Results 14,721-14,740 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (26 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senators for their contributions, guidance, advice and suggestions. I always very much value the opportunity of coming to the Seanad. I agree with Senators that we should have a more frequent and intensified engagement, our respective schedules permitting. I would be happy to explore further opportunities in this regard. All Members acknowledge the Good Friday Agreement has...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (26 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government will continue -----

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (26 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Again, I wish to make it perfectly clear to everyone that we will continue to support the Irish language on an all-island basis, including, as we already do, through providing financial support for the work of Foras na Gaeilge. The St. Andrews Agreement also provided for a review to identify additional areas for North-South co-operation. Again, the Government supported a provision in the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (26 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: What I can say to the Senator is that there is a Cabinet committee dealing with this issue on the basis that each and every Government Department is in some way affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. That special Cabinet sub-committee will be meeting again late this afternoon. Each Department has engaged in an impact assessment on the forthcoming...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future migration between Ireland and the US are longstanding Government objectives. We continue to be committed to these aims notwithstanding the changed political context in the United States. The Government has raised the issue of immigration reform with US interlocutors – including at the...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: It is my hope that the US Administration will acknowledge the fact that the question of the status of Jerusalem is more than simply a question of the location of the capital of Israel. There is also the issue that Deputy Bríd Smith and others have raised. The purported annexation of large areas of the West Bank is, in my view, contrary to the fundamental principles of international...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: This is a matter of concern. I have said that publically and I am saying it now in the Dáil. I say as much on behalf of the Government. Let us see what happens.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 54, 79 and 83 together. The UK Prime Minister, Mrs. May, provided some further clarity in her address of 17 January on the objectives on the part of the UK for the negotiations on its withdrawal from the European Union and its future relationship with the EU. It was not the clarity we would have wished for. We regret the fact that the British...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have held discussions with each of my 26 EU foreign ministerial colleagues. Indeed, I can add Foreign Secretary Johnson to that list since I have met him on a number of occasions. I have been impressing on them the importance of the trading relationship between Ireland and the UK and the importance of maintaining the common travel area. As the Deputy will be aware, we have enjoyed the...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 71 together. President Trump has signalled on a number of occasions that he intends to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem as a signal that it is the capital of Israel. This would be a matter of real concern but it remains to be seen what actually happens. Previous US presidents have signalled the same intention but in office have recognised the...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have consistently called for the Israeli Government to cease demolishing Palestinian structures, including houses and infrastructure such as water and power networks, as well as animal housing, in the West Bank and elsewhere. The European Union has raised the issue of demolitions with the Israeli authorities, condemning them on behalf of EU member states. EU missions, including our own,...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Lest there be any doubt, I hope the US Administration recognises that the question of Jerusalem is much broader than the location of the capital of Israel.

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I repeat that this a matter of concern. It is not yet an act and it remains to be seen what will happen. Previous US Presidents have made similar signals but the issue remains as is. I am conscious of repeated calls by the European Union, the Quartet and others in recent years about this. I make a call again this afternoon for all parties involved to avoid any destabilising moves in...

Other Questions: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I recently attended a conference in Paris with representation from over 70 states and organisations. At the conference I restated our firm consensus view that the two-state solution is the only outcome that can result in peace and stability.

Other Questions: EU Agreements (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Negotiations are ongoing on the migration compacts, as agreed through the EU and partner countries. They should certainly be supported. Operational results have most notably been demonstrated, for example, in areas like Niger in Africa. The number of migrants crossing the Sahara via Niger has been reduced from a high of 70,000 in 2015 to a low of 1,500 in November 2016. In addition, over...

Other Questions: EU Agreements (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I will drop a note to the Deputy on the point he has raised. I also wanted to refer to Calais which was mentioned by him previously, so I will drop him a note on that as well.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Recent developments in Turkey have brought the country to international attention frequently over recent months, and I remain very concerned about the situation there. Turkey has been the victim of many terrorist attacks over the past year, carried out by ISIS or by the PKK and its affiliates. Over the course of 2016, more than 600 people lost their lives through acts of terrorism in...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I condemn human rights abuses in Turkey and have already expressed that concern on behalf of Ireland at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels and also at the Council of Europe in the presence of the Turkish Foreign Minister. I have also had an opportunity for direct engagement with Turkish representatives recently. The EU member states, including Ireland, are keeping the...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to play a positive and active role in that regard. It recently issued a statement strongly condemning the use of cluster munitions in Yemen and Syria and we expressed our concern at reports of their use in Libya, Ukraine and Sudan. We also spoke of the challenges facing the convention in terms of new contamination sites and new victims from the use of these weapons in the...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government and I want to see an end to the conflict in Yemen. I regret to say that the situation has not progressed for some time. I understand, however, that the peace roadmap, as set out by the UN special envoy and his team, remains on the table. He continues to work to bring the parties together. I exhort all parties not only here but also at the table of the EU Foreign Affairs...