Results 16,001-16,020 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: Firstly, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, secondly, to provide consular support...

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

Charles Flanagan: This citizen and his family have been the recipients of comprehensive consular assistance from my Department and the individual in detention has been visited on forty-eight occasions by Embassy officials, most recently on 23 November. Numerous positive interventions have been made with the Egyptian authorities on his behalf. The Embassy has also attended all his trial hearings to date, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I launched the Passport Card on 5 October. Since then over 12,000 applications have been received and over 11,200 cards produced. The card is accepted for travel in all EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland (31 countries in total) and gives exactly the same entitlements and protections as a passport book. There has been a positive public reaction to this Irish-led...

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

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the announcement in October by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland that he has requested the PSNI Chief Constable to investigate the full range of alleged offences which relate to the activities of the individual commonly known under the codename ‘Steaknife’ or ‘Stakeknife’. This includes the investigation of any criminal activity...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Passport Service has issued 644,481 passports to date this year which represents an increase of over 15,000 from the 629,446 passports that were issued in 2014. The ten day turnaround applies to those applications submitted in person at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and through the An Post Passport Express service. All applications which were submitted in person at the Passport...

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

Charles Flanagan: I meet regularly with my foreign minister colleagues at the monthly Foreign Affairs Council meetings including with my Belgian counterpart with whom I have excellent working relations.I have no immediate plans to meet the Belgian Minister outside the Council framework at this juncture.

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

Charles Flanagan: The Government, on foot of proposals made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, nominates officers to Ambassadorial posts. The nominated Ambassadors are subsequently appointed by the President. The former Ambassador of Ireland to Bulgaria retired from his post in October 2015. Candidates for this post are currently being considered and I will bring a proposal for a successor to...

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

Charles Flanagan: I meet regularly with my foreign minister colleagues at the monthly Foreign Affairs Council meetings including with my Spanish counterpart with whom I have excellent working relations. I have no immediate plans to meet the Spanish Minister outside the Council framework at this juncture.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legal Costs (8 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject-matter, domestic litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: Firstly, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, secondly, to provide consular support...

Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: They do not want to hear the reply.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: first, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have intensively engaged with the Egyptian authorities regarding this citizen's case, including the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Egypt’s Ambassador to Ireland, and with EU and international partners, including the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Federica Mogherini. The Taoiseach also raised the case in person on two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (the Act). This provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices which are applied by the Passport Service in the processing of passport applications. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate. However, a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486, 487 and 490 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a clear strategy in this case which is focused on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible for this citizen. That strategy is based on two key objectives: Firstly, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Turkey, Iran and Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of those countries, which are for decision by the Turkish, Iranian and Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders. Ireland raises human rights issues, including the rights of minority communities, in its political dialogues with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: 'Global Entry' is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk US travellers upon arrival in the United States. While the goal of Global Entry is to speed travellers through the process, no traveller is guaranteed expedited screening and members may be selected for further examination when entering the United States. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Cases Data (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Depending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General's Office and the Chief State Solicitor's Office or the State Claims Agency which may brief outside lawyers as necessary. The cost of any such external lawyers engaged to litigate these cases are not charged to my Department's Votes, but related costs, such as those paid to documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (1 Dec 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A total of 12 former Temporary Clerical Officers in my Department were awarded Contracts of Indefinite Duration as permanent Clerical Officers. All of them were granted incremental credit for salary purposes for their previous service in the Civil Service.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Irish diplomats, including Ambassadors and Heads of Mission, are career civil servants employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; a number of Ambassadors have served in other Government Departments prior to transferring to my Department. The information on the location of each Ambassador is set out in the table below: MISSION Grade Posted as Head of Mission since Ambassador...