Results 16,021-16,040 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (26 Nov 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. Generally, Irish diplomats, including Heads of Mission, are established career civil servants employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Officers in Head of Mission posts are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. The Department's general policy on use of credit cards is restrictive and, as a general rule, cards will only be authorised for officers who, due to the nature of their work or for particular circumstances, have a compelling business need for an official credit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: All official travel undertaken by Ambassadors and Officers of my Department based overseas, is in accordance with the central aims of the Department’s travel policy, which is based on the travel policy for all Government Departments laid down by the Department of Finance, which is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Programmes (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In the course of the Global Irish Economic Forum my colleague Mr. Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Diaspora Affairs, announced his intention to pilot a summer camp programme designed to enhance connection with the Irish diaspora. It had already been indicated in ‘Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy’that this pilot programme would take place. It is proposed that this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As have other Deputies, I have received a lengthy submission relating to this case. There is clearly a long legal history to the case, on which I am not able to make a judgement. I have consistently focused on the issues surrounding settlements, including evictions and seizures of property, as a major driver of the continuing conflict and an obstacle to peace. These pressures on Palestinians...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187 and 189 together. I am concerned by the killing of three human rights defenders in separate incidents in Colombia in recent weeks. I am also aware of reports of recent violence relating to coca eradication in Argelia in the Department of Cauca, Colombia. The incidents are reminders that Colombia still faces significant challenges in overcoming...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I met the Deputy in question on 27 October to congratulate him on his appointment as EU Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Colombia. Ireland has consistently supported the peace talks underway in Havana. We have engaged with the Colombian government and advisers to the talks to share our experience of peace-building and conflict resolution, and I have offered the Deputy the support of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the opportunity to address the Chairman and members of the committee on recent developments at the Foreign Affairs Council. I received the sad news this morning that two young Irishmen had lost their lives in an accident in Perth, Australia. As the committee is aware, this year many Irish families have lost loved ones overseas. I am aware of the work and commitment of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last April the Foreign Ministers of Ireland and 15 other EU countries wrote to EU High Representative Mogherini to ask her to restart work on guidelines for the labelling of settlement products. On 11 November the European Commission adopted the formal notice. It underlines that settlement goods may not be labelled as having been made in Israel or simply as having come from the West Bank...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I will be happy to provide the members of the committee with a note. I stress that the process is in the course of implementation and that it is ongoing. There will be further implementation measures, the particulars of which I will be happy to share with the committee. On Deputy Eric Byrne's question, these issues would be covered by our consumer protection legislation. If people wish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy mentioned a food product. That involves the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In the same way as with the food product from Brazil to which he referred, the implementation will be the same in terms of the labelling. A food product will be a matter that will go to the appropriate Department, which in that case is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Three questions? I counted six.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: If the Deputy asks six questions, she is entitled to six answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In respect of the situation in Colombia, members will be aware of the appointment of my predecessor, Deputy Gilmore, as special envoy. That will feed in, perhaps, to a greater level of engagement on our part in the process in Colombia. I am concerned with regard to the killing of three human rights defenders last week. Representatives from our embassy in Mexico continue to discuss human...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I will communicate privately with Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan on Maghaberry. I am aware of her interest in the matter from parliamentary questions. I am also aware of the recent visit of a delegation. I am happy to engage directly with her on the matter also.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Obviously, there can and must be a number of responses in respect of the horrific atrocity in Paris and the threats in other European capitals and beyond. It is important that the European Union appears as a powerful force. It will do so, assuming that agreement can be reached on a co-ordinated approach. As well as the Foreign Affairs Council being actively engaged, there is an ongoing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with Deputy Smith that the EU must continue to do more and, indeed, intensify its engagement in tackling the continued threat of terrorism. That involves a multilateral approach on a range of issues, including information and intelligence sharing, international passenger name recognition, the availability of firearms in member states, and a response in the criminal justice area....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In response to the Deputy's first question, I am not in a position to comment on any action or otherwise that might be taken by the Russian Government in response to yesterday's action but I would ask the committee to note that Russia has announced it will take a measured response. I repeat my call for restraint on all sides in what is a difficult and challenging time for Europe. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Nov 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The humanitarian situation in Ukraine continues to be a matter of concern. While there has been a measure of progress, it must be considered against the challenging and conflicted situation that arose last year. It is important that all sides of the conflict continue to engage in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in most need of it. That cannot be done because it...