Results 17,181-17,200 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians. Ireland attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has a strong track record in addressing gender equality through its foreign policy and development cooperation programme, and remains fully committed to combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2013-2015, Ireland has prioritised efforts to combat all forms of discrimination and promote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently no EU Directives remaining to be implemented within my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together. No bills have been initiated by my Department since September 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 748 to 750, inclusive, together. No secondments have taken place between my Department and any external private firm during the period in question. To date, the usual secondment arrangements in my Department have involved staff coming from or going to other Departments and State Agencies such as the IDA. However, as I announced at this week’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: It is envisaged that an Assistant Principal Officer competition, combining both open and interdepartmental elements, will take place in quarter one 2015. This competition will be organised by the Public Appointments Service. It is expected that a First Secretary element will be accommodated within this competition. Prospective applicants can request to be alerted when the competition is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: My Department intends to publish the annual report in early 2015. It was not possible to finalise the 2013 report by the original intended publication date of October 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together. I have consistently highlighted the Government’s 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Following the admission of Palestine to sit in the UN General Assembly as an Observer State, Palestine is now eligible to become a party to the Rome Statute. Ireland is, of course, a very strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and has always supported and encouraged universal adherence to the Rome Statute. The main consideration for any state in acceding to the Statute should...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Airports (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I can confirm that US military aircraft have been granted permission to use the landing facilities at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Records of landings at the Aerodrome are held by the Air Corps but statistics for the period in question by year and type of aircraft are not readily available. Information is currently being sourced through the Department of Defence and will be provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Programme for Government states that the Government will enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law. Ireland does not tolerate and will not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised detention of any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Syria and Iraq were the main focus of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 December, which was attended by my colleague Minister of State Dara Murphy. In relation to Ukraine, the Council confirmed its agreement to strengthen EU restrictive measures in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The details of the proposed measures are being finalised at official...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I met with the British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, during his visit to Dublin on 16 December. We discussed a number of issues, including the matter of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.The Government’s fundamental position on this is unequivocal: we want the United Kingdom to remain a full, integral member of the EU. This is very much in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Legacy issues (parades, flags and identity issues, and dealing with the past) as well as budgetary and financial issues, institutional reform and, outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements, have been the subject of the ongoing political talks in Belfast first convened by the British and Irish Governments on 16 October. Since then, in excess of 90 meetings have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together. The protracted crisis in Syria has resulted in immense humanitarian need. More than 200,000 people have lost their lives, and there are now over 12.2 million people in need of immediate life-saving support within Syria. There are a further 3.3 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance in neighbouring countries. The revised UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The staffing information for the Trade and Promotion Division requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. It should also be noted that bilateral trade promotion is the responsibility of each geographic division and unit in my Department. Staffing resources in the Trade and Promotion Division and elsewhere in the Department have been reduced in order to comply with our Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The mission of my Department remains to promote and protect abroad the values, interests and prosperity of Ireland and its people. The vital work of restoring our international reputation, promoting our economic recovery, and the creation of jobs are at the heart of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with our embassy network playing a particularly crucial role. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I wish to confirm that the Government did not seek any redactions to the report referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. Minister of State Murphy attended the recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council was focussed on the situation in Syria, Iraq and the threat from ISIL. Ministers agreed on Council conclusions on Syria and discussed the preparation of an EU comprehensive regional strategy....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (18 Dec 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I have raised the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the question of the British Government providing access to relevant documents on a number of occasions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers. She has assured me that she would reflect afresh on what the British Government could do to respond. She confirmed to me in July that the matter was being given active...