Results 16,421-16,440 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

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

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has been a long-standing supporter of the enlargement process, believing it to be one of the most successful foreign policies of the Union. We believe that the prospect of Union membership encourages countries to work together for a more prosperous and stable future, and helps to overcome the bitter legacies of past conflicts. The European Union has Delegations to the countries of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (14 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 749 together. Following the breakdown of direct negotiations early last year, there has been no real expectation of an early resumption of talks, and the political process in the Middle East has effectively been at a standstill. The long Israeli election campaign was one factor in this hiatus, but the formation of a new Government in May has not...

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

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 746 together. There can be no complacency about the threat which ISIS and other extremists represent or about the need for urgent international action to confront this threat to us all. This requires a wide range of actions including security responses to deny ISIS the freedom to attack civilians, action by the Iraqi Government to promote...

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

Charles Flanagan: Since the elections which took place little more than a year ago, Libya has descended into conflict. This has had a catastrophic impact on the people of Libya, with the number of internally displaced persons having doubled since September 2014. Libya has been discussed by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on eight occasions since the elections which took place in 2014. The EU has repeatedly...

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

Charles Flanagan: The EU-UK issue is of real national importance and mitigating any negative impacts for Ireland is a strategic priority for this Government. We are therefore monitoring developments very closely, engaging with our British counterparts and doing all we can to help to ensure that the UK remains in the EU. For my part and that of my Department, this includes regular engagement at political level...

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

Charles Flanagan: The European Union has been deeply worried by the deteriorating political situation in Macedonia for some time, and it has been the subject of high-level meetings of the Council, most recently last month, when both the Foreign Affairs and General Affairs Councils discussed it. Ongoing political instability and dysfunction as demonstrated by the boycott of parliament by the opposition since...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (14 Jul 2015)

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

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

Charles Flanagan: The current average age of permanent staff in my Department is 46.2 years.Information on the average age of staff in my Department at the end of 2008 and 2011 is not readily available. There are no State Agencies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies' work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts; supporting trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In the past five years over 630,000 passports have been issued annually by the Passport Service. Demand is currently up 4.5% over of the same period last year, meaning we are currently on track to issue 655,000 passports this year. Queries received by the Department through the dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives are dealt with without delay. When the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Greek Referendum Result (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 251 together. The Government has noted the result of the referendum in Greece. The position of the Irish Government is that we will continue to engage in an effort to reach a successful outcome. Following the referendum, Finance Ministers of the euro area Member States (the Eurogroup) met in Brussels to take stock of developments and to try to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the tragic case in question and I deeply sympathise with the victim’s family on their loss. Without knowing the precise truth of the matter, serious questions should be asked in any responsible jurisdiction in a case where lethal force is used in such circumstances. I have expressed for some time in discussions at EU level my concern that the use of lethal force against...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: 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 underway to tackle the threat posed by ISIS and other fundamentalist...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Accident Investigations (9 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 over eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 resulted in the tragic loss of 298 innocent lives. This event was met around the world with widespread shock and condemnation. On 21 July 2014 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2166, which Ireland co-sponsored, calling for a full, thorough and independent investigation into the crash in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (8 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As always, I welcome this opportunity to address the committee on recent developments at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels and Luxembourg. My statement will focus on meetings held in April, May and June, along with the joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and Justice and Home Affairs Council, which was held in April. As the Chairman said, I will look ahead to the Council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (8 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As the Chairman is aware, this consular case is a matter that continues to be treated with the utmost priority by me, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and by officials in my Department. As the committee will be aware, from previous briefings and recent correspondence, we have a very clear strategy in place which is focused on achieving a positive outcome within the earliest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (8 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank members for their comments and questions, the particulars of which I will endeavour to address. I might not address them in the particular order in which they were put to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (8 Jul 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I might not address the questions in the order in which they were put to me on the basis that there is an element of duplication. I would like to regionalise the questions or address them under the various headings. I thank Deputy Smith for his comments, especially his comments on the recent atrocity in Tunisia, with particular reference to the work of our consular team. It is an important...