Results 16,761-16,780 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: 2015 marks the centenary of terrible events which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. President Higgins recently expressed the sympathy of the Irish people for the enormous suffering of Armenians in that era to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The Ambassador of Ireland to Armenia, John Biggar, will represent Ireland at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Millennium Development Goals (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is co-facilitating intergovernmental negotiations at the United Nations to agree a framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015. The new sustainable development agenda should be adopted in New York in September. It will involve a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will complete the work of the MDGs on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Colombia, including human rights, workers’ rights, the ongoing peace process and the European Union's relations with Colombia, have been discussed regularly at EU level. The Foreign Affairs Council meeting that took place in Luxembourg yesterday addressed the subject of Colombia with particular emphasis on how the EU might assist. Human rights in Colombia are a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A reduced term of validity for children’s passports is necessary as children’s appearances change significantly within a short period of years, which can lead to uncertainty regarding the identity of the passport holder. This is not generally the case for adults of any age and it is the norm internationally to provide standard validity passports to all adults. Introducing an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There is little doubt that the UK’s continued membership of the European Union is hugely important for Ireland. There are a number of well-documented reasons for this, not least the key role the EU and the common market play in sustaining the strong British-Irish trading relationship. Our joint presence within the Union is also especially beneficial to the people of Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government believes that addressing the legacy of the past is essential to further progress towards reconciliation in Northern Ireland. For this reason, the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a number of important new mechanisms, including an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government wishes to acknowledge the dedicated work undertaken by Spencer Oliver in developing the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE during his tenure as Secretary General of the OSCE Parliament Assembly (PA). While supportive of many aspects of the work of the OSCE, the Parliamentary Assembly is independent of the key decision making bodies of the organisation. State governments are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Voting Rights (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Active representation in Irish civic life is of significant importance to Irish citizens overseas as evidenced by the submissions to the public consultation process undertaken to inform the Diaspora Policy. The issue of voting rights for citizens overseas was raised in a number of submissions received during this process. At the time of finalising the Diaspora Policy, two important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There has been a change in Government in Sri Lanka following the presidential election in January 2015, and I welcome the stated commitment of the new President, Maithripala Sirisena, to freedom, good governance and respect for human rights. At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels on 9 February 2015, which I attended, the Council agreed a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The practice of vigilantism in certain parts of Northern Ireland continues, notwithstanding the transformed political, social and security environment since the Good Friday Agreement. A recent RTÉ documentary ‘Above The Law’, broadcast on 23 March, and corresponding work published by investigative website The Detail, on the issue of punishment beatings, were a reminder of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Government’s objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: This is a repeat of the reply I gave to Question No. 216. The Government’s objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the steps taken by the United States last month to impose financial and travel restrictions on seven named individuals in leadership positions in Venezuela whom it states have been involved in human rights violations. I am aware also of the accompanying Executive Order signed by President Obama which provides the legal basis for the sanctions.This matter has, clearly, given rise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 545, inclusive, together. The effective and expeditious implementation of the totality of the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement is a key priority of the Government. It is important to ensure that the recent developments in relation to the Welfare Bill in Northern Ireland do not have a corrosive impact on the wider implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The effective and expeditious implementation of the Stormont House Agreement is a major focus of the Government with a view to advancing its twin aims of economic prosperity and reconciliation for Northern Ireland. The work of implementing the Agreement continues at political and official level. In accordance with the review and monitoring provisions of the Stormont House Agreement,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 154 on 25 March 2015, which was as follows: "The comments of Prime Minister Netanyahu before the recent election, in relation to the two state solution, were both disappointing and unwelcome. Such statements are particularly regrettable in the tense and inflammatory situation in the Middle East. We know from our own peace process how words of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: No, this issue has not been discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council. As I have stated in reply to other Questions, the outline agreement on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme represents a significant and very positive achievement, for which I congratulate EU High Representative Mogherini and the Foreign Ministers of all seven countries involved.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Like each of the 57 participating state governments of the OSCE, the Irish Government is represented on the key decision making bodies which are based in Vienna. These are the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-Operation, both of which are accountable to the Ministerial Council. While complementary to the work of these Vienna-based OSCE bodies, the Parliamentary Assembly is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Our objectives in this case are clear. Firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland, and secondly to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by me and my officials in this case has been to further these...