Results 17,501-17,520 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The estimates process for Budget 2015 is now in its finals stages. As with allocations to all Government Departments, Budget 2015 allocations for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Group will be framed in the context of our policy commitments and the overall budgetary circumstances we face. The final 2015 Budget allocation, which is ultimately a decision for Government, will be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Shannon Airport Authority has confirmed that no aircraft matching this description landed at Shannon airport on 1 October 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Reconciliation Fund awards support to projects that contribute to reconciliation through education, dialogue, culture and commemoration; promote tolerance and respect; challenge stereotypes of one’s own and other communities/identities, and develop and strengthen meaningful cross-border links. All projects are assessed in terms of their potential to meet the objectives of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: It is not Ireland’s practice to support motions of the kind referred to by the Deputy as we see them as a form of censorship of discussion and debate which are essential to the functioning of the bodies of the United Nations and other international organisations. Ireland has frequently condemned the use of such motions by other States and in the case of the Human Rights Council we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 over eastern Ukraine on 17 July, which resulted in the tragic loss of 298 innocent lives, was met with universal shock and condemnation. The terrible incident was uppermost in our minds when Ministers met at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 July. We expressed our deep sadness at the tragic event and conveyed our condolences to the people and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I strongly condemn the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April. I am appalled by continuing reports of other violent attacks and I remain seriously concerned by the security situation in Nigeria. The Government has given its full support to the clear demands of the United Nations Secretary General and the High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: On the general issue of human rights in Iran, I refer the Deputy to my reply to his oral Question No. 84 (37686/14) today. In relation to sanctions, it is important to distinguish between the sanctions related to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, and those related to human rights. The sanctions related to human rights are limited and very focussed, and relate essentially to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 440 together. Following the end of the recent round of direct negotiations in April, the EU, UN and others, including the US administration, have made clear their continued support for a renewal of dialogue and negotiation, which is the only way to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement. However, there is no move under way at the moment to try to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland remains fully committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Syria. Although reaching a political resolution is a difficult challenge, it remains the best option and the only alternative to the further intensification of the military conflict. Ireland, and its international partners, are committed to working with the new UN Special Representative Mr Staffan di Mistura in his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Economic diplomacy is a central part of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and of Ireland’s network of Embassies and Consulates abroad. The promotion of Ireland’s economic interests overseas is vital to the recovery and development of the domestic economy. The Department is committed to using its full resources, at headquarters and through the Embassy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in Ukraine remains a major priority for the EU and we continue to closely monitor developments there. Member States are resolved to do all they can to help facilitate an inclusive and negotiated settlement of the current conflict, and have actively engaged in efforts to promote dialogue between all sides, including the Russian Federation, since the outset of the crisis Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Neither Ireland nor, as far as I am aware, the European Union or the United Nations maintains a list of locations in regard to the greatest human rights violations as requested by the Deputy. Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world. We do this on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: As previously indicated to this House, the Government firmly believes that addressing the legacy of the past is central to allowing Northern Ireland to make progress towards reconciliation and a cohesive society. Given the current political impasse, the British and Irish Governments have confirmed their intention to convene talks involving all of Northern Ireland’s political parties...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: There are no State Boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: I visited New York, Washington D.C. and Boston over the period from 23 September to 1 October. While there I had a wide range of meetings covering UN issues as well as bilateral and community matters. On US. immigration reform, which remains a key Government priority, I met with both Irish community groups and high level government contacts. My programme included discussions with Vice...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Issues (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: In the course of my recent visit to New York for the General Assembly of the United Nations I had the opportunity to meet the Secretary General of the Organisation, His Excellency Ban Ki Moon. The Secretary General was accompanied by senior Irish staff from the United Nations Secretariat. Among the issues we discussed were UN peacekeeping, the current conflicts in the Middle East, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government has consistently raised the issue of the need to establish an independent review into the Ballymurphy cases, both at the level of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Government issued statements expressing disappointment at the decision of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 29 April 2014 not to appoint a Hillsborough-style panel to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: A North South Consultative Forum was provided for in the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement provided further that the Northern Ireland Executive would support the establishment of an independent North/South Consultative Forum. In September 2008, the Irish Government submitted proposals for the role, format, membership and operation of a North South Consultative Forum to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland strongly condemns and attaches great importance to combating all forms of persecution or discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. Ireland consistently presses...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2014)

Charles Flanagan: The Government remains deeply concerned by instances where innocent civilians, including children, have been killed by drone attacks.A panel discussion of experts on the use of armed drones in counter-terrorism and military operations was organised by the UN Human Rights Council on 22nd September 2014. Ireland, in a statement delivered at this panel discussion, said that while armed drones...