Results 16,481-16,500 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I fully support this family’s call for an independent international investigation into the killing of the individual and have raised this issue on a regular basis with the Bolivian authorities. Officials from my Department maintain regular and ongoing contact with the family to provide them with every consular support and assistance. In addition, diplomats from our Embassy in Buenos...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Armenian Genocide (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 510 together. I have set out the Government’s approach in some detail in a series of recent replies. In particular, I would recall that the sympathy of the Irish people for the dreadful suffering of Armenians was conveyed by President Higgins to President Sargsyan of Armenia on the occasion of the centenary commemoration event in Yerevan,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Refusals (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Passports Act, 2008 (the Act) provides, among other things, that only Irish citizens are entitled to be issued with Irish passports. Each application received by the Passport Service must, therefore, contain relevant evidence that demonstrates that person’s entitlement to Irish citizenship before a passport can issue to him/her. The child in question was born in the State in 2012....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This KC 135 aircraft made an unscheduled landing at Shannon Airport on 11 June 2015. The Shannon Airport Authority confirmed that the landing arose as a result of a technical diversion. My Department has been advised that the aircraft diverted to the airport due to a problem with the cabin pressure and remained at the airport while repairs were made and safety checks performed.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Refusals (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Passports Act, 2008 provides, among other things, that only Irish citizens are entitled to be issued with Irish passports. Therefore for the person in question to be issued an Irish passport she must first become an Irish citizen. Citizenship is a matter for the Minister of Justice Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The appalling events at Srebrenica in 1995 have been recognised as genocide by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. This has been widely accepted by the international community. Ireland has, in the past, joined with our EU partners to condemn any attempts to minimise or deny the genocide which took place at Srebrenica. As we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together. My Department has received no funding from the National Lottery Fund during each of the past six calendar years to date in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (23 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: These passport applications were received in Embassy Pretoria in March 2015. Insufficient documentation was submitted at this time. The required documentation has recently been received and passports should issue in the coming week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the Chairman's words of condolence, sympathy and support at this very difficult time for this country, but in particular for those families bereaved and affected by the tragedy in Berkeley, California. We would be happy to keep the Chairman and committee fully updated and informed on this issue. I thank the committee for inviting me to discuss the role of the Department of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The nub of the argument is a distinction between a policy of military neutrality as opposed to one of political neutrality. In the strict sense of international law and practice, the question of neutrality does not really arise during peacetime but only arises during a state of war or conflict when the neutrality of the state would be embodied in any attitude of impartiality or otherwise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I want to make two points, the first of which is a reiteration of a point I made earlier. I ask committee members to appreciate the clear distinction between civil and military aircraft. In his earlier contribution, Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about military aircraft. When he referred in his supplementary contribution to certain arms on board airplanes, he was speaking specifically...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Yes, there are times-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport would be fully aware of these arrangements as they occur from time to time. The second point I would like to make is in response to the Senator's comments about the benefits to Shannon Airport of this activity. I am casting aside for the moment the very important difference between the exercise of our military neutrality and the exercise of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. Again, it is important that we retain a clear distinction between military overflights and landings, on the one hand, and civilian landings that may have military personnel, on the other hand. In terms of the military overflights, which was the exact question, the numbers are falling. The number of requests in 2013 was 50% below the total for ten years...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Chairman referred to civil aircraft. Again, I emphasise that a decision to authorise or refuse applications for exemptions in this matter is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. He has had the opportunity of coming before the committee and I understand there was considerable engagement on these issues. It is important to state, as I have done but I will say it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am anxious to deal with those questions but I am in the hands of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I would have difficulty addressing these hypothetical circumstances. However, perhaps they are not hypothetical and the Chairman has some evidence he wishes to proffer of activity of this type. I am here to deal with the issue of transit through Shannon Airport by way of overflight or landing of either military or civilian aircraft. It would not be fair for me to comment to the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Shannon Airport Landings: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I acknowledge the remarks of Deputy Mulherin, all of which are important in the context of our international affairs. We play a very important role with regard to conflict, for example, the continued and internationally respected participation by Irish personnel in UN peacekeeping, including in the Golan Heights at present with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. We have given 50...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: No one who is prepared to deal in any objective way with the facts can be in any doubt about the seriousness and gravity of collusion and the content of that programme and others mentioned by Deputy Smith. I do not dispute anything that has been said by Deputy Smith or Deputy Adams about this issue. The wounds inflicted by collusion, which threaten to destroy trust in the state's most...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This week's RTE documentary, which I watched, presented a shocking account of allegations of collusion that spanned over three decades. In the first instance, my thoughts are with the families and relatives of those who were murdered in these events and for whom the documentary must have been deeply upsetting. The hurt caused by their loved ones being murdered in such vicious circumstances...