Results 14,961-14,980 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important ongoing issue. I have consistently called for the Israeli Government to cease demolishing Palestinian structures, including houses and infrastructure such as water and power structures and animal housing, in the West Bank and elsewhere. We have also made known our opposition to forced relocations of Palestinians. This practice is growing in...

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy made specific reference to Area C. It is important that we acknowledge the situation there in terms of confiscations and demolitions. I would be anxious that Ireland, along with our EU colleagues, would play a lead role in requesting compensation in respect of Area C issues. While I know the European Union has not reached a final decision on that, from our perspective it is not...

Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The demolitions, unacceptable as they are, need to be placed in the wider context of the settlement issue, on which I have made my position clear in this House and outside. I had the opportunity of speaking directly to the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, when I met him in his office in June. The continuing expansion of illegal settlements, in effect, threatens the viability of the...

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: On the contrary, rather than my reply being vague, there is an unprecedented amount of detailed planning across a range of Departments on the matter of the Brexit challenge. It is natural that the Taoiseach, who leads the overall Government response, should be the lead figure. He has chaired all three meetings of the new Cabinet Committee on Brexit, which will meet again at 9 a.m. tomorrow....

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It is appropriate for me to repeat that there is daily contact among senior officials across a range of Departments with the Department of the Taoiseach as the lead Department, and close engagement with other Departments. Many Departments have already established dedicated Brexit teams to deal with this issue. I am happy to brief the Deputy at any stage on our progress and engagement. I...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly stated my serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Turkey, including its impact on the lives of the Kurdish population. The increasing tensions in the south east of the country are deeply troubling and I am also gravely concerned at the mounting threat to civil society by breaches of human rights and democratic norms. On 4 November, I issued a statement in...

Priority Questions: Human Rights Cases (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly called for a return to dialogue to allow the political process to resume. The Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, also emphasised this issue during the extensive debate on Turkey which took place at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 November. I have also clearly stated Ireland’s position at the Foreign Affairs Council and the Council of Europe where I engaged...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I very much agree with the Deputy that we have many challenges in respect of Northern Ireland, the fragile political process and the institutions as established under the Good Friday Agreement. The Deputy is correct that it is essential in the context of Brexit that we ensure the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement as a legally binding international document. It is fair to say that...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: We have a very full agenda with particular reference to the issues as raised.

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: One practical example is the consequence of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom for the Border counties. That is an issue on which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, has been particularly anxious to ensure is a priority focus of his engagement. I described our meeting last week of the North-South Ministerial Council as being a Brexit impact assessment where we had...

Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union provides the legal framework for withdrawal by a member state. The British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, has said that she intends to trigger Article 50 not later than the end of March next year. An agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on British withdrawal has to be concluded within two years. Further negotiations on a future...

Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland and its EU partners are committed to ending the suffering of the Syrian people. A political solution is required to address comprehensively the humanitarian, human rights and refugee crises that are the consequences of the conflict. Ireland and the European Union remain committed to supporting the United Nations' efforts to achieve an end to violence, the formation of an inclusive...

Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy raises an important issue in so far as Turkey is concerned. The European Union and its member states, including Ireland, are keeping the situation in Turkey under close review in the light of negative trends in that country. As a candidate country for membership of the European Union, I expect, as do my international colleagues, Turkey to adhere to essential democratic norms and...

Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A unilateral withdrawal from the EU-Turkey deal would not be in migrants' best interests. The deal is far from perfect, but since it was agreed to, there has been an alleviation of the plight of the many hundreds of thousands of migrants in the region. I assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to play an important role in the debate on Turkey, its relationship with the European...

Priority Questions: North-South Ministerial Council (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Taoiseach and I visited Belfast on 3 November for a series of meetings with political parties. We met the deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, MLA; the Sinn Féin President, Deputy Gerry Adams, the SDLP leader, Mr. Colum Eastwood, MLA, and colleagues; the UUP leader, Mr. Mike Nesbitt, MLA, and colleagues, and Alliance Party MLAs, Mr. David Ford and Dr. Stephen Farry. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Defence Capabilities (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State for European Affairs, Dara Murphy, T.D., attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 14 November, where Turkey, Eastern Partnership, the Southern Neighbourhood, and the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy were discussed. My reply will focus on the specific issues raised by the Deputy. EU Foreign and Defence Ministers,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Security Strategy (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The EU Global Strategy commits the EU to promoting peace, security, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These objectives are to be pursued through a comprehensive approach using the range of instruments available to the European Union, including political, diplomatic, economic development, trade, peace-keeping and crisis management tools. Five priority areas have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As the Taoiseach, myself and other members of this Government have stated on many occasions: Ireland remains fully committed to our membership of the EU and the Eurozone. Membership of the European Union has brought great benefits to our country and remains profoundly in our interests. In addition to specific work on Brexit, we fully accept that there needs to be reflection and debate on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. The programme for this trade mission also included a visit to Riyadh on 13 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy. I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are seeking to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (23 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I met with Secretary of State Kerry on 30 October, in advance of him being awarded the 2015 Tipperary Peace Award. Most of the discussion focussed on Brexit and the Northern Ireland Peace Process, but we also spoke about other matters, including a brief discussion about the situation in Yemen. We discussed the prospects for political negotiations, to bring an end to the fighting. There...