Results 16,241-16,260 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sustainable Development Goals (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s appointment, with Kenya, to co-facilitate the negotiations at the UN for the new framework for global development reflected our standing in the United Nations and the reputation of our aid programme in fighting poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries. Ireland had taken a leading role in the process of developing a framework for development to follow on from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy for international development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and reaffirms our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) on Official Development Assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following the request by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron, I and my colleague Minister of State Sherlock, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, facilitated a return of all the five main parties in Northern Ireland to round table talks. These talks resumed on 21 September and are continuing in a constructive atmosphere. The first two weeks of roundtable talks have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The question of the UK’s membership of the EU is of clear national importance and is a strategic priority for this Government. We are therefore actively monitoring developments, engaging with our British counterparts and doing all we can to ensure that the UK remains in the European Union. The Taoiseach spoke on this issue last week in the House. For my part and that of my Department,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I engage as much as possible with all Ambassadors accredited to Ireland as they represent vital lines of communication to their governments and are the key source of information for their countries on developments in Ireland. Members of the Government, Ministers of State, officials from my department and indeed all government departments and agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I engage as much as possible with all Ambassadors accredited to Ireland as they represent vital lines of communication to their governments and are the key source of information for their countries on developments in Ireland. Members of the government, Ministers of State, officials from my department and indeed all government departments and agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: An EU-wide ban on products from Israeli settlements is not under consideration, and it is clear that there would at present be no support from member states for such a proposal. The EU is preparing guidelines to prevent settlement products from being misleadingly labelled as coming from Israel, and I hope that these will issue in the near future. Settlement products also cannot benefit from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 619 together. Ireland is a longstanding supporter of the Palestinian people and we currently provide an average of €10 million per year in development and humanitarian assistance. During my visit to Gaza earlier this year, I saw first-hand the devastating humanitarian consequences of last year’s conflict, and the particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (6 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 620 to 623, inclusive, together. Ireland fully supports the removal of the terrorist threat posed by the ISIS group, consistent with international law. Airstrikes have been conducted against ISIS in Iraq and Syria for a number of months. It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Today is the final day of my five-day visit to the United States, with my programme including US-specific contacts as well as engagements related to the United Nations General Assembly. Contacts with US authorities throughout the visit have been extensive. As part of my UN programme, I participated at a number of engagements and discussions hosted by President Obama and had an opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: From this month there will be no vacancies at Ambassadorial level. Ambassadors appointed to Cairo, Ljubljana and Lusaka are currently in the process of assuming duty. The Head of Mission post in Cairo, Egypt has been vacant since the end of April. The Ambassador designate to Egypt, Mr. Damien Cole, has already made a number of visits to Cairo and an initial round of calls. He will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Prison issues in Northern Ireland, in particular those affecting prisoners in separated accommodation, regularly feature in my discussions with Northern Ireland Minister of Justice, David Ford, MLA, and, on non-devolved matters, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, MP. In those contacts and those of my officials with officials from the Northern Ireland...

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

Charles Flanagan: The position of the Irish Government is that arrangements for the governance of any EU Member State are a matter for determination by the Member State concerned. Hence, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on such matters in any particular Member State of the European Union.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have expressed for some time my concern about the growing recourse to the use of live ammunition by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, and the steady toll of Palestinian fatalities resulting from this. I have raised this point at EU level, and we have also made it directly to the Israeli authorities and will continue to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Sustainable Development Goals (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The 17 Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of the new development framework adopted by global leaders at last weekend’s UN Summit in New York. The Summit saw the largest number of heads of state and government in the history of the UN gather to adopt the new framework, the 2030 Agenda, which will guide the actions of all countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (1 Oct 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy for international development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and reaffirms our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) on Official Development Assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (29 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Agreement of the Stormont House Agreement on 23 December 2014 marked a watershed moment for dealing with the legacy of the past. The new institutions as agreed by the Stormont House Agreement provide for different ways of dealing with the past. The new Historical Investigations Unit provides for police investigation and, where there is an evidential basis, the prospect of justice. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (29 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Australian citizens do not require a visa to enter Ireland. The working holiday arrangement is not based on a visa, but on a Working Holiday Authorisation. The current Working Holiday Authorisation is activated by arrival of the holder in Ireland. The holder is subject to normal border immigration controls upon arrival. Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves for at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft OperationsUndefined (29 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This overflight took place under blanket permission which is granted for overflights by unarmed US military aircraft. The US Embassy provides my Department with post hoc monthly statistical returns on the total number of overflights by unarmed military aircraft. The figure of 13 relates to the total number of overflights by transport, passenger and refuelling aircraft and not to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (29 Sep 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Any decision on the possible establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria is a matter which falls to the UN Security Council. Ireland has consistently supported greater engagement by the Security Council on tackling the crisis in Syria and co-sponsored a recent resolution on referral of the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court earlier this year. Regrettably, the Security Council...