Results 14,801-14,820 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently five countries which have EU Candidate Status, including four in the Western Balkans – Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania. 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, stability and prosperity in the region....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Reform (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The United Nations plays a critical role in the maintenance of international peace and security and in the resolution of conflicts, which are at the root of the migration and humanitarian crises facing the world today. It does this primarily through the UN Security Council which has a variety of tools at its disposal to address threats to international peace and to contribute towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Eastern Partnership Initiative provides a framework for cooperation between the EU and six countries in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, including Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. The aims of the Eastern Partnership are to promote peace and stability in the region and to enhance economic and political integration between the participating countries and the EU. The model of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism, and particularly by Daesh, has been and remains high on the EU agenda. Foreign Ministers have consistently underlined that ultimately there will be no defeat of Daesh without a political solution to the crisis in Syria. This is reflected particularly in the comprehensive conclusions on a ‘Regional Strategy for Syria...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Europe has been through somedifficult years. We have seen deep economic crises which have affected a number of member states, including Ireland; there have been terror attacks in some of our major cities which have caused appalling suffering for individuals and communities. The Continent has been grappling with the biggest movement of people seen in peacetime coming from our southern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Government welcomed the further clarity provided by Prime Minister May in her address of 17 January. Prime Minister May has made clear that she wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship for Britain with the EU, a goal that Ireland shares.In her speech, Prime Minister May highlighted the specific and historic relationship between Britain and Ireland. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for coordinating the submission of Ireland’s national reports under various international human rights treaties including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. However domestic implementation of commitments and recommendations is a matter for relevant Government Departments. Ireland’s last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on 16 January where Syria and the Middle East Peace Process were on the agenda. This was the first meeting of the FAC this year, and Ministers had a good exchange on the opportunities and challenges facing us in the short term, and how the EU can make an active and effective contribution to international peace and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325, 340 and 343 together. I have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP, as part of the Government’s intensified engagement in recent weeks on the political situation in Northern Ireland. I met in Belfast with the Secretary of State on 14 December, 12 January and 19 January. We have also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the Conference on the Middle East Peace Process in Paris on 15 January, which was hosted by President Hollande. Some 70 countries and international organisations participated in the meeting, which was a follow up to the first conference held in Paris in June 2016, which I also attended. This “French Initiative” was aimed at reigniting a stalled peace process, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union provides the legal framework for withdrawal by a Member State. The British Prime Minister has said that she intends to trigger Article 50 no later than the end of March this year. An agreement between the EU and the UK on British withdrawal has to be concluded within two years. Of course, separate negotiations on a future UK-EU relationship will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Since its establishment, the Export Trade Council has generally met twice annually. However, I increased the volume of meetings in the lead up to the UK referendum and since 23 June, I have chaired meetings of the Export Trade Council (ETC) on 20 July 2016 and on 18 October 2016. I will be convening the first meeting of 2017 on 7 February. The Export Trade Council was established in 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 342 together. I was deeply shocked by the twin bomb attack outside the Vodafone Arena football stadium in Istanbul on 10 December, in which 46 people tragically lost their lives, most of them police officers, and some 160 people were injured. I issued a statement on 11 December, in which I expressed, on behalf of Ireland, my utter condemnation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Turkey was discussed briefly at the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended last week on 16 January. The constitutional reform package was not discussed. The issue of constitutional reform has been on the agenda of President Erdogan and the AKP party for a considerable time. Last Friday the Turkish parliament approved a comprehensive package of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have written to Secretary General Guterres congratulating him on his appointment, and I look forward to meeting with him. I believe that his considerable national and international political experience and his familiarity with the work of the UN leave him well placed to address the challenges that face the organisation. Ireland welcomes the more transparent and open selection process...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: My Department has 18 Assistant Secretary Generals, 3 Deputy Secretary Generals, 1 Secretary-General III, 2 Second Secretaries, 1 Secretary-General II and 1 Secretary General (DFA) salary scale. Grade Number in Grade Annual Salary scale with effect from 1 July...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Registration of Births (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Applications for Foreign Births Registration generally take between four and six months to process from the time all the required documentation has been submitted. The application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 01 September 2016. Following an examination of the application, further supporting documentation was requested from the applicant on 23 November 2016 and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: I have discussed the protection of civilians, the humanitarian crisis and the continued pursuit of a sustainable political resolution to the Syrian conflict, as well as in Aleppo specifically, at the Foreign Affairs Council on many occasions, most recently in January. While it has not yet been confirmed whether Syria will be on the agenda for the February meeting of the Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: At the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council on 18th November 2016 in Armagh the Council considered an update by a group of Senior Officials from relevant Departments, North and South, on the progress being made on implementing the commitments by the Government, set out in Section E of the Fresh Start Agreement, to provide support and funding for North-South infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Jan 2017)

Charles Flanagan: Michel Barnier took office as head of the European Commission’s Brexit Taskforce on 1 October 2016. As agreed at the meeting of the EU 27 Heads of State or Government at their meeting on 15 December, Mr. Barnier be the EU’s chief negotiator with the UK once the British Government has triggered Article 50, which the British Prime Minister has confirmed will be no later than the...