Results 15,261-15,280 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State Boards or governing bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Budgets (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As the Deputy will understand, 2017 budget negotiations are ongoing, so no decisions on the areas concerned have been made at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Projects (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department does not have direct responsibility for any EU funded cross-border projects. At the most recent Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin Castle in July the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive reiterated our shared commitment to the successful implementation of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The overall policy responsibility for these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, referred to by the Deputy, underlines the message I have consistently expressed that the current calm in Gaza, welcome as it is, is deceptive. Unless the underlying issues are addressed, a renewal of destructive conflict there is almost inevitable. All sides recognise this, and all appear to wish to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, clearly articulates our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) as Official Development Assistance (ODA). The Programme for Government sets...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have concerns about the military actions of a number of countries in Syria and the risks these actions pose to both the Syrian people and international peace and security. I am particularly concerned about the support by some countries for the Assad regime and the possibility that those countries are actively supporting the Assad regime’s persistent and deliberate war against the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I am pleased to say that I have been informed that a family member and the person’s legal representative visited the prisoner on 11 September, during the Eid al–Adha festival. I also understand that the hunger strike referred to by the Deputy was called off on 12 September. The Council of Europe’s Committee for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the public demonstrations the Deputy is referring to. It is a matter for the people of any country of the European Union to establish the arrangements for their own democratic governance, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on that process in any particular country.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. The Government continues to support and encourage all efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the Basque Country. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government welcomed the declaration by ETA of October 2011 that the organisation had decided on “a definitive cessation of its armed activity”. We continue to encourage all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that securing this citizen’s return home to Ireland has been, and continues to be, a top priority for the Government. In this regard, we are proactively using all the diplomatic tools that are available to us to ensure that the Egyptian Government at the highest levels fully understand the importance that the Irish Government attaches to the resolution of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Prisoner Welfare (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of this case. This person was convicted of the murder of two FBI agents following a confrontation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. He was arrested in Canada the following year and extradited to the United States where he was tried in 1977. A campaign has been mounted over the years seeking his release and the case has been raised in this House more than...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland and Ethiopia have a strong and enduring relationship. Ethiopia has been a partner country of Ireland’s overseas development programme, Irish Aid, since 1994. Ireland has worked with the Ethiopian Government and other partners to address hunger, food security and poverty across the country. This engagement has always had a strong focus on empowering the most vulnerable and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is monitoring closely the current political situation in Brazil, including the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff and of the former Speaker of the Brazilian House of Representatives, Mr Eduardo Cunha. Our Embassy in Brasília reports regularly on the latest political developments in the country. In addition, events in Brazil are the subject of ongoing discussion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of reports of an increase in killings in the Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power this year, which has been linked to a crackdown on drug offences in that country. The Government is deeply concerned about these reports. Ireland supports the statement made by UN Special Rapporteurs, Agnes Callamard and Dainius Puras, on 18 August, which called on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of and concerned about reports of mistreatment of asylum seekers held in Australia’s care on Nauru and Manus Island. Ireland’s Embassy in Canberra is monitoring this issue. I note that the Australian Senate has launched an inquiry into the allegations which is due to report in March 2017. Ireland works through the mechanisms of the EU and the UN to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (16 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It is important to emphasise that there is no change to the status of the Good Friday Agreement arising from the result of the UK referendum to leave the European Union. The legal and political obligations of both the Irish and British Governments remain unchanged, regardless of the status of the UK within the EU. As reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the full...

Government Appeal of European Commission Decision on State Aid to Apple: Motion (7 Sep 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I am pleased to speak on this important debate for two reasons. I consider it absolutely essential that the Irish Government appeals to the courts regarding this decision of the Commission and its analysis. Second, it is really important that we have the opportunity to set out clearly to the Irish people why we wish to appeal. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (21 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Details of the sick leave recorded as taken by staff of my Department from 2011 to 2015 are set out in the following table. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Year Percentage of working days lost to certified sick leave % Percentage of working days lost to self-certified leave % 2011 3.02 0.32 2012 2.68 0.27 2013 3.02 0.27 2014 2.75 0.22 2015 2.87 0.21

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (21 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: All of the North South Bodies are making a considerable contribution towards economic growth right across the island and clearly demonstrate what can be achieved when we pool our resources in key strategic areas. For instance, Tourism Ireland and InterTradeIreland are playing a continuing and central role in our economic recovery, with Tourism Ireland driving record tourism numbers to this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (21 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 385 together. The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that: address the needs of the most...