Results 17,301-17,320 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 117 together. This is, and will remain, a priority for the Government in our bilateral relationship with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we are working closely with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond towards achieving some relief for undocumented Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ending the conflict in Ukraine remains a key priority for the EU. The issue has been discussed by Ministers at every meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council this year, most recently on 17 November. Since the outset of the crisis, the EU has been at the forefront of efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We have strongly supported the OSCE, including through financial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the enlargement process, which is generally seen as one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives of the European Union. For Ireland, it is important to work intensively to advance the accession process with the current candidates and potential candidates. The European Council has granted Candidate Status to six countries including Turkey,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The European Union actively supports and monitors peaceful coexistence in the Western Balkans, and the perspective of EU membership is a key stabilising factor. Overcoming the legacy of recent conflicts in the region and promoting good neighbourly relations form an essential part of any candidate country’s progress along its EU path. An assessment of the contribution to regional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa continues to present a huge challenge to the international community and the international response has been the subject of detailed discussions and briefings at meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council since the most recent outbreak, as well as a host of other international meetings and cross-departmental meetings inIreland.It is clear that this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The recruitment and use of child soldiers continues to be a serious problem and a matter of grave concern to Ireland and the international community. Each year, the United Nations Secretary-General issues a report on children and armed conflict which lists all armed groups – both state and non-state – that recruit and use children. The most recent list, published in July of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 115 and 116 together. Advancing Ireland's trade, tourism, education and investment objectives, and economic diplomacy more generally, is an important aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network. My Department has responsibility for the Export Trade Council, which I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland will continue to support all international efforts, including by the EU and UN, to promote a political resolution of the current conflict in both Syria and Iraq. We will also continue to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and provide urgent assistance and support to the civilian populations within Syria and Iraq who have been displaced or suffered violations of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The question of excluding settlement products from the market has been discussed many times in the Oireachtas. Ireland is a member of a trading union, and external trade policy is a competence of the European Union. It is not therefore possible to exclude settlement products from the Irish market alone. Ireland has stated previously that it could support the exclusion of settlement products...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: While it is difficult to estimate the exact number of undocumented Irish citizens in the US, Irish immigration centres, community groups and the relevant US authorities, estimate the number at around 50,000. They are individuals who are in breach of US immigration law but have no means of regularising their status. Most have deep ties in the US, where they have been otherwise compliant with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Considerable efforts have been made in recent years, most notably the work of US Secretary of State Kerry, to work towards a lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East. But in current circumstances, with no negotiations taking place between the parties and a deteriorating situation on the ground, and in the aftermath of the disastrous conflict in Gaza earlier this year, no-one could...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Reports of the systemic mistreatment of Palestinian children in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are of deep concern and an issue on which Ireland has been active for some time. In October 2013, during the universal periodic review of Israel’s human rights record, Ireland expressed this concern and urged Israel to fully implement the recommendations of the February 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The ceasefire in Gaza which came into effect on 26 August achieved the overriding objective of bringing an end to the massive violence and loss of life caused by the fighting. Since Ireland is not privy to the terms of the ceasefire, we are not in a position to comment on the extent to which the ceasefire agreement is being fulfilled, although the general judgement is that it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The case in question has not previously been raised with my Department. The devastating humanitarian impact of the recent conflict in Gaza continues to be felt on the ground. It compounded an already serious humanitarian situation. In this bleak context, access for humanitarian workers, including doctors and health workers, is all the more important. Initial media reports had suggested...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Ministerial Council (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 396 to 404, inclusive, together. The North South Ministerial Council, NSMC, was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement to foster mutually beneficial co-operation in agreed areas on an all-island basis. My colleagues in Government and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive in the various NSMC formats to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Emigrant Support Programme, ESP, provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to encourage closer links between these communities and Ireland. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Strategy on the Diaspora (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: At the Third Global Irish Economic Forum, which took place in October 2013, it was announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would undertake a comprehensive review of our Diaspora policy to examine all elements of our engagement with the Irish abroad. That review is now underway. As part of the review a public consultation was launched and a number of individuals and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Primary responsibility for engaging with emigrant communities and the wider Diaspora falls within the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Irish Abroad Unit of the Department takes the lead role on this engagement and administers a number of schemes and programmes targeted at and supporting Irish communities abroad, including the Emigrant Support Programme. Since 2004,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 to 408, inclusive, together. Since 16 October, discussions have been ongoing in the political talks in Northern Ireland convened by the Irish and British Governments. These talks bring together the Northern Ireland Executive Parties and the two Governments, in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (25 Nov 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. The procedure for seeking permission for the landing of foreign military aircraft at Irish airports is that the Embassy of the country concerned submits a request for permission for each and every...