Results 15,341-15,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together. I am aware of ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, including those relating to freedom of navigation. The situation in the South China Sea, through which a significant amount of world trade passes each year, is of interest to Ireland, as a small open economy. We therefore closely monitor the ongoing developments in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. I have been actively engaged with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government since the results of the recent UK-EU referendum became known. On the Friday when the result was announced I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First and deputy First Ministers and the leaders of the Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: At the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) which was held in Dublin Castle on Monday 4 July 2016, Government and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers had a detailed discussion on the potential impact of the UK Referendum vote to leave the EU. The Council agreed that the implications of the referendum decision on North South cooperation should be explored in detail...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: From the moment the British Prime Minister David Cameron first proposed a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU in 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has worked closely with the Department of the Taoiseach on this important strategic issue for Ireland. Work is underway to ensure that capabilities and resources are put in place to manage the complex process of a UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: This Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagements, these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular, for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Events such as the visit of Prince Charles and the Duchess of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A table containing the information follows. My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since my entry into office in May 2016. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Military Aircraft (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 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 those from the US. If granted, permission is subject to strict conditions. Aircraft must be unarmed, carry...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Military Aircraft (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I reiterate that the number of requests and approvals for landings by US military aircraft at Shannon Airport to date this year is broadly in line with that for the same period last year. Successive Governments have followed the same policy in respect of Shannon for many years. The facility of landing there is afforded not only to planes from the United States but also to those from other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have been actively engaged with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government since the results of the recent UK-EU referendum became known. On the Friday when the result was announced I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First and deputy First Ministers and the leaders of the Northern Irish political parties. Last Wednesday, the Secretary of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As of 4 July, there were a total of 50,055 applications in the passport system. This is down from 68,000 applications in hand approximately at the end of May and the turnaround times for passport renewals and first-time applications have improved. The level of demand remains very high this year with an 11% rise in the number of applications year-to-date compared to the same period last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Data (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Information in relation to the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in the Department is not recorded. However, there are 322 local staff working in the 80 missions of the Department’s network world-wide, all of whom are recruited locally and are drawn from a broad range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Department is an equal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foireann Roinne (6 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán le seirbhísí a sholáthar agus comhfhreagras a fhreagairt trí Ghaeilge nuair is gá. Léirigh iniúchadh den fhoireann i 2012 go raibh Gaeilge líofa nó ag ard-leibhéal ag 55 baill foirne i mo Roinn, agus d’fhógair 160 baill eile go raibh Gaeilge ag meán-leibhéal acu. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Questions regarding the arrangements concerning the operation of the application process are a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, the carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on civil aircraft travelling through Irish air space or airports unless an exemption has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with the Deputy that the situation of unaccompanied minors is a distressing aspect of the ongoing migration crisis and there are concerns in this regard in many countries in Europe and elsewhere. While there is an acknowledged problem with the care of unaccompanied minors in parts of Greece, the Greek authorities are working with the UN High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: This question has been discussed on previous occasions. What Ireland can do in these circumstances and whether it can take in more unaccompanied minors in response to what is a crisis of huge dimension is an important issue. Tusla, the child and family agency, under the auspices of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has statutory responsibility for unaccompanied minors. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The response is twofold in so far as there is an EU response and an Irish national response. As stated earlier, the Greek authorities are working closely with the UN High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF to provide appropriate facilities for unaccompanied minors. The European Asylum Support Office is also working closely with the authorities with a view to an appropriate response. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As I said earlier, and I think Deputy Daly may have been present, the EU and Turkey have been working together for many months to address what is a hugely challenging migrant crisis. Turkey is hosting an estimated 2.7 million refugees, which is an enormous number for any country. The EU is committed to assisting Turkey and has established a €3 billion facility for refugees there....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Under the agreement between the EU and Turkey, each migrant has the right to apply for international protection in Greece, to have his or her application assessed on an individual basis in line with international law, including the right to appeal. Part of the assessment of persons process includes ascertaining whether Turkey can be considered a safe country, given an irregular migrant or...