department applies the provisions of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Imports (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has consistently highlighted the issue of settlements in EU and other international discussions. This includes the illegality of the settlement project as a whole, its destructive effect on the chances of reaching a peace agreement, and the multiple injustices and human rights concerns to which it gives rise. These issues have been at the centre of my interventions at the Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (21 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department generally seeks advice on legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the Department’s own Legal Division. In particular, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office provides legal advice in relation to commercial contracts and public procurement matters. The Department has not engaged external private sector legal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (9 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This consular case remains a top priority for the Government. The Taoiseach has been in regular contact directly and personally with the Egyptian President about this case. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am continuing to devote very considerable time and effort to this case. I travelled to Cairo to raise the case with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (9 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 180 to 182, inclusive, together. Following the outcome of the Northern Ireland Assembly election the Taoiseach spoke with Prime Minister May on 5 March and I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I also had discussions with a number of the main party leaders in Northern Ireland. Both Governments are agreed on the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (9 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The inaugural plenary meeting of the All-Island Civic Dialogue took place on 2 November 2016. As a direct follow-up to this, to reflect on the main issues raised, the Government organised a series of fourteen sector-specific events which have been hosted by Ministers in a range of locations across the country. A number of those events were held in border areas. The second plenary meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (9 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on the 6thMarch where the Implementation of the EU Global Strategy, the Western Balkans, Egypt, the Middle East Peace Process, migration, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were on the agenda. EU Foreign Ministers met in joint session with our defence colleagues to discuss progress since the December European Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Requests (9 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Chief State Solicitor's Office has provided advice to my Department on one Freedom of Information request of the total received by the Department in the past three years and to date in 2017. Any expenses incurred during the period specified by the Deputy, are a matter for the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has been a member of the Partnership for Peace since 1999. Our engagement with the programme is carried out via a Liaison Office in Brussels. Ireland’s participation in the Partnership aims to ensure that our Defence Forces have the necessary capabilities to continue to partner effectively and securely with other nations in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations. The cost of...