Results 15,041-15,060 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (2 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The next Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) will be held on 18 November in Armagh. I expect that we will have a further substantive discussion with our Northern Ireland colleagues on the implications of the UK referendum result. The agenda will also cover discussions on economic and financial matters, as well as a range of other issues including the North West...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Appointments (2 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (2 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government received pre-action correspondence notifying of the two sets of proceedings which were heard concurrently at the Belfast High Court in relation to the UK-EU referendum. In accordance with the relevant Northern Ireland practice directions, such correspondence may be sent to those whom the applicant considers to have an interest in the proceedings. I note that a judgment on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (2 Nov 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject-matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency which engage lawyers to act for the...

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The purpose of this Bill is to make necessary provision in Irish law to enable the State to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the 1999 protocol that supplements it. The 1954 convention and the 1999 protocol are instruments of international humanitarian law, which is the branch of international law that regulates armed...

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Senators for their contributions and consideration of the Bill. As I indicated in my opening statement, this Bill has something of a narrow focus. It is concerned with the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict. Its enactment will nevertheless be a further important demonstration of Ireland's support for international humanitarian law and the vital role that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Policy (26 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The French authorities recently announced that they would close the unofficial migrant camp in Calais by the end of this year and move the approximately 9,000 inhabitants to new accommodation in reception centres across the country. For unaccompanied minors, there will be specific accommodation arrangements. President Hollande has said that this was being done to “guarantee the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (26 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department's policy is to establish a single point of contact in consular assistance cases in order to ensure clear communication with the individual citizen or family concerned. In order to protect the privacy and confidentiality of consular cases, my officials do not disclose to third parties details of their consular correspondence. I can confirm that my Department officials are in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (26 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level. During the 1960s and 1970s...

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am very familiar with both of those cases and the details of them. As I said before, it is important to note that each and every case is somewhat different. We have considered these cases in detail and have extensively engaged in consultations on them. My focus is on our citizen and how best we can proceed to advance matters. My officials are in regular contact with the citizen in...

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to add to that. I am bound by the House, as far as the House motions are concerned. The Parliament here is sovereign. Let me assure the Deputy and the House that the Egyptian Government remains in absolutely no doubt about the Irish Government's position and its determination to see the citizen released and have the trial disposed of as soon as possible.

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I expressed my concerns in this House on 16 September in regards to the severe counter-drugs actions being pursued in the Philippines. Ireland opposes the use of capital punishment and has consistently called for its abolition in the United Nations and other fora. Ireland supports the recommendations which were set out following a UN General Assembly special session on countering the world...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to say briefly to Deputy Kenny that I am aware of the concerns and of the issues regarding the health and welfare of the individual concerned. I wish to assure the Deputy of my own personal action on this issue and those of my officials both here and in the district.

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have raised this issue, along with the people to whom I made a specific reference earlier, with the incoming secretary general of the Arab League. I also raised the issue directly in the context of my conversations with Foreign Minister Shoukry of Egypt, an influential interlocutor in the region. Ireland, together with our European partners, made it clear in a statement on 4 June 2014...

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I agree that every effort must be made by the international community to confront the brutality and terrorism of Daesh. As the Deputy is aware, the situation in Syria is very complex. I am of the view that the only solution must be political rather than military. I discussed the matter with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, recently in New York and I hope to have a further opportunity...

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Apologies.

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: If I told you that I did not meet him-----

Other Questions: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: If I told you that I did not meet him-----

Other Questions: Consular Services Representations (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 31, 47 and 64 together. I assure the House that the consular case of this citizen remains a top priority. The Government continues to apply maximum pressure to the Egyptian Government as a means of working to achieve this citizen's return home to Ireland at the earliest possible time and to provide all consular care possible to him while he remains in...

Other Questions: Consular Services Representations (25 Oct 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As I advised the House on previous occasions, our approach is under continuous review. It is informed and shaped by, inter alia, co-ordination and dialogue with the legal representatives of the citizen and his family members and my discussions with Members of the House. We also rely on the experience and expertise of our departmental officials and our consultations with other states which...