Results 14,501-14,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has deteriorated significantly in the past 12 months following a serious outbreak of violence in April 2016. I am deeply concerned by the ongoing tensions and violence, including reports of a serious military escalation on 25 February which resulted in tragic loss of life. Ireland fully supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to make progress in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Significant Government funding and support is given through the Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to support organisations working with citizens who wish to return to Ireland. Over the last decade over €4 million has been allocated to the Crosscare and Safehome organisations working with returning emigrants. Their 2016 funding saw...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The following table contains the information. My Department did not incur expenditure on external public relations services in 2016. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am familiar with the case of the person in question, and of his repeated imprisonment and release over the last number of years for his work as a human rights defender. This has coincided with an overall deterioration in the human rights situation in Bahrain of late. This has manifested in particular in the targeting those who express dissent or criticism of the Bahraini Government,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Construction Industry (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Office of Public Works provides my Department with office accommodation for its offices in Ireland. In the case of our offices abroad, the Department does undertake construction projects to maintain those properties which the State owns and, in the case of leased properties, would carry out necessary maintenance to ensure lease requirements are adhered to. These projects would be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. As is clear from the information provided in my reply of 22 February, Ireland has consistently advocated for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society space actors. We believe such a safe and enabling environment should be maintained in all States and indeed in international and regional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In 2016 the direct current expenditure incurred by the three Passport Service offices in the State amounted to approximately €32 million. This figure does not include rental and other accommodation costs of these Passport Offices. Nor does it capture the accommodation, operational, staffing and other current costs incurred by our Embassies and Consulates around the world,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (7 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The total number of passport applications received from Irish citizens based in the countries specified are as follows: Country 2015 2016 2017 (up to 28 February) South Africa 3374 3396 567 United Arab Emirates 1365 1708 373 Australia 6518 6981 1126 Canada 3096 3497 646 There were significant increases in applications from citizens based in Australia, Canada and in the United Arab...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (2 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Passports Act, 2008 (the Act) makes provision for the regulation and issuance of passports. Under section 7(1)(b) of the Act, the Department must be satisfied as to the identity of a passport applicant before a passport can issue. An original birth certificate is a key, primary identity document to support a passport application and therefore a copy is not acceptable.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In general terms I and my Department use all available opportunities to highlight the targeted turnaround times for different categories of passport and to promote good practice including in public statements, media engagements and in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The passport portal on the website of my Department, www.dfa.ie/passport, contains comprehensive guidance and advice to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I deeply regret that an Ambassador accredited to Ireland, in this case the Ambassador of Israel, was unable to speak at a recent event in Trinity College. I would hope that we can all respect the principle of free speech, including allowing a hearing to those we might disagree with. This goes in particular for Ambassadors in the performance of their representative duties. If we expect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process RIA (2 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. Since March 2011 my Department has sponsored four items of legislation which are set out in the following table. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) should be prepared in relation to all proposals for primary legislation involving changes to the regulatory environment. However, most of the legislation brought forward by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Mar 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This long-running and complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and we are doing everything possible to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family at the earliest possible time. The reality is that it is the Egyptian authorities that are detaining this citizen, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: At the outset it is important to state that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore, the communications strategy is a matter for the Commission. No request has been received by my Department in this regard. However, I am informed that the Commission has used information published...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: During the period specified by the Deputy, no legal fees were incurred in relation to FOI requests received in my Department. In relation to the staff hours involved in processing FOI requests, as the Deputy will be aware, the first five hours spent by staff in search, retrieval, scheduling and copying, do not attract fees; this time forms part of the duties of officials with responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: In the immediate aftermath of the UK referendum on EU exit, the European Council agreed, inter alia, that there would be no negotiations with the UK in advance of the Article 50 application being triggered. Accordingly, the UK’s decision to withdraw from the European Union has not to date been an item on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). Although formal discussions on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently twenty-six officials assigned to EU Division. Its resources will be kept under constant review in response to evolving needs. I would also add that a number of officers of my Department are seconded to the Department of the Taoiseach and working on EU matters, while two officers are seconded to the International and EU Relations Division of the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cabinet Committee Meetings (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Cabinet Committee on Brexit, chaired by the Taoiseach, has met six times to date. A further meeting is scheduled to take place on 8 March, just in advance of the European Council in Brussels (9-10 March). I have attended five of the six meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, missing only the Committee meeting on 7 November 2016, as at that time I was accompanying President Higgins...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department periodically reviews Ireland’s representation abroad, taking a range of factors into account when considering the expansion of the Embassy and Consular network overseas. These factors include our national political, economic and trade priorities. A further consideration is the availability of resources to expand the diplomatic network. In recent years, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: A decision was taken in the 2005 budget to exempt applicants aged 65 and over from the passport fee. In 2011 the Government decided in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the exemption and to apply the same ten-year passport fee to all applicants aged 18 years or over. The annualized fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favorably with many other jurisdictions....