Results 15,881-15,900 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that the concerns raised by him and others are treated with the utmost gravity and importance by the Irish Government. We continue to keep in very close contact with the citizen, and with his family here in Dublin, while he is in detention. There have been many different views and suggestions for actions on the case. We keep the possibilities for action under ongoing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: All Deputies will agree that there is no room or place for any form of threats or intimidation, implied or otherwise. It is important to make that absolutely clear in the context of a functioning democracy. In the course of my meeting with the Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA, he updated me on progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the recent report by the criminal justice...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In general, it is important that we continue to report progress on the matter of prison reform in Northern Ireland. Comprehensive reform of the Northern Ireland Prison Service based on the October 2011 review conducted by Dame Anne Owers concluded in March this year. It is disappointing that, despite the prison reform process, the inspection report found that conditions for prisoners under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the US is a priority in the Government’s relationship with the United States. Our embassy in Washington and consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration reform and the issue is also the subject of high level political contacts...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his question. On 29 November, the Taoiseach attended an EU Heads of State or Government meeting with Turkey at which it was agreed to activate the EU-Turkey joint action plan, which is aimed at managing the current refugee and migrant crisis, as well as several further shared commitments and actions. The joint action plan contains short and medium-term measures to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that Ireland is not silent on these issues. With our European colleagues, we will continue raising them. We raised them most recently at the meeting of Ministers' deputies at the Council of Europe on 2 December, when the arrest of two journalists, the importance of freedom of the press and expression in Turkey and the need to ensure a strong and healthy democracy were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to repeat for the benefit of the Deputy that these are concerns of a most important nature. Ireland has raised them and will continue to raise them. I assure the Deputy that officials in my Department, both at our headquarters in Dublin and in our embassy in Ankara, will continue to follow developments across a range of human rights concerns closely, but in particular regarding Mr....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last Friday, I met Northern Ireland's Minister of Justice, Mr. David Ford. We discussed in detail the situation at Maghaberry Prison, including the regime for separated prisoners. My last meeting with the Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, MP, was on 17 November as we concluded the negotiation of the fresh start agreement. We will meet before the end of this month when I will again...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Notwithstanding the clear gains achieved by the agreement, A Fresh Start, I very much regret that it did not include agreement on the implementation of provisions of the Stormont House Agreement dealing with the legacy of the past. We share the deep disappointment of the victims and survivors of the Troubles and their families in this respect. I am particularly disappointed because real...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I confirm and reassure the House that the Irish Government has a long track record of defending and promoting the rights of victims and survivors. Records show that successive Irish Governments have rigorously and vociferously pursued justice and truth for those affected by the Troubles, in Strasbourg through the European Court of Human Rights and bilaterally on all occasions with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I wil be happy to pursue the issue raised by the Deputy. I assure the House that the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, and I are actively engaged in this matter. Notwithstanding the fact that the intensive round-table talks have been concluded in a positive way by agreeing the fresh start agreement, there will always be issues of concern in terms of North-South relations, Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have partially addressed this subject in my reply given today Question No. 10. As independent studies have shown, a UK withdrawal from the EU would have negative implications for Ireland. There is, at this stage, little doubt about that. Determining the full impact of such a complex scenario is, however, extremely difficult, especially given that much would depend on the exact terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Migration Crisis (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 29 November, the Taoiseach attended an EU heads of state or government meeting with Turkey, at which it was agreed to activate the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan aimed at managing the current refugee and migrant crisis, as well as several further shared commitments and actions. The Joint Action Plan contains short- and medium-term measures to be undertaken by the European Union and Turkey....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Student Visa Waiver Programme (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The US J1 Summer Work and Travel programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students having experienced the US through the programme over that time. The independent US sponsoring bodies managing the great majority of Irish J1 participants have introduced a requirement for citizens of Visa...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ending the conflict in Syria, which has imposed enormous burdens on neighbouring States, is critical to the stability of the Middle East region, the security and safety of the Syrian people and their neighbours. The conflict has, effectively, been the key global foreign policy issue for Ireland, the EU and the UN for the past four years. As such, I have discussed the Syrian crisis at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Egyptian Conflict (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As has been previously stated to this House, my Department has two clear objectives in this case: first, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, second, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. In furtherance of those clear objectives, our Embassy in Cairo has paid numerous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Permission may be granted to foreign military aircraft, including US military aircraft, to land at Irish airports on the strict condition that they must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. Successive Governments have made landing facilities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government works consistently to achieve a 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 ensure the security and prosperity of both peoples. I continue to consider carefully whether the recognition by Ireland now of a state...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I met last Friday with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA. Among the issues we discussed was the situation in Maghaberry prison, including the regime for separated prisoners. My last meeting with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers was on 17 November, as we concluded the negotiation of the 'Fresh Start' Agreement. We will meet again before the end of the month,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have not made representations to the US Embassy on this subject. Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, at Irish airports and if granted, is subject to strict conditions which I have outlined many times in this House. Successive Governments have made landing facilities at Shannon available to the US for well over 50...