Results 14,621-14,640 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: Protecting the peace process and Northern Ireland is one of the Government’s four headline priorities in dealing with the UK decision to leave the European Union. The Government has made clear that we will be working for special arrangements which take account of Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: As the programme of Ministerial travel for St. Patrick’s Day is currently being finalised it is not possible to indicate if a Minister will be visiting Russia.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (21 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The core intention of the EU-Turkey Statement agreed between EU leaders and Turkey last March was to break the business model of the people smugglers profiting from the suffering of the vulnerable and to discourage migrants from risking their lives in dangerous sea journeys. The need for the Statement to comply with EU and international law was a key concern for all EU Member States,...

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

Charles Flanagan: As part of normal ongoing contacts with the British government and with devolved administrations in the UK, I and my officials speak on a regular basis with the Scottish government and its representatives. We also meet through the means of the British Irish Council, where the UK’s exit from the European Union is discussed at its summit meetings and where the Scottish government is a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to be here. I join with the Chairman in offering my condolences to the family of former ambassador and senior official, Mr. Lorcan Fullam, who came from a very well known, highly respected and well regarded family in Portarlington in my constituency. With the Chairman's consent, I would be pleased to convey the condolences of the committee to his family when I meet them later...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: With the Chair's permission, we will deal generally with programme A at this stage and will then go on to the other programmes. However, I am in the hands of the committee, as the Chair knows.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will deal with the last point first. The Chairman made a good point regarding the importance of funding from the Peace and Reconciliation Fund. I acknowledge the Chairman's comments. It is a vitally important source of funding for many communities that are still suffering from division and are recovering in a post-conflict society. I take the Chairman's point about the early...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to comment on immigration reform. I had a number of meetings in Washington and I shall mention my meeting with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Paul Ryan. For many years he has been familiar with the undocumented Irish and I acknowledge his support. It is early days for the new Administration in the United States and we cannot say for certain what the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Programme B, which was previously programme D, provides the framework for the Department's role in securing Ireland's influence in the EU outcomes through maintaining and growing strong relationships with the EU institutions and other member states. Some of this has already been addressed. The focus of work under the programme will be on safeguarding Ireland's interests in the broader...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will deal with the question raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan first, in which she made reference to the number of organisations under the programme to which we make a contribution. The organisation with the greatest emphasis in this regard, perhaps, is the United Nations. This is crucial to our people. In none of our engagements with any of these international committees or...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: These negotiations have not even started yet. Our priorities are fully recognised as the negotiations commence. One of those priorities is protecting the Northern Ireland peace process. In talking about special status within the European Union, there are certain difficulties regarding the maintenance of Northern Ireland within the European Union, having regard to the Good Friday Agreement...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have a one-line reply. I ask members of this committee, along with Members of the House, and my colleagues in the UK and across the European Union to ensure that every aspect of the Good Friday Agreement is fully adhered to and not in any way disrupted.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Programme C, which was previously programme B, covers the contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade towards a more just world through the promotion and protection of human rights internationally and a more secure world based on a stable and secure rules-based international environment. Over 71% of current expenditure under this programme is made up of contributions to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The answer to that is "Yes". Our influence as a small state has been well recognised. It is not a new-found influence; it recognises the steadfast support of the international organisations by the Irish people and by successive Governments over many years. We make our priorities known in many ways for many of the programmes. The Irish influence is evident. Yes, the organisations produce...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My view on the continued unacceptable expansion and further development of settlements by the Israelis is quite clear. I acknowledge UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which states clearly that the settlements are illegal and that they actively undermine the prospects for a sustainable negotiated two-state solution. I have said that on numerous occasions and I have conveyed the message to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, is anxious to speak on the matter of Vote 27. We might like to be brief in order to facilitate that. The Department's work under programme D, which was previously programme C, will focus on leveraging our resources to drive job creation, our exports including cultural exports, inward investment, tourism and education. There will be a particular focus...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will mention St. Patrick's Day again. Gone are the days when St. Patrick's Day was seen as an opportunity for Ministers to go abroad for purely political purposes. St. Patrick's Day now has a huge trade and commerce dimension. That focus will be seen again this year. I want to acknowledge the role of the parliamentary tier of this committee in that respect.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: We are looking at mid-March, earlier if we can, but we are certainly on target for a March publication.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Members will be aware that this time last year we were engaged in an election campaign which was followed by a period of uncertainty. In the context-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: -----of St. Patrick's Day it meant that we had a slimmed-down engagement. I would hope that this year there would be a more whole of Government approach to St. Patrick's Day, particulars of which I would be happy to share with the committee when finalised. Can I say to Deputy O'Brien that I would be very happy to bring the new trade strategy to this committee at a very early date, which...