Results 16,401-16,420 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 719, inclusive, together. The full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement remains a priority of this Government and continues to be a key focus in contacts with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the British Government. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron discussed implementation of the Agreement at their meeting in London on 18...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together. It is a matter of public record that collusion occurred during the Troubles between British State forces and paramilitaries. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US remains a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely on this agenda with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. The aim of these contacts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Postcode System Implementation (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department’s Passport Service communicates with a significant number of our citizens each year. As such, we have considered this area in particular detail as we review areas of our work where the new Eircode rollout may require changes to our systems. We continue to review our systems to assess how we can support the implementation of Eircode and how we can maximize the benefits of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This week’s Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa is the first of three major inter-linked global conferences on sustainable development this year. The others will be on a new framework for global development at the UN in New York in September and on a new climate change agreement in Paris in December. Taken together, they aim to deliver a new and transformative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On the twentieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, one of the most appalling atrocities ever to take place in Europe, we remember the more than 8,000 victims of this terrible massacre and our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones. The principal commemoration took place in Srebrenica on 11 July and Ireland was represented by Ambassador Pat Kelly, who is accredited to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (14 Jul 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 on 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) in Official Development Assistance...

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

Charles Flanagan: Prison issues in Northern Ireland, in particular those which affect prisoners in separated accommodation, regularly feature in my discussions with Northern Ireland Minister for 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...

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

Charles Flanagan: The promotion and protection of human rights is a central objective of Ireland’s foreign policy. In the Government’s recent review of foreign policy, The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, we re-affirmed our commitment to the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights, to accountability for human rights violations and...

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

Charles Flanagan: I share the Deputy’s serious ongoing concern about this case. My concern is both about the conviction of this individual for activities which would be widely regarded here as the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression, and about the nature of the sentence, which included corporal punishment. Concerns about this case have been raised by the European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The arson attack on Newtowncunningham Orange Hall in September 2014 was a despicable act and one that I strongly condemned. On 22nd November 2014, I met with members of Newtowncunningham Orange Lodge to hear first-hand the impact the attack, and the loss of the Hall, has had on their lives. During that meeting, I asked the members of the Lodge to keep my officials updated on developments in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: War Crimes (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, one of the most appalling atrocities ever to take place in Europe, we remember the more than 8,000 victims of this terrible massacre and our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones. We in Ireland have long been supporters of Bosnia, including on its path to European accession, and the Bosnian community in Ireland, many of...

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

Charles Flanagan: The rights of minority groups, including the Circassian community in Syria, as well as minorities in Iraq, are of major concern to the Government. Officials from my Department have met with representatives from a number of religious and ethnic minorities since the start of the Syrian conflict. Concerns for the well-being of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as women and members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North-South cooperation, Mr. Seán Sherlock, T.D., together with the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Justice and Equality, last week visited Malta and met with the crew of the Naval Service patrol ship LÉ Eithne. The purpose of the visit was to recognise the important, ground-breaking, humanitarian work the crew...

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

Charles Flanagan: The promotion and protection of human rights is a central objective of Ireland’s foreign policy. In the Government’s recent review of foreign policy, The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, we re-affirmed our commitment to the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights, to accountability for human rights violations and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The core objective of Ireland’s humanitarian assistance is to save and protect lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity, before, during and in the aftermath of humanitarian crises, including in regions affected by conflict. Ireland's humanitarian response is underpinned a strong commitment to the humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality, impartiality and...

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

Charles Flanagan: The crisis from which the eurozone is now emerging has impacted significantly on citizens across the EU. In that context, it is unsurprising that public confidence in the EU should have fallen. This, of course, is a concern for those who support the European project and something which, alongside the Governments of fellow EU Member States and the leaders of the EU institutions, we are working...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 June, Ministers approved the roll-over of existing EU sanctions against Russia for a further six months to the end of January 2016. This was in line with the decision of the March European Council to link the duration of the EU sanctions to the complete implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Restrictive measures taken in response to the illegal annexation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Conflict Resolution (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A dedicated unit in the Political Division of my Department has responsibility for Ireland’s efforts to resolve and prevent conflict. This Conflict Resolution Unit works closely with our Permanent Missions to the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe as well as with the relevant departments of those bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 741 and 742 together. The advancement of Ireland’s trade, tourism, investment and education promotion objectives is a central aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we...