Results 15,321-15,340 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Iraqi Conflict (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I condemn absolutely and unreservedly the recent attack in Baghdad in which hundreds of Iraqis were murdered. I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s total condemnation of Daesh’s murderous totalitarianism and its numerous crimes. The May 2016 Foreign Affairs Council agreed on a comprehensive review of the EU regional strategy for Syria, Iraq and Daesh, which had been adopted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department does not have any EU funding programmes that are the subject of pre-financing.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has deployed seven rapid responders to Greece and the Balkans since mid-2015 through Irish Aid, our overseas development and humanitarian assistance programme managed by my Department. These experienced specialists have provided, and continue to provide, much needed surge capacity to our UN partners’ refugee response operations on the ground, helping to improve water supply...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (12 Jul 2016)

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

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, and if granted, is subject to strict...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose taking Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together. I welcome the democratic transition which is underway in Myanmar following the historic elections which took place there in November 2015. Last week saw the new Government’s 100th day in office, and so the transition is still in its early phases. I welcome the positive steps that the new Government has taken to date which have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As a result of the El Niño weather effect, Ethiopia has experienced its worst drought in decades, with 10.2 million people in need of assistance. This is in addition to 7.9 million people already receiving food and cash transfers through the Ethiopian Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which Ireland funds. The humanitarian situation in the country is now...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have stated consistently that I believe the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is now a major driver of the continuing conflict. The EU and the wider international community have repeatedly identified settlements as threatening the prospects of achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict, by making the establishment of a coherent Palestinian state...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The conference held in Paris on 3 June was the first part of an initiative by the French Government based on their concern at the worsening prospects for the achievement of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and their strong feeling that the international community had to act to try and retrieve the situation. These are views which Ireland has also consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: It was for the French hosts to decide who to invite to the conference in Paris on 3 June. Ireland was one of only ten EU member States invited, and I participated on behalf of the Government. The French initiative on the Middle East is aimed toward a broad conference towards the end of the year, to which I understand France intends to invite both Israeli and Palestinian participation....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on many occasions for direct negotiations without preconditions. Indeed he repeated this to me when I met him in Jerusalem on 14 June. As a principle this, of course, sounds positive and reasonable. However, all peace processes are unique, and what is said must be understood in context. It is clear to all that a final agreement in the Middle East can...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A decision was taken in the 2005 budget to exempt applicants aged 65 and over from the passport fee. In 2011 the Government decided in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the exemption and to apply the same ten-year passport fee to all applicants aged 18 years or over. The annualised fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Embassy of Ireland in Thailand and Consular Assistance section at HQ in Dublin are aware of the case and are providing assistance to this Irish citizen.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The US Embassy has reconfirmed details which it had provided previously in relation to the aircraft that transited through Shannon Airport last month. The Embassy has reconfirmed that the aircraft were unarmed, carried no arms, ammunition or explosives and did not engage in intelligence gathering. The Embassy further reconfirmed that the aircraft were not part of a military operation or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no such staff working in my Department; there are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Ibrahim Halawa: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have taken very careful note of the views and concerns expressed in the House today and I assure all Deputies that this case remains the highest consular priority. I will continue to do everything possible to secure the release and return of Ibrahim Halawa and to see him back in Ireland as soon as possible. Everyone acknowledges that this is a complex consular case but it is in receipt...

Ibrahim Halawa: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I move:"That Dáil Éireann:notes that Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen, has been detained without due process in Egypt for three years since being arrested as a child of 17 years-of-age; considers this to be an unacceptable infringement of his basic human rights by any international standard; believes that the conditions of his imprisonment are of serious concern, given his young...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: All actions taken in this case are considered in the context of the Government’s clear strategy, which is focused on two core objectives. First, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland as soon as possible, and, second, to provide every possible consular support for his welfare while he remains in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (7 Jul 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. The Irish Government is pursuing every avenue to secure the release of this citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. Significant resources continue to be deployed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In a referendum held on 9 February 2014, Swiss citizens voted by a very narrow margin to accept a proposal to introduce quotas and restrictions on migrants, the vast majority of whom are EU nationals. The referendum outcome has potentially far-reaching implications for EU-Switzerland relations, not least because any new Swiss legislation introducing quotas on immigration by EU citizens would...