Results 15,361-15,380 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

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

Charles Flanagan: I remind the Deputy that prior permission is required for all foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports. Permission is subject to a strict set of conditions and criteria. Bilateral relations between friendly nations are founded on mutual trust and both parties have an interest in maintaining that trust. Details provided by diplomatic missions, including confirmation that aircraft...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 36 and 59 together. I and my Government colleagues are extremely disappointed at the recent news of a further delay in the trial of this citizen. This latest delay is a particular source of concern and frustration for the citizen and his family and we fully share their sense of frustration. It is our understanding that at the latest hearing in this case...

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

Charles Flanagan: In relation to Peter Greste, as named by the Deputy, of course I welcome his release. I would welcome any advice or guidance he or Deputy Smith might proffer in my direction as to how best this case might be advanced.

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

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that my door is open, as it is to any Member who may have observations, advice or guidance. It is important to note that each and every case is different. We have considered the cases, as mentioned, in some detail. We have consulted extensively on them, but my focus remains on the citizen, and his case, which is before the courts. We have consulted extensively,...

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

Charles Flanagan: I assure the House that the Government formally supported an application made by the legal team on behalf of Ibrahim Halawa in 2015 for his return to Ireland under Presidential Decree 140, as referred to by the Deputy. This was done by way of formal diplomatic notes and by our embassy in Cairo at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 February 2015, in consultation with the family...

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

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, including testimony from migrants and witnesses that some Turkish border guards have used violence against Syrians. I learned with deep concern of the death of 11 refugees on the Turkish-Syrian border on 19 June. I am also aware that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has refuted allegations that the refugees were shot...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality which has been pursued by successive Governments is characterised by the non-participation of Ireland in military alliance. This commitment was reconfirmed last year in the context of my Department's foreign policy review and in the White Paper on Defence which was also published last year. Successive Governments have made overfly and...

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

Charles Flanagan: Prior permission is required for all foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports and permission, if granted, is subject to very strict conditions which I have outlined. Bilateral relations between friendly nations are founded on mutual trust. Both parties have an interest in maintaining that trust. Details provided by diplomatic missions, including confirmation that the aircraft...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 41 together. My Department is monitoring closely the current political situation in Brazil, including the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff. Our embassy in Brasilia provides regular reports on the latest developments and their possible repercussions. In addition, the events in the country are also the subject of ongoing discussion at European...

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

Charles Flanagan: The constitutional process in Brazil involves both the legislature and the judicial branches of the federal government. President Temer has been appointed for a period of 180 days while the impeachment of President Rousseff is considered by the Brazilian Senate under the chairmanship of the current chief justice. Ireland will continue to monitor the situation via our embassy in Brasilia....

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

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of reports regarding gender-based violence in Brazil to which the Deputy has referred. A number of cases are being investigated by Brazilian authorities and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters that are in effect ongoing investigations. However, I wish to point to the Marie da Penha law which was enacted in Brazil in 2006 which is the principal...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the Deputy's kind words. I will be more than happy to convey his very kind and well-received remarks directly to Mr. Austin Gormley in the passport office and his team. I acknowledge that they work very hard in challenging circumstances. It is not often that the House is witness to kind remarks of the type we heard from Deputy Healy-Rae. I take them as they were given,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy makes a very important point. The passport service offers a passport reminder service to customers, which can be accessed via the passport service web page, www.passport.ie. It automatically sends an e-mail three and six months before a passport is due to expire to those who register. Registration simply requires passport holders to record their names, e-mail addresses and...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Government maintains contact with the United States on a broad range of issues, both bilaterally and through European Union structures. Bilaterally, there are regular contacts between political leaders from our two countries, such as through those that took place during the recent visit by Vice President Biden to Ireland and the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s clear priority in this context is to maintain the good functioning of the European Union in the current highly uncertain environment and to protect Irish interests, including in relation to Northern Ireland, the common travel area and trade. Our ongoing efforts will continue to involve engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Oireachtas and its various...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I very much regret that Deputy Howlin takes that view. Of course there is an information note. It was an information note on the current crisis and the critical issues involved. I assure the House that there will be full and detailed engagement. I am very pleased that Deputy Howlin was in contact with the socialist group, as I am sure all Members are in contact with their own affiliate...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Contingency planning is challenging because many of the impacts in Ireland depend on the new arrangements that can ultimately be agreed between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Nevertheless, a substantial body of work has already been undertaken across Government to identify the key strategic and operational risks involved. This work is now being not only prioritised, but...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Several existing structures will be strengthened as necessary. These include the Cabinet committee on EU affairs, the North-South Ministerial Council-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: -----the British-Irish Council at official level, the joint Ireland-UK secretaries, the group of secretaries general, the EU senior officials group, interdepartmental group and the stakeholders group. Only today the Oireachtas agreed the setting up of the European affairs committee, which will have a very important role and I trust that Deputy Howlin’s party will be represented on the...