Results 15,981-16,000 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that I am aware of the initiative described and that postcards received by my Department will be forwarded to Ambassador Cole in Cairo for onward transmission to the individual concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Rehiring (10 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: No such applications for re-instatement were granted in my Department.

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the commentary of Deputy Smith and, indeed, acknowledge his support and that of his party, both in recent times and prior to that, in terms of our approach here to matters pertaining to Northern Ireland. The Government has a long track record of defending and promoting the rights of victims and survivors. The record clearly shows that successive Irish Governments, including...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this most important issue this evening. It is important to start with the positives and what was achieved by the Fresh Start agreement. It has placed the Government in Northern Ireland on a sound budgetary footing, which is so important for economic stability and development, and new financial supports that will help to unlock the full potential of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I can inform the Deputy that I last met formally with the Irish Ambassador to China, His Excellency Mr Paul Kavanagh, on 17th May 2015 at Ashford Castle, on the occasion of the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The landing referred to by the Deputy has been raised in this House on a number of previous occasions. In response to a parliamentary question regarding compliance by foreign military aircraft with conditions applied by my Department, my predecessor stated that contrary to notification, one US military aircraft landed in Shannon Airport in September 2013 armed with a fixed weapon. This was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft 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 any part of military exercises or operations. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The decision to grant a firearms certificate is made by the Minister for Justice and Equality, in consultation with the Garda Síochána, which at all times retains responsibility for law enforcement matters generally and in relation to visiting VIPs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Navigation Orders (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Where permission is being sought for the landing of a military aircraft, the requesting state is required to confirm that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives, is not engaged in intelligence gathering and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. In addition, the requesting state is required to provide the airports of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In my reply of 3 November I stated that in requesting permission from my Department, the US Embassy indicated that the purpose of the landings was crew rest. My reply also set out the conditions which apply to landings by all foreign military aircraft, including that the flights in question must not form part of a military exercise or operation. I am satisfied that the US authorities are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort underway to tackle the threat posed by Daesh and other UN-designated terrorist groups. Security Council resolution 2249 grants authority for States to take all necessary measure to suppress and eradicate terrorist acts by Daesh and Al-Nusra Front in territory under Daesh...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (9 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 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 EU and Turkey to assist Turkey in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. Implementation and follow-up to the Fresh Start Agreement, agreed on 17 November 2015 following 10 weeks of intensive discussions, is already underway. The Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly have already taken measures to implement what was agreed on welfare reform and finance matters. Contacts have begun at official level on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is very much aware of the key significance of UK membership of the EU for our national interests. We know how important it is not just for our economy but also for the continuing strength of British-Irish relations and for peace and stability in Northern Ireland. It’s also our firm view that the EU is better and stronger as a whole on account of UK membership. That is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Since my appointment in July 2014 I have met with the groups listed in the following table, on the dates indicated.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also receives many requests for meetings at Headquarters and in Missions abroad from a wide-range of groups and individuals whom it is not always possible for me to meet. Date of meeting Details of meeting 27 August 2014 Meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Examples of such events this year included the visit in May of HRH The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A table containing the information is set out as follows. My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since my entry into office in July 2014. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and particularly where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagements, these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Data (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The names and salaries of the Special Advisers appointed to the Ministers and Minister of States in this Department during the period in question are set out in the following table: Name Position held Annual Salary – years in question Period of service Mark Garrett Chief Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following the horrific attacks of 13 November in Paris in which 129 people were killed, and more than 350 injured, President François Hollande declared a State of Emergency. On 19 November the French Parliament, definitively adopted the three-month extension and expansion of the State of emergency. The French Government decided that in order to avert possible further terrorist attacks,...