Results 1,561-1,580 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs (Revised) (3 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Members will be aware that aspects of the TRIPS waiver are more primarily a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. However, I am sure the Minister of State will acknowledge the report that this committee undertook earlier this year on the matter of global vaccines, vaccine equality and the importance of ensuring that every effort is made to have vaccines distributed,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I have received apologies from Deputy David Stanton. Item No. 1 on our agenda today is our meeting with the ambassador of Colombia to Ireland. It gives me pleasure to welcome Her Excellency Ms Patricia Cortés Ortiz, the ambassador of Colombia to Ireland and Mr. Emilio José Archila Peñalosa, Presidential Counsellor for Stabilisation and Consolidation in Colombia, to discuss...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Before calling on Mr. Archila, I acknowledge his presence with us again and that he is joining us at an early hour in Bogotá. The ambassador mentioned the visit of the then Foreign Minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, to Ireland in 2019. We note that he recently passed away. On behalf of the committee, I extend our condolences to the ambassador and we would be grateful if she would pass...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Archila for his attendance and for indicating his willingness to remain for the duration of our meeting and to take observations and questions from members. Deputies Cowen and Brady have indicated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I call Deputy Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will revert to the witnesses with a number of wide-ranging questions from Deputy Brady on the current protests, the issues surrounding the negotiations including what is happening and what is likely to happen, the broader issue of the peace process and rule of law and specific issues of land reform and coca growth. Having regard to Mr. Archila Peñalosa's engagement in the negotiations...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you. I call the ambassador to respond to issues raised by Deputy Brady, with particular reference to the ongoing peace process and the progress or lack of progress, and perhaps to deal with the issue of land reform as posed by Deputy Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I hesitate to intervene but I understand Mr. Archila Peñalosa has been called away and I acknowledge his presence. I wish him well in his efforts to ensure national dialogue. In doing so, however, I wish to acknowledge recent very serious reports of an escalation of violence. I echo what Deputy Brady said earlier about disturbing reports of the disproportionate use of force. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I am not sure whether the ambassador had concluded her contribution in response to Deputy Brady. If if she has, I will move to Senator Craughwell but perhaps the ambassador has further specific comments in response to Deputy Brady's many questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I reiterate our appreciation for the ambassador's regular contact with the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: That is helpful ambassador. I call Deputy Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: We are coming to a conclusion. I ask Ms Cortés Ortiz to deal with Deputy Brady's points. In her opening statement, she said that among the many serious and complex challenges being faced by Colombia, there is the added issue of the refugees from Venezuela. There are in the region of 1.8 million, or almost 2 million. The ambassador might refer to how this has further stretched the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the ambassador. As I do not see any members offering, I will bring matters to a conclusion by once again acknowledging the ambassador's presence and the earlier presence of Mr. Archila Peñalosa. I acknowledge his work and wish him well in ensuring that the national dialogue can get under way. I understand that he has gone straight to a meeting in that regard. I thank the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: 2016 Peace Agreement in Colombia: Discussion (1 Jun 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the ambassador.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces: Discussion with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (25 May 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I have received apologies from Deputy Stanton. I understand Senator Ó Donnghaile is attending the Seanad and will join us in due course. I welcome Mr. Mark Keane, president, Mr. Gerard Guinan, general secretary, Mr. Martin Bright, deputy general secretary, and Mr. Damien Quigley, national support officer, Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces: Discussion with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (25 May 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I join Mr. Guinan in extending sympathies to Mr. Bright.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces: Discussion with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (25 May 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Guinan. I think that is the first time General "Stonewall" Jackson has been quoted at the committee. We have heard a comprehensive submission from Mr. Guinan. I am not sure of the extent to which Mr. Keane or Mr. Quigley would like to contribute at this stage. I will give them the floor before opening up to members of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces: Discussion with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (25 May 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Quigley. I take it that he will remain on the line in the event that committee members have questions on the medical support scheme. I will now take a brief comment from Mr. Keane, the president of PDFORRA, and he can come back in to answer questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces: Discussion with Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (25 May 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will now go to members of the committee for questions and observations. I see some expertise among the membership of this committee which, with the greatest of respect, was probably not there in previous committees. I know members are anxious to come in, but I will start with Deputy Brady and proceed in accordance with the raised hands I see.