Results 14,661-14,680 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cyber Security Policy (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of recent attacks on the website of the NTMA and other sites hosted in Ireland. My Department is not a user of the particular website technology apparently compromised in these incidents. It is the policy of my Department to constantly update security features on our hosted services in order to maintain the security and integrity of its systems.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 308 together. I issued a public statement on 25 January in response to the recent Israeli settlement announcements, which was as follows: “The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, has condemned recent announcements by Israeli authorities of further settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian Territories. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students taking the opportunity to experience life and work in the US over that time. The Government does not have any role in administering the J-1 scheme, which is a programme of the US Department of State run by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Missing Persons (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am fully aware that a vigil was held on 7 February outside Dáil Éireann to mark the 25th birthday of the citizen who remains missing in Spain since 2008. Officials from my Department met with members of the citizen’s family in December 2016 and met with the appointed Garda Family Liaison Officers in January 2017. The Garda FLO remains the primary point of liaison with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have not previously been aware of this case, on which I have no information other than some publicly available reports. It is not clear from these that the person in question has yet been charged with any offence, still less sentenced, but his continued detention would appear to be a matter of concern in itself. There is a worrying trend in recent years of Iranians long resident in western...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am deeply concerned at the ongoing developments in Turkey, including the latest dismissals of some 4,500 public servants following the introduction of a new Decree on 7 February. The Decree, issued under the State of Emergency which has been in place in Turkey since the failed coup in July 2016, has been used to target officials at the Education Ministry, the gendarmerie, and academics, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Counterfeit Passports (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is aware of this case and is pursuing it with the German authorities who detected the mis-use of Irish identities with fraudulent documentation. For security reasons I cannot share details of these investigations. I reiterate the advice of the Passport Service that for their own security the persons concerned apply to renew their passports. They should include details of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (14 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together. The Emigrant Support Programme administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides funding for projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of deeper and more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish community. The Emigrant Support Programme prioritises culturally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (9 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students taking the opportunity to experience life and work in the US over that time. The Government does not have any role in administering the J1 scheme, which is a programme of the US Department of State run by a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Controls (9 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Regarding the Executive Order signed by President Trump on 27 January, 2017, and as made clear in my statement on 29 January, I fully share the concerns expressed by other EU partners regarding this development. I have noted the clarification issued by the Embassy of the United States in Dublin on 31 January, 2017, to the effect that the Executive Order in question does not restrict the...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government has no responsibility for the activities of the pension funds referred to by the Deputy. I would expect that all Irish companies would operate in accordance with international law, wherever they operate, including in the case of Israeli settlements. My Department has provided long-standing advice to Irish business on the issues associated with involvement with the...

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

Charles Flanagan: The level of attacks against human rights defenders in Colombia so far this year is a matter of great concern. The situation is being closely monitored by my Department and by the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico, which is accredited to Colombia. I reiterate that I condemn unreservedly any intimidation or violence perpetrated against human rights defenders in Colombia or elsewhere. I firmly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (9 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The nature and scope of the Deputy’s request is such that my Department needs more time to prepare the response in full. My Department has been in touch with the Deputy directly and will prepare material for reply to his question in accordance with Standing Order 42A.

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

Charles Flanagan: The Department of the Taoiseach is responsible for whole-of-government co-ordination on Brexit. Within that framework, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will lead on the EU/UK negotiations once they begin. Both Departments are working very closely with all other Departments. One of the main functions of the Department of Foreign Affairs will be to co-ordinate the inputs of other...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: It is not so long ago since it was jaunting with Joan.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: He has already answered it.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Two of the four headline priorities for the Government in managing Brexit are our economic and trading arrangements and Northern Ireland and the peace process, including border issues. In this regard, the Government’s clearly stated preference is to maintain the closest possible trading relationship between the UK and the EU, including Ireland.When the EU-UK negotiations start, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the events that the Deputy has described. The Emergency Decree, introduced on 31 January, would have undermined the work of the anti-corruption agencies in Romania. Following the position taken by the President of Romania and the public protests over a number of nights, these proposals have now been withdrawn by the Government. Romania has been subject to the EU Cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This long-running and complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Irish Government and I and my officials are doing everything possible to achieve this citizen’s return to Ireland at the earliest possible time. I am aware of the research and report by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) to which the Deputy refers. The position is that the Institute...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (8 Feb 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, including through the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights, is one of the key principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement.It should be noted that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is separate and distinct to the European Union. The UK’s decision to leave the EU has no impact on its...