Results 16,521-16,540 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Requests (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table following. I also refer the Deputy to the response to Parliamentary Question 49245/14 in which my Department provided him with much of the same information as set out in the table. My Department returns annual figures on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC). However, the OIC...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 688 together. No Bills have been initiated by my Department since September 2013.

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

Charles Flanagan: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. The total amount spent in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and to 31 May 2015 on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments is as per the table following. Year Subsistence Taxi fares Reimbursed Total 2011 754,865 151,755 906,620 2012 793,643 166,775...

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

Charles Flanagan: The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and particularly where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagements, these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (16 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The annual summit of G7 countries took place in Elmau, Germany on 7-8 June. The conflict in Ukraine was among a number of important foreign policy issues which was discussed. In their summit declaration, G7 leaders expressed full support for the efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict within the framework of the Normandy format and the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine....

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

Charles Flanagan: The Passports Act, 2008 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 clearly 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 2013 to...

Topical Issue Debate: Consular Services Representations (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I will continue to keep in close contact with the members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the spokespeople of the main Opposition parties, and with Deputy Smith in particular. There have been some concerns regarding his health and the conditions in the prison. I am very mindful of those concerns. The embassy previously lodged formal requests with the appropriate...

Topical Issue Debate: Consular Services Representations (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Smith for giving me the opportunity to speak on this matter. The Taoiseach and I met Ibrahim Halawa's father and two of his sisters last week. At that meeting we were informed that Ibrahim had indicated that he was considering embarking on a hunger strike. Noting that Ibrahim's welfare was of paramount concern, I advised against this course of action, saying it would be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senator for facilitating this debate in the Seanad. As he stated, it is an important issue. The barbaric violence and culture of hatred which fuel the ISIS campaign of terror are utterly unacceptable to Ireland and the wider world and a threat to the values of freedom and human dignity which we fundamentally espouse. ISIS's actions are harmful, first and foremost, to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Yes, the United States is very much involved. There is an ongoing programme of interaction between the European Union and the United States. Only recently the High Representative, Ms Federica Mogherini, visited the United States and she has been particularly active on this issue since assuming office in November. Our position, notwithstanding the Senator's exhortation that Ireland should...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, I thank Senator Reilly for raising this matter as it provides the Minister with an opportunity to clarify the current position in regard to major capital projects for the Holy Family special school in Cootehill, County Cavan. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure Senator Reilly that the Department has an active interest in this matter and is anxious to advance the project. She is familiar with the process involved in moving from stage 2a to 2b, but she can be assured the Department is actively involved in the matter.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Heritage Plan (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Reconciling reasonable and understandable aspirations of local communities to continue the tradition of burial in or near their local historic burial ground with the need to preserve and protect the archaeological heritage is always a difficult task. On behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am pleased to have the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Heritage Plan (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a matter of life and death, as the Senator said. The Department worked closely with the local community group in Annaghdown to resolve what was a difficult and complex issue. It required the reconciliation of the aspirations of the local community with the highly important and appropriate protection of the nationally important heritage site. I am sure the local community is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Heritage Plan (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I ask the Senator to acknowledge the difficulties involved. I will be happy to facilitate further engagement after this debate to ensure the three parties - the local authority, the local community and the Department - will work closely together to try to resolve the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The twentieth Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was held at Dublin Castle on 5 June 2015. At the meeting, which was chaired by the Taoiseach, there was a discussion on the policies being implemented to support economic growth, job creation and improve living standards in both jurisdictions. The Council welcomed the discussions that have taken place across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (11 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.45 per hour within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is calculated at approximately €640,000 per annum.

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Say that outside the House.

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: It is not a lecture. Say that outside the House. It is a challenge. The Deputy will not.

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jun 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Say it on the plinth.