Results 16,341-16,360 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Other Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I very much reject any assertion that Ireland, its Minister for Finance in particular, or anybody else for or on behalf of this country engaged in the type of behaviour alleged by Deputy Paul Murphy. The agreement is far from humiliating Greece or its people. It is about an attempt to rebuild trust between the Government of Greece on behalf of the people of Greece and the euro state...

Other Questions: Eurozone Crisis (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept that Ireland has been placed in the position alleged by the Deputy. Ireland continues to have great sympathy for the people of Greece. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, has expressed that view publicly on several occasions over the past few weeks, which have been a very challenging period. It has been reported directly that the Minister had been most helpful to the...

Other Questions: Eurozone Crisis (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I do not accept that at all. The agreement concerns the matter of fundamentally rebuilding trust between the authorities in Greece and the 18 other member states of the euro area. In this regard, I urge the Greek authorities to keep their commitments and to legislate without delay - as I understand they are doing - on the first set of trust-building measures. I believe it is important that...

Other Questions: Eurozone Crisis (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: To address the question as tabled by the Deputy, I have not spoken to the Minister, Mr. Kotzias, since the referendum was held in Greece on 5 July. The Deputy and the House will be aware that, following the referendum, Finance Ministers of the euro area member states and Heads of State or Government have met on numerous occasions. The leaders have agreed in principle that they are ready to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure the Deputy that we are keeping a very close eye on the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka. We are very concerned at some of the instances of violence that persist. We are ensuring that not only we but also our colleagues in the European Union play a most active role in assisting in the very challenging and difficult situation that persists. As well as Ireland’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: An EU-Sri Lanka joint commission took place in Colombo on 2 April of this year. The joint commission, which oversees the EU-Sri Lanka co-operation agreement on partnership and development that has been in place for 20 years, deals with a broad range of bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Ireland and other member states received a request in June from the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka, which ended in 2009, caused the internal displacement of tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many of whom are members of the Tamil population. This remains an issue to the present day. There has been a change in government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election in January 2015, and I welcome the stated commitments by the new President to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I, too, had an opportunity to watch the most recent television programmes dealing with the subject of collusion. It remains a matter of public record that collusion occurred between British state forces and paramilitaries during the course of the Troubles. In our ongoing bilateral relations and through the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, we have raised with the British...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I agree with Deputy Smith that the important issue currently is to ensure the full implementation of all aspects of the Stormont House Agreement. I mentioned in response to Deputy Ó Snodaigh that there are urgent and challenging issues relating to finance. There is a small window of opportunity in the course of the next few weeks which will provide the five party leaders and their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I share the concern expressed by Deputy Smith and others about the incidents of violence last night on the streets of Belfast. I believe it is important that the rule of law obtain and I am pleased to report this morning that a number of arrests have been made, charges have been laid and those people will be brought before the courts at the earliest opportunity. It is important we all use...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is in everybody's interest to advance matters. I invite the Deputy to agree with me that the recommendations made in the Stocktake report represent the way forward. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has accepted the recommendation made in the report that forum meetings take place at least once every two months with an agreed agenda. If there is an agreed agenda, the types of issue or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: If there is any perceived delay in the implementation of the recommendations made in the Stocktake report, it is important that the issues be addressed. The report, produced by the independent assessment team, was transmitted to Minister Ford and representatives of the prison late last year. It clearly addresses a number of grievances and issues on which progress should be made. It has not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 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 my contacts, I emphasise the importance of building trust between separated prisoners and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In all my contacts with the Northern Ireland parties over recent months, I have underlined, and will continue to underline, the importance of finding workable solutions to the crucial issues, with particular reference, as stated by the Deputy, to budgetary and welfare issues. I point to the Stormont House Agreement as having the potential to benefit Northern Ireland across a wide range of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement remains a priority of the Government and continues to be a key focus in contacts with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, discussed implementation of the Agreement at their meeting in London on 18 June, underlining the collective benefit of full implementation....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that the Agreement also provides for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider whether devolution of other fiscal powers, including the aggregates levy, stamp duty and the landfill tax, would result in a clear economic or social benefit for Northern Ireland. The recently published Stormont House implementation progress report notes that the options have been prepared...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Smith makes an important point in respect of registration. In addition to publishing travel advice and ensuring the travel advice is constantly under review and updated in accordance with the information received and the circumstances on the ground, we operate a citizen registration facility which allows Irish citizens to register their contact details with the Department of Foreign...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In Tunisia and a number of destinations where Irish citizens travel, we do not have a resident full-time ambassadorial presence. In that regard, we rely significantly on our good relations with neighbour states, in particular, EU states. There is a positive and active relationship to ensure we have assistance on the ground in the first instance but also that we have the appropriate...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: International Terrorism (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: We have all been deeply shocked and saddened by the recent event at Sousse in Tunisia, where three Irish citizens lost their lives in this terrible atrocity. I condemn unreservedly these terrorist attacks and other recent attacks elsewhere. I take this opportunity to again convey my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the families of the three Irish citizens who lost their lives...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The fact that collusion occurred during the Troubles between British State forces and paramilitaries is a matter of public record. Successive Irish Governments, in our ongoing bilateral relations and through the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg, have raised the issue of collusion with the British Government. We continue to do so, including in relation to a number of...