Results 14,601-14,620 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (22 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Euroscepticism is not new, but in recent years it has become stronger and more vocal, and has manifested itself in the rise of extreme right wing movements and in the UK’s decision to leave the Union. In the wake of the Brexit vote, EU leaders met in Bratislava last September. In the Bratislava Declaration they acknowledged the need to improve communications among Member States, with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: At the informal meeting of 27 EU Heads of State or Government which took place on 29 June last year, it was agreed that no negotiations of any kind would take place with the United Kingdom until such time as they formally notified of their intention to leave the EU. As the formal notification of departure under Article 50 has not yet occurred – although we expect it to take place next...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (22 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Advancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives through economic diplomacy and related activities is a key goal of Ireland’s foreign policy, informing and directing the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our mission network. Efforts have intensified in recent years to equip the mission network in particular to take advantage of new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (22 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently five countries which have EU Candidate Status: Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries. Ireland is a strong supporter of the enlargement process, and views it as a transformative driver for peace and stability in the region. The European Commission continues to work actively to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (22 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it. The Government is doing everything it possibly can 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 in Ireland as soon as possible. The Irish Government has been present at and...

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure the Deputy and all Members that this issue frequently becomes the subject matter of parliamentary questions, committee discourse and Topical Issue matters, as is the case this evening. I assure Deputy Breathnach that we will continue to keep matters under review to ensure we can provide the best possible service to the citizen. The passport express service works...

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Breathnach for raising this important issue. More than 733,000 passports were issued last year, which represented an increase of more than 9% on 2015 and the strong demand has continued this year. At present, my Department forecasts further growth of 7% in passport applications in 2017. Last year saw an increase of 26% in applications from Northern Ireland and almost 41%...

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

Charles Flanagan: The number of passport applications and percentage changes, as requested, is listed in the following table: - January 2016 January 2017 Percentage change (+/-) Applications Total 53,174 68,759 29% Northern Ireland 3,973 6,841 72% Great Britain 3,525 6,006 70% United States 1,025 1,414 38% The significant increase in passport applications in 2016 and to date this year is due to a...

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

Charles Flanagan: The person referred to in this question is not notified to the Department as an accredited person at a diplomatic Mission in Ireland. A full list of diplomatic Missions and accredited diplomatic staff is available at .

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has been clear and consistent on our four headline priorities for protecting Ireland’s interests in the upcoming EU-UK negotiations. These are minimising impact on trade and the economy, protecting the peace process and Northern Ireland, maintaining the Common Travel Area and influencing the future of the European Union. The Government welcomed the further clarity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Missile Tests (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The launch of a ballistic missile on 12 February 2017 by North Korea is a provocative and unacceptable act which threatens the peace and stability of the region. I expressed my condemnation of this act in a statement issued on 13 February 2017. Ireland’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva also issued a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Department currently has a dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives, and any passport-related queries through this channel are dealt with without delay. Details are regularly circulated to Oireachtas members. I will make arrangements to have the details recirculated in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The position on the possible recognition of Palestine remains as I have reported to the Dáil on a number of occasions recently. I am keeping under continuous review the question of whether and when an immediate recognition by Ireland might be helpful, bearing in mind the positive and negative arguments which I have previously outlined, and developments both on the ground and in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: One of the key areas where the Eircode address database benefits the work of my Department is the Passport Service which has upgraded its processes to allow for the capture and use of Eircodes. Since 2015, modified passport application forms have been introduced which include an Eircode field in the address section. The Department continues to review systems to assess how we can support the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department does not administer any EU funding. As part of the Government’s preparation for the EU-UK negotiations, the question of whether there is any scope under existing EU policies and funding programmes to mitigate the effects of Brexit is being examined.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I last spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu when I met him on my visit to the region in June 2016. I have reported in detail to this House on that visit.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together. The Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable foundation for all Government engagement on Northern Ireland. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected in the context of the Brexit process. The Government’s priority is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The agenda for the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council is decided by the High Representative. The Middle East Peace Process was discussed at the January and February Councils. It is expected that it will be discussed again in March. While the specific focus of the discussion has not been determined, it is anticipated that it will encompass recent worrying developments, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have not personally been in contact with the Foreign Minister of Mexico in recent months, but I can assure you that my Department and representatives at the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico, in particular our Ambassador to Mexico, Ms. Sonja Hyland, regularly interact with our Mexican counterparts, and will continue to engage positively on areas of mutual interest between our two countries. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339, 341 and 345 together. With regard to the Executive Order signed by President Trump on 27 January, 2017, I made clear in my statement on 29 January last that, while US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities, it is clear that the recent decision could have far-reaching implications – both on humanitarian grounds and on relations...