Charles "Charlie" Flanagan (born 1 November 1956) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency. On 11 July 2014, he was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.Flanagan was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election, succeeding his father Oliver J. Flanagan. He retained his seat at each election until losing it at the 2002 general election, but regained it at the 2007 general election.