Results 16,901-16,920 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I approach prison issues in the North with great seriousness and am very conscious of the increase in tensions in Roe House, Maghaberry Prison over recent weeks. I have discussed these issues with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with a member of the Independent Assessment Team, which undertook the stock take of the August 2010 agreement between prisoners and the Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I remain deeply concerned at this individual’s continued detention as well as the recent further postponement of his trial. I am not in a position to predict the timing of developments in this case that are dependent on decisions of the Egyptian authorities. However, I would like to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (3 Mar 2015)

Charles Flanagan: My Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Vote 27 - International Cooperation. No payments have been made to the firms listed in the Deputy’s question by my Department from 2011 to 2014 nor is my Department contracted to use these firms. There are no agencies or State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: If there are people, including the Deputy and the Deputy by her side, who have evidence, I ask that it be transmitted directly to the appropriate authorities. I believe there is a scheme of regulations and conditions involved that are transparent. I reiterate that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport bears primary responsibility for the regulation of civil aircraft. My Department...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There has been an increase in tensions in the prison in recent weeks. This is due in part to the issuing of threats by prisoners against Northern Ireland Prison Service officials in a context where a serving prison officer, David Black, was murdered by dissidents in November 2012. It is also related to recent construction work in Roe House intended to increase the space available to...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Northern Ireland Prison Service has accepted the recommendation of the stock take report that forum meetings take place at least every two months with an agreed agenda in advance. I acknowledge there have been some difficulties in achieving agreement on a mutually accepted share of the prisoners' forum but I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that it is essential that prisoners engage...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I accept the continued expansion and development of Israeli settlements constitute a major barrier to peace in the region. Last week I had the opportunity to visit an area in the Palestinian territory adjacent to land that has been marked out for further settlement. I had the opportunity to engage with local public representatives in that regard. Settlements and their related policies...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: When I visited the region last week it brought home to me in a very practical and visible way the impacts of the settlements on the daily lives of the people in the region and also the impact on the prospects for future negotiations and peace. I share what the Deputy has said. It is very clear that only the ending of the occupation will resolve the issue of the settlements and other...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: As I have outlined in previous replies, responsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft is determined by whether such aircraft are designated as civil or military aircraft. The regulation of civil aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Chicago Convention, which came into force on 4 April 1947. Ireland's rights and obligations under the...

Other Questions: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of issues before the court, as indeed is the Deputy. She will be aware of the current regulations in respect of the inspection of civil aircraft. In that regard the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport bears responsibility. Authorised officers of the Irish Aviation Authority have the power to inspect all civil aircraft in Ireland for the purposes of ensuring full compliance...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I stress that Ireland is one of a number of states which continue to pursue a policy of neutrality or non-alignment in times of peace. It is a matter for each of these states, including Ireland, to determine the nature and characteristics of its policies. Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, which has been pursued by successive Governments, is characterised by our...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: On 27 January 2015, Nikos Kotzias was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece. I have held no formal meeting with the Minister since his appointment. I spoke briefly to him on the margins of the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 29 January, when I wished him well in his new and challenging role. I look forward to working closely and constructively...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be aware that this is a matter primarily for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, who has been actively engaged, along with his European colleagues, in dealing with the current situation in Greece. I confirm that there is solidarity in Europe, and indeed in Ireland, in terms of assisting the Greek Government and its people, and this was shown by the Eurogroup...

Other Questions: International Relations (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I believe the most appropriate fora for engagement and negotiation are the meetings of the EU finance Ministers, ECOFIN. This was where Ireland was successful in achieving savings in the past through negotiations such as the extension of maturities, the deal on the promissory notes and, most recently, the early repayment of loans to the International Monetary Fund. Like all member states,...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I have consistently highlighted the Government’s deep concern at the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, which are actively undermining the prospects for a comprehensive peace agreement to end the conflict. I have publicly condemned recent Israeli Government announcements of further settlement expansion and called for these decisions to be reversed. I repeated these concerns...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Both groups have received a significant amount of financial support, the purpose of which is to acknowledge the important work they do, including in the context of dealing with the legacy of the past. Between 2003 and 2008, Justice for the Forgotten received just over €1.2 million from the Remembrance Commission, through the Department of Justice and Equality, in respect of...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The fall of the Gadaffi regime in 2011, which followed NATO intervention, was welcomed by my predecessor. It was clear at the time that building a democratic future for the people of Libya from the ashes of the Gadaffi dictatorship would be a difficult task. The optimism and expectations of a better future for Libya, which then prevailed, have not yet been realised. A more recent false...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy will be familiar with the wording of UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorised all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat and attack in Libya, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory. I acknowledge that the situation in Libya is completely unacceptable. The European Union is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The important aspect with regard to the establishment of new bodies and forums of whatever shape is that they be balanced and that there be cross-community representation. As a result of our deliberations prior to signing the historical Stormont House Agreement, I am satisfied with regard to any new bodies that are established. I agree with Deputy Smith that the timeframes are very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Feb 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I accept the importance for victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland conflict, including those in this jurisdiction, as referenced by Deputy Smith, of the fact that the Stormont House Agreement provides for a new and comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the past. In the agreement, the two Governments recognised that there are outstanding investigations into allegations...