asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a group of Members of the Oireachtas are reported to have recently visited the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus; if the approval of his Department was sought for such a visit; if he approves of Members of the Oireachtas visiting that part of Cyprus which is under Turkish occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteana—Questions. Oral Answers - Deputies Visits to Cyprus.
5.
I am aware of reports that a group of Members of the Oireachtas last month visited the northern region of Cyprus, reportedly at the invitation of the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an entity which is not recognised by Ireland and the declaration of which was deemed by the UN Security Council to be legally invalid. Neither my Department not I were consulted about this visit. Had I been consulted, I would have discouraged the Members concerned from proceeding with their plans.
It has been reported that a number of Oireachtas Members from Government parties were involved in the visit to Turkish-occupied Cyprus. Can the Minister indicate whether he has made clear to members of Government parties that they are not free to travel in that area in view of the misrepresentation of the Irish position in relation to Cyprus which such visits can cause?
I am very conscious of the point the Deputy has made. I conveyed my views to many Deputies by personal letter 18 months ago when another visit was undertaken by Members of the Oireachtas. The Members involved can have been in no doubt about my attitude to North Cyprus and I very much regret that they went there. It is not within my power to forbid them to go. All I can do is indicate the undesirability of their going, but of course they are free to go. I was not consulted on this occasion nor did I know about it; but since my views must have been known to them, they chose not to take them into account.
Has the Minister made his position and that of the Irish Government known in those countries where such a visit might have most effect?
Our view about the regime in North Cyprus is well known. Certainly it is known to all our partners in the European Community and to the Cypriot Government.
These visits are being portrayed internationally as an indication that Irish Members of Parliament, including members of Government parties, are supporting, indirectly at least, this illegal occupation of Cyprus. Does the Minister not feel it necessary to make clear internationally that this is not the case and that these people are acting totally outside Government policy and against the general view of Irish people?
I have no problem in doing that. I am very glad to take this opportunity of doing it. We do not consider the North Cypriot Government to be legal. We support fully the United Nations in this regard. The danger of misrepresentation of the Government's position is very real when Members of this Oireachtas, from whatever side, accept invitations to go there. They give North Cyprus a legitimacy that it does not have in our eyes.