Results 15,461-15,480 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: There are currently five countries which have Candidate Status, including four in the Western Balkans – Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries. Ireland has long been a supporter of Enlargement. The European Commission continues to work actively to support prospective member states in...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 367 together. I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s absolute condemnation of military attacks on civilians in Syria. Such attacks are crimes and those responsible, in particular the Assad regime and Daesh, must be held accountable for their actions. Ireland, in conjunction with all our EU partners and 29 other States, sponsored a...

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

Charles Flanagan: The migration crisis remains a major priority for the European Union. Migration continues to be discussed at the European Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the Justice and Home Affairs Council, as leaders seek to urgently address both the root causes of the crisis, and its terrible humanitarian consequences. Since the crisis emerged in the spring of last year, the EU has developed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (5 Jul 2016)

Charles Flanagan: 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 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Cairo and in Dublin, in the provision of comprehensive consular assistance to both this citizen and his...

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

Charles Flanagan: Advancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives, and economic diplomacy more generally, is an important aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. Given the implications of outcome of the UK Referendum, there is a collective determination across the Government and...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ukraine, and in particular resolution of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country, remains a priority for the European Union. Discussion of the situation in Ukraine has featured on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in January, March and April this year, either as a standalone item, or in broader discussions around the European Union’s relationship with Russia and the...

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

Charles Flanagan: In relation to new positions created since 31 December 2010, my Department sought and received sanction for the following: Year Position Grade 2012 Press Officer, Irish Aid Assistant Principal 2014 Chief Financial Officer Assistant Secretary 2016 Assistant Legal Adviser Web + Digital Manager Web + Digital Editor Assistant Principal Assistant Principal HEO

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

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Staff who left the Department in the period 1 January – 31 December 2013 Reason for leaving Number of staff Retirements 27 Ministerial Appointees – following resignation of Minister of State 6 Career breaks/Special Leave/Other 17 New staff employed in the period 1 January – 31 December 2013...

Seanad: Ibrahim Halawa Case: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad on the consular case of Ibrahim Halawa, a young Irish citizen who has been detained now for almost three years in Egypt. From my first week in office when I met Ibrahim's father, Sheikh Hussein Halawa, securing Ibrahim's return home to Ireland has been a priority for me and my Department. At my direction, unprecedented sustained and focused...

Seanad: Ibrahim Halawa Case: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I have taken careful note of what has been said. I assure everybody that this case remains a highest priority in my Department and that I will continue to do everything possible to secure the release of Ibrahim Halawa and to see him return home as soon as possible. When I say "everything", let me assure the House that includes all options, some...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (30 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In response to a request from the US Embassy, my Department granted clearance for a landing by the aircraft to which the Deputy refers. Permission was granted on the basis that the aircraft was unarmed and carried no arms, ammunition or explosives, would not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flight in question would not form part of military exercises or operations. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (30 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In response to requests from the US Embassy, my Department granted permission for landings by the aircraft to which the Deputy refers. Permission was granted on the basis that the aircraft were unarmed and carried no arms, ammunition or explosives, would not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flights in question would not form part of military exercises or operations.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (29 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There is no change to the status of the Good Friday Agreement or the workings of the European Court of Human Rights arising from the result of the UK referendum of the EU last week. As reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent agreements, including the 2014 Stormont House and the 2015 Fresh Start...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (29 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Since the referendum result there has been a notable increase in queries concerning Irish passports from Northern Ireland, Great Britain and elsewhere. However, it is too early as yet to identify the precise impact of the outcome in terms of the volume of passport applications. Statistics relating to applications are usually compiled on a monthly basis. I would like to underline that...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senators for attending this important discussion, which takes place less than a week after the most recent Seanad debate on the UK referendum. I have been heartened over the past few days to witness the shared sense of determination across political lines to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the period ahead. We must work together to further, and safeguard, Irish national...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: They are incomparable.

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: While we might have been taken by surprise, I do not think Senator Norris can deduce from that that we are in the dark. We have a contingency. I acknowledge what Senators have said in commending the publication last Friday evening of part of our contingency planning. I ask Senators to keep in touch. I undertake to keep Members of the Seanad fully informed on our planning and the...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: This will be used in key areas, such as trade, energy, interconnection, agriculture and food, social welfare arrangements, education and research co-operation, and will extend right across each and every Department. Above all, our contingency management arrangements will prioritise the key political and strategic issues arising from the implications for Northern Ireland, the common travel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Homeless Persons Supports (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade receives correspondence from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on a regular basis. Where such correspondence relates to domestic policies, Departments with lead responsibility for the relevant policy issues are asked to provide input for the reply to the United Nations. The response to the correspondence from the UN Special...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (28 Jun 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together. To facilitate arrangements for the US Vice President’s visit to the Mayo area, permission was sought for two unarmed US military transport aircraft, type C-17A, to land at Ireland West Airport Knock on 20 June 2016. The aircraft were carrying passenger vehicles in support of the visit. The requests stated that the aircraft were...