Results 16,581-16,600 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following on from the resolutions passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas last year, I am continuing to reflect actively and carefully on what early recognition of Palestine could mean for Palestine, for the peace process and for Ireland’s influence on this critical issue. Discussions with other EU Foreign Ministers, which took place in Brussels on 18 May and will continue next...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council and the United States of America have cooperated on strategic and security matters for many years. This is a matter for those countries.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Irish Government continues to follow closely the situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar/Burma. We have also been following closely the case of vulnerable migrants, including members of the Rohingya community that have been stranded at sea in the Bay of Bengal and off the coast of South East Asia. Many migrants have landed in Malaysia and Indonesia in recent months including into the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: An intensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions is a key commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. Early each year, I agree the annual programme of Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led overseas trade missions and events with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, based on the proposals submitted by Enterprise Ireland and focused on the priority markets of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am deeply concerned about the use of mass trials and passage of mass capital sentences in Egypt. Ireland is a long-standing opponent the use of the death penalty in all cases and in all circumstances. The death penalty is cruel and inhumane and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Reform (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is an active participant in the ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council reform and we are always interested in hearing the views of other UN Member States, such as China, on this issue. The world has changed a great deal in the 70 years since the UN’s foundation, and we recognise that UN structures must change to reflect this. We believe that the Security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Human rights issues were discussed during the visit of Premier Li and his officials. We had a good discussion, in a spirit of friendship, in which we recalled Ireland’s commitment to human rights, the public concern in Ireland relation to human rights in China and the issues on which we respectfully disagree. We warmly welcomed the resumption of the EU-China human rights dialogue last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on 18 May. At the Council, Foreign Ministers addressed the Middle East Peace Process. This was the first meeting of EU Foreign Ministers since the formation of the Israeli government, and in the run up to the meeting I had urged High Representative (HR) Mogherini to include the Peace Process on the Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Chinese Premier, Mr Li Keqiang paid a brief visit to Ireland on 17-18 May. Premier Li is the second most senior figure in China’s political hierarchy. This was the first visit to Ireland by Premier Li. He was accompanied by his wife, Professor Cheng Hong, as well as a 119-strong delegation, which included Mr Wang Yi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Other senior Chinese Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Irish citizens may seek consular assistance and support through an Irish Embassy or Consulate when travelling or residing overseas. The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963) facilitates the exercise of our consular functions. Under the convention, Irish Consular posts have certain rights of communication with our citizens abroad and host governments are obliged to share certain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy on recruitment of staff in 2014 is set out in the table below. Recruitment in 2014 Grade No of officers recruited Chief Financial Officer 1 Development Specialist 3 Third Secretary 29 My Department engages Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) on fixed term contracts primarily to assist the Passport Service during the annual peak passport demand...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Redeployment (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of Civil Servants on secondment in 2014 from my Department is set out in the table below. Department /Organisation Number of officers Department of Finance 2 Department of the Taoiseach 9 Oireachtas 1 European External Action Service (EEAS) 6 International Atomic Energy Agency 1 United Nations 3 European Parliament 1 European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Retirements (26 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Details of the Civil Servants who retired from my Department are set out in the table below. Retirements in 2014 Grade Number of officers in that grade Second Secretary 1 Assistant Secretary 4 Counsellor / Principal Officer 6 Senior Development Specialist 1 Architect 1 First Secretary / Assistant Principal 2 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 5.9 ** FTE – full time equivalent

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Cowen is telling them that.

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Cowen was near enough.

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The earthquakes in Nepal on 25 April and 12 May had horrific humanitarian consequences for the region. Irish Aid, working with Irish non-governmental organisations, NGOs, is fully committed to making a contribution to the response and we are working closely with the European Union and United Nations. The European Commission allocated €22.6 million in assistance to the Government of...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I assure Deputy Durkan that the Government of Nepal is leading the response efforts and has declared a state of emergency across the affected districts. The United Nations resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Nepal is co-ordinating international assistance on the ground in support of the country's Government. While it has been reported that much aid has not yet been delivered, I...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As Deputy Durkan will be aware, this is a challenging and difficult issue. The terrain is extremely difficult, damage is widespread and the priority is to ensure power, water and transport are available. The United Nations has issued an appeal for $423 million in support of the efforts of the Government of Nepal to address the most critical needs of shelter, sanitation and water, emergency...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Last November, President Obama announced his long-promised executive action on US immigration policy but in February of this year an injunction was granted by a federal judge in Texas. This forced the Department of Homeland Security to halt the roll-out of the expanded direct admission of students abroad, DASA, programme and the new deferred action to parents of Americans and lawful...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I do not have a date in respect of this court hearing. Should I get any information, I will be happy to report that to the Deputy. It would not be wise of me to speculate on a likely hearing date for a court action. The Deputy is correct that, the court case notwithstanding, it is important that we continue to ensure we raise these issues with our US counterparts as often as possible. I...