Results 15,941-15,960 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The 10thMinisterial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is taking place from 15th to 18thDecember in Nairobi. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the lead Department on WTO matters. My colleague, Mr. Damien English T.D., Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation is representing Ireland at the Ministerial Conference. At the WTO, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 515 together. I discussed the question of implementation of the Commission’s recent interpretive notice on place of origin labelling, or indication of origin, during my meeting with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 25 November. The Interpretative Notice on Indications of Origin, published by the European Commission on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The amount my Department has received in fees from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests in 2014 and 2015 to date is set out in the following table. Only certain FOI requests will accrue search and retrieval fees. A minimum fee threshold of €101, or 5 hours of an officer’s time, for FOI request exists. Below this threshold, no search, retrieval or copying fees are charged. Total...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The details of my Ministerial Appointees and those of the Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are set out in the following tables. Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD Role/Title Number Annual Salary Special Adviser Personal Assistant Personal Secretary Civilian Driver 2 1 1 2 €82,587 €25,074...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process RIA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since 9 March 2011 my Department has sponsored two items of legislation which are set out in the following table. A regulatory impact assessment should be applied to all proposals for primary legislation involving changes to the regulatory framework. However, most of the legislation brought forward by my Department does not impact significantly on the regulatory environment. Since March 2011...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 524 together. The issue of violence by groups of Israeli settlers has been a matter of growing concern for some time now. This applies not just to certain highly publicized attacks, but to ongoing and endemic violence against Palestinians and their property, including the so-called ‘price tag’ attacks. By any standards, some of these...

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 of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 522 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Over €135m has been provided to organisations dealing with Irish emigrants since the establishment of the...

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

Charles Flanagan: I have made clear in the House my view that the peace process in the Middle East is currently at a standstill, and that the international community needs to do more to attempt to break this deadlock. The violent events in recent months have clearly demonstrated the risks of the continued political vacuum. The Foreign Affairs Council in July adopted Conclusions on the Middle East Process,...

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was held in Armagh on Friday 11 December 2015. This was the 21stPlenary meeting of the NSMC. At the meeting Ministers discussed the Fresh StartAgreement and the work to be undertaken by officials to review North South infrastructure projects. The Council also welcomed the commitment in Fresh Start to tackle...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s positive links with Cuba have grown steadily in recent years, in particular since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1999 and the opening of the Cuban embassy in Dublin in 2001. As I have stated before, I wish to see this relationship develop further. Cuba and Ireland held bilateral consultations in April of this year during the visit...

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

Charles Flanagan: A number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement have not yet been fully implemented including an Irish Language Act, a North South Consultative Forum, and Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government’s firm position is that these Agreements must be implemented in full. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together. There are no State Boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commencement of Legislation (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Specific provisions of Acts under my Department that have not yet been commenced are Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008. These Sections of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. The commencement of these provisions, including required...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.50 per hour within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could be up to €500,000 per annum. This is dependent on the number of temporary staff employed in the Passport Service during the peak season and therefore very difficult to estimate. The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 139, inclusive, together. My Department is exploring every avenue to try and secure the release of this citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through the appropriate channels. Ultimately, the decision to release him will be made solely by the Egyptian authorities. Irrespective of any views regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (16 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The requested information on staff with a salary of or above €100,000 in my Department is set out in the following table. Twenty one of these staff are serving in senior positions as Heads of Mission in our Embassy and Mission network and a further eight are serving as Heads of Division at HQ. Grade Number in grade Secretary General 1 Second Secretary General 4 Deputy Secretary 3...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (16 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a central priority of Ireland’s programme for overseas development, Irish Aid and is at the core of our efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. We work closely with local and international non-governmental organisations to strengthen their...