Results 15,601-15,620 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy this issue will continue to be a priority in my deliberations with the Secretary of State and the British Government. I also am aware of the Taoiseach's positive and constructive engagement in this regard. Last week on 17 May, the forty-second anniversary of the bombings, I represented the Government at the commemoration ceremony and stood in solidarity with the families...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy is right. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that our position is clearly set out bilaterally and at European Union level. While we recognise that the referendum on 23 June is solely a matter for the UK electorate to decide, I am co-ordinating a package of visits by Ministers. I was in London recently and I met once again with Secretary of State, Philip Hammond. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland strongly supports the peace negotiations in Colombia. The advances made in the talks over the past year are highly encouraging and there is now a historic opportunity to bring a definitive end to more than 50 years of violence and internal displacement of people. Ireland, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassy in Mexico, is actively engaged in assessing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that we continue to raise human rights issues in relation to matters in Colombia in keeping with our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and human rights defenders. It is one of our core foreign policy objectives. We condemn unreservedly all attacks and threats against human rights defenders, wherever they take place. Human rights are also a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are a number of issues in which we can become involved. Deputy Crowe is correct to talk about the importance of ensuring that Ireland plays its part. I am very pleased to record the work of the former Tánaiste and my ministerial predecessor, Eamon Gilmore, in his capacity as envoy with special responsibility. He was appointed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: There are many different suggestions in regard to the action that can be taken in this case. All options for action are kept open by the Government, and we keep these activities under review at all stages. However, I again stress that we are at all times guided by the action that is most likely to achieve positive practical progress for our citizen at the earliest possible opportunity. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The next hearing of this case is scheduled for 29 June. Embassy officials will be in attendance, as they have been at every hearing over the course of his trial. They will monitor and report on the developments of the day. It is my hope that this matter will be completed in its entirety on that day, although I do not have absolute control over the listing or hearing of court cases in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: A fully developed plan B for Ireland is not possible without knowing the terms and conditions of the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. However, Government Departments, including mine, have been working for some time to identify the key strategic and sectoral issues that will arise for us if the UK votes to leave the European Union. We will continue to deepen our...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to assure all Deputies that we all will be as prepared at as it is possible to be in the circumstances. It is not possible for the European Union or any individual member state to fully prepare for a possible vote by the UK to leave the European Union. This is because the terms and conditions of the arrangements to be put in place would only become clear through a long process of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I congratulate Deputy Darragh O’Brien on his appointment as foreign affairs and trade spokesperson for his party and on his election to the Dáil. I wish him good health and success in that position. I offer him the support and co-operation of my office at all times and trust that we will have a fruitful relationship. I also congratulate Deputy Crowe on his reappointment as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The public services card is used increasingly as an efficient and secure means to access Government services, including social welfare services for the purposes of the free travel. Already there are in excess of 1.8 million such cards in circulation. It is important that this measure be recognised in the context of the fight against fraud. Every effort is being made to ensure our...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Passport Services (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I remind all Deputies that the passport service updates its website weekly with turnaround times. An Post's passport express renewal applications are taking 13 to 14 working days to process. The first time application takes somewhat longer. However, every effort is being made to meet this unprecedented challenge within the Passport Office and I will keep the Deputies fully informed having...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Prisoners Abroad (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that this case remains a top priority for the Government and the Department. We continue to pursue every constructive avenue to secure the release of this citizen and we will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. The Egyptian Government is fully aware of the priority the Irish Government attaches to this case, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17 and 28 together. The European Union and Turkey have engaged deeply on developing joint approaches to the migration crisis and the EU’s engagement with Turkey was the focus of the European Council on 17 and 18 March 2016. The core intention of the Agreement which emerged from the Council is to break the business model of the people smugglers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Reports (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Embassy in Paris reports continually on all significant political and economic developments in France, including the question of labour law reform. The issue of labour law reform is an internal matter for France and I do not propose therefore to comment further on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The five-year long conflict in Syria has been brutal, with more than 400,000 people dead, and consistent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict. Ireland strongly condemns the deliberate blocking of food aid to civilians as a tactic in this brutal war. 90% of civilians under siege are victims of the Assad regime. I deplore in the strongest...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Reports (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is closely following developments in Brazil in light of the ongoing political situation, including the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff and our Embassy in Brazil provides regular reporting on the latest developments and their possible repercussions. The events are also the subject of ongoing discussion at EU level in Brussels. Ireland and our EU partners share the view...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UK Referendum on EU Membership (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government's position on the EU-UK question is clear and has been outlined on many occasions: while respecting that this is a decision for the UK voters to make on 23 June, as our friend, closest neighbour and partner, we want the UK to remain as a member of the European Union. My Ministerial colleagues and I have been active in our engagement with the UK Government, and with our EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is committed to recognising the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict. The Government works consistently to achieve a free, independent and sovereign Palestinian state, not just in theory but in fact, and all of our actions on the Israeli/Palestinian issue are directed to that end. It is central to our objective of a two state solution that will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly condemned the horrific crimes by ISIS against religious and ethnic minorities in Syria and Iraq. ISIS has boasted of its use of murder, torture, mass sexual violence and forced religious conversions in areas under its control. Ireland has publicly condemned ISIS and other terrorist groups at the United Nations, including at the Human Rights Council. I note that the High...