Results 15,441-15,460 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The agreement on a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrilla organisation is an important step in bringing to an end more than half a century of conflict in which more than 220,000 people have been killed and 6.4 million people displaced. I congratulate all of the parties to the agreement for their courage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the deep frustrations expressed by the authors of the Taking Sides report. I have previously expressed my strong concerns that the UN Security Council has failed to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court and the lack of measures adopted to constrain the actions by the parties, especially the Assad regime, in their attacks on civilians. I also accept that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I share the concern about the situation on the ground in Greece, which remains extremely challenging, with over 57,000 refugees and migrants currently dispersed across the country in several sites on the mainland and the islands, despite a reduction in numbers arriving from Turkey. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) updated its regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Officials in my Department have recently undertaken a round of consultation meetings with various victims’ groups connected to the Troubles in Northern Ireland to discuss the establishment of the Stormont House legacy framework. As part of this work, officials met with more than 20 victims’ groups who represent those affected by the Troubles. These included groups from both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together. From the moment 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A total of 46 officers are based in the Embassy of Ireland in London, including the Passport Office which is part of the Embassy. Of those, 31 staff are posted from Headquarters and 15 are locally recruited staff. The possible resource implications of the UK referendum for the work of our Embassy in London and our other business units are currently being considered by my Department, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A total of 439,871 passport applications were received from 1 January to 30 June. Of these, 39,619 (9%) relate to citizens from Northern Ireland while 28,767 (6.5%) have been submitted from Great Britain. In the period 23 to 30 June, the number of registered applications from Northern Ireland and Great Britain was 2,313 and 1,460 respectively. While there is likely to be an increase...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Records (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The staffing of the Archives Unit for the period in question is set out in the following table. Year Grade Number of staff 2010 HEO CO *1.9 *1.5 2011 HEO CO *1.9 *1.5 2012 HEO CO *1.9 *1.5 2013 HEO CO *0.9 *1.5 2014 HEO CO *0.9 *2.5 2015 HEO CO *1.9 *2.7 2016 HEO CO *1.9 *2.7*FTE – full-time equivalent In addition to the staffing above, a reviewer has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sustainable Development Goals (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The 2030 Agenda, and its seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted by world leaders at the UN Summit in New York last September. It provides the framework for sustainable development globally, with universal application. My Department is engaging with the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to establish the most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The total number of passport applications per annum from 2010 to 30 June is as follows: Year Total 2010 559,664 2011 544,890 2012 576,184 2013 575,522 2014 577,107 2015 618,079 2016 year to date 439,871

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The annual number of applications for passports from the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 (30 June) is as follows: Year Number of applications 2010 73,334 2011 67,515 2012 78,890 2013 77,233 2014 82,809 2015 90,875 2016 year to date (30 June) 68,767

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The total number of applications for passports from the United Kingdom in the first six months of 2016 is 68,386. The monthly breakdown is as follows: Month Total January 7,677 February 10,515 March 10,870 April 13,218 May 13,912 June 12,194 Monthly average 11,397

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Paragraph 4.1, of Section A in the Fresh Start Agreement provided for the establishment of an expert panel to bring forward recommendations “for a strategy to disband paramilitary groups.’ The three members of the panel were appointed by the First and deputy First Minister in December 2015, namely Professor Monica McWilliams, Lord John Alderdice and solicitor John McBirney....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: As stated in the Programme for a Partnership Government the intention is to increase the number of joint North-South trade missions to create new job opportunities for people on both sides of the border. I am aware of two such joint trade missions involving a Northern Ireland Minister having taken place. The first of these was in February 2014 to the Singapore Air Show and Exhibition,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The November 2015 Fresh Start Agreement contained a commitment by Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to support the regional development work of the North West Gateway Initiative which involves Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. As part of that support, the Government committed to provide €2.5 million funding towards a North West...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy on staffing in the Passport Service is set out in the following table. Year Permanent Staff Temporary Staff (TCOs) Total 30 June 2010 *303.3 52 355.3 30 June 2011 *320.1 83 403.1 30 June 2012 *301.3 121 422.3 30 June 2013 *296.6 136 432.6 30 June 2014 *277.5 155 432.5 30 June 2015 *268.8 164 432.8 30 June 2016 291 200 491*FTE –...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Reports for the average turnaround periods for passport services are only available from 2013. This data is set out in the following table in working days: Passport Service 2013 2014 2015 2016 (to date) Average Passport Express 6 11 10 14 10 Northern Ireland Passport Express 5 13 11 18 12 Great Britain 14 23 21 26 21 Total number of applications 478,758 491,360 526,061 383,403 In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 357, 360 and 361 together. The issues which the Deputy raises are complex and there will be many views on these matters, particularly in the wake of the outcome of the UK referendum in June. Of course, I am well aware that, in individual Member States, there are those who would wish to leave the Union. However, this is not the position of any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Guiding Principles (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The United Nations plays a critical role in the resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of international peace and security. It does this primarily through the UN Security Council which has, under the UN Charter, ‘primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security’. The Council has a variety of tools at its disposal to address threats to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 366 together. The international community is currently challenged by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises globally, as a result of war and conflict, drought and famine and the devastation caused by natural disasters. Over 65 million people are now displaced from their homes across the world, most of them living in situations of conflict....