Results 16,501-16,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: An application for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration on behalf of the person (details supplied) was received by the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa on 23 April 2015. The Embassy is currently processing applications received in January. The application has been examined and certain required documentation has not been submitted. The Embassy will advise the applicant regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of allegations of human rights violations in Sri Lanka in 2009.At the UN Human Rights Council session in March 2014 Ireland voted in favour of a resolution promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. One aspect of that resolution was a request for an investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged serious violations and abuses of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (17 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Recognition of states is a matter for the national governments of the Member States. Debate continues in the EU, the UN and elsewhere of how best to try to restart and advance the political process to achieve a two state solution, but both the international situation and the domestic position of the parties make this very difficult at present. Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 666 and 667 together. I am aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. As is often the case in these matters, however, it has not proved possible to establish the full facts in every instance. The promotion and protection of human rights is a core principle of Ireland's foreign policy and we have prioritised the protection of trades unionists, human...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I have not met with the named individual nor have I met with senior executives of his media companies.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This matter was under investigation by the Department of Justice since June 2014. On 11 June 2015 the Passport Office received information from the Department of Justice that its investigation has been completed. Therefore, this passport application will now be progressed without delay.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: An Post is responsible for the details of its services on its website. Of course An Post is a strategic partner of my Department with regard to the delivery of passport express services and for this reason its website links to the Departments website for performance reports on actual turnaround periods. Currently the turnaround time for Passport Express is on average 10 working days for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Average turnaround passport express 2015 Month Working Days January 12 February 11 March 10 April 10 May 11

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Almost 50% of passport applications are received in the months April to July. We are almost two thirds of the way through this extreme spike in passport applications and average turnaround times for passport express have remained at 10 or 11 days. Additionally at this time of year approximately 250 customers are seen daily by appointment at our public counters in Dublin and Cork and receive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy's question refers to a recent incident widely reported in the media that took place on Friday 5June in McKinney, Texas. I note that the incident is currently being investigated by local US authorities and that the police officer in question has since resigned from his position. Given that the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the media reports.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Statistics (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not have this data. Data from the Central Statistics Office’s Household Travel Surveys of 2013 and 2014 show that the number of outbound trips to the Asia were 127,000 in 2013 and 165,000 in 2014 (figures are rounded to the nearest thousand).

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Belgian guidelines which were introduced in July 2014 do not include a mandatory requirement for labeling of settlement goods. As in the case of the earlier UK and Danish guidelines, they provide that labeling where it appears must be accurate, including in relation to settlements. I support the proper labeling of settlement goods, and I hope to see guidelines introduced at EU level, for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Staff (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Locally engaged staff at our embassies and consulates general provide valuable support to these missions in promoting Ireland’s interests in the countries where they are accredited. As we operate in almost 80 jurisdictions, it is not feasible nor, in many cases legal, to operate a standard Irish contract. In line with best international practice, our locally engaged staff are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Missions (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In the wake of tragic loss of life in the Mediterranean, the European Council in April agreed that the immediate priority is to prevent more people from dying at sea. It undertook to use all tools at the EU’s disposal and to work with countries of origin and transit of migrants to tackle the root causes of the current human emergency. Ireland strongly supports this comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A total of 24 officers are currently availing of the Career break scheme in my Department. Details of these officers are set out in the following table: Number of staff Grade Duration of career break 0 - 0 – 6 months 1 1 Counsellor Clerical Officer 6 – 12 months 1 1 3 1 Principal Officer Development Specialist Third Secretary Clerical Officer Up to 2 years 1 1...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular, for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Events such as the visit of the President of Mozambique, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A table containing the information requested follows. My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since my entry into office in July 2014. The expenditure in question has rather arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 684 together. While my Department makes use of external IT service providers for various support and maintenance requirements for its data and communications networks, it has not engaged or re-negotiated contracts with any IT consultants since March 2011. In 2010 and 2011, the Department engaged consultants for the purpose of providing infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Parliamentary Questions (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 682 and 683 together. In my Department, answering parliamentary questions is a high priority. In 2014, my Department answered 1304 such questions. In that year, a Departmental notice issued to all staff on the procedures to be followed in dealing with parliamentary questions. The notice served also to re-emphasise to all officers the right of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State boards under the aegis of my Department.