Results 16,621-16,640 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of Ireland's foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. Ireland is currently a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and we pursue our human rights priorities in many international fora. Ireland is a firm supporter of the European Court of Human Rights and the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I do not disagree with anything Deputy Brendan Smith has said. I assure him that placing human rights at the heart of the peace process in Northern Ireland is very much an ongoing obligation and an ongoing piece of work because that has helped to ensure the full participation, trust and confidence of all communities. A shared emphasis on human rights and all that this implies is part of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The 41stanniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings took place two days ago on May 17th. The survivors of those terrible attacks, and the families of the victims, are now into the fifth decade of their search for answers. Commemorations took place last Saturday, 16thMay, at which the Government was represented by Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Anniversaries...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 23 July 2014, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva held a Special Session on the conflict in Gaza, which was then still taking place. At that session, Ireland made a statement characterising the situation as follows: "Ireland condemns both the firing of missiles from Gaza into Israel, by Hamas and other militant groups, and the killing of hundreds of civilians in military attacks by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have been deeply troubled by the worsening situation in Macedonia for some time, and the subject was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels yesterday. We are very concerned about the situation, both at the events of the weekend of 9thand 10thMay, and the wider political instability facing the country. Ministers agreed to monitor the situation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I discussed this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry in New York on Monday 27 April, outlining Ireland’s concerns on the case and expressing our disappointment that a decision on the application for bail, an application formally supported by the Irish government, had been refused along with other bail applications in this case. Our two objectives in this case remain clear:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of my reply to Question No. 8 (19497/15). The commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of Ireland's foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. Ireland is currently a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and we pursue our human rights priorities in many international fora. Ireland is a firm...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The EU has a clear and long standing position that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal, and are damaging to the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Products from these settlements therefore are severely penalised by being ineligible for the lower tariffs applicable to goods from Israel, or from Palestinian producers, or many other countries....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat to my reply to Question No. 9 (19376.15). The 41stanniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings took place two days ago on May 17th. The survivors of those terrible attacks, and the families of the victims, are now into the fifth decade of their search for answers. Commemorations took place last Saturday, 16thMay, at which the Government was represented by Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The current humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean is of great concern to Ireland, and our EU and Southern partners. Solutions must be found jointly to address a crisis on this scale and to prevent further loss of life. The EU High Representative recently visited the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York to discuss aspects of the EU's response to the crisis, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Recent months have seen Libya paralysed by intensifying conflict, with competing factions vying for political legitimacy and control of cities and infrastructure. The continuing UN brokered talks on Libya are an important development. My hope is that this dialogue process will, with the benefit of full participation by all relevant actors, soon reach agreement on a government of national...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Venezuela is a matter of concern to Ireland and to our EU partners and is monitored closely within the EU's Foreign Affairs Council. The recent steps taken by the United States are intended to impose financial and travel restrictions on seven named individuals in leadership positions in Venezuela whom the United States has identified as being involved in human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my written reply to his question of 6 May concerning the Presidential election in Kazakhstan on 26 April. My reply referred to the Statement of preliminary findings and conclusions by the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission which was deployed at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. This Statement identifies certain issues which give...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This Irish citizen’s trial, having been postponed a number of times, has commenced. The next hearing is due to take place on 3 June. At the last hearing of the trial, the citizen’s application for bail, an application formally supported by the Irish Government, was refused along with other bail applications in this case. Our two objectives in this case remain clear: firstly,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Security arrangements at Irish airports do not come under the remit of my Department. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has primary responsibility for the matter. Neither he, nor the Minister for Defence, has raised any issues in this regard with me.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Issues (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: In international efforts to find political solutions to end conflict we naturally look to the UN and the UN Security Council for leadership. In some situations of protracted conflict where Ireland has limited ability to affect real change on the ground, we focus on the humanitarian relief effort to alleviate suffering, in those areas where we can make a difference. I believe that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Sovereign Debt (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the challenges faced by a number of countries with regard to the restructuring of their sovereign debt. In the case of Argentina, where a minority of creditors have withheld their agreement to a proposed restructuring, a particularly bitter dispute has developed involving adjudication by a United States Court. We greatly regret that it has not proved possible to resolve this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As the Minister for Finance has advised the House, Greece continues to be the focus of considerable contacts among EU Finance Ministers, whose most recent meeting on the issue was held last week in Brussels. The Eurogroup statement of February 20th guides these considerations and work is ongoing. Direct bilateral trade and financial linkages between Ireland and Greece are limited. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Conventions (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support and encourage universalisation of the Convention in all multilateral fora and is deeply concerned about reports of any use of cluster munitions including recent allegations of their use in Yemen. I call upon all states, including those States who have not signed the Convention, as well as non-state actors to refrain from using these weapons. My Department is now...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (19 May 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The appalling tragedies in the Mediterranean are the result of continuing conflict and underdevelopment across the neighbouring region. Already this year more than 1,800 people are known to have drowned attempting the crossing to Europe, compared to just over 400 over the same period in 2014. It is essential that the European Union play its part in tackling this humanitarian challenge, in...