Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Italian Foreign Minister in relation to the threats posed to Europe from the Islamic State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/15]
View answerMy Italian colleague was referring to the crisis in Libya which is a cause of grave and ongoing concern for the European Union, its member states, and the international community. I condemned the horrific murders of 21 Egyptian Christians by ISIS on 16 February.
It is my sincere hope that the promise of a political resolution to the crisis in Libya can be fulfilled. The convening of talks under the auspices of the UN is a positive step in this direction.
Ireland supports a comprehensive, human rights-compliant approach to counter-terrorism. We must address underlying causes, tackling the threat at source rather than just alleviating symptoms. We must promote a narrative which counters the propaganda of the terrorists. We must work to prevent radicalisation, to share information more effectively, to deter and disrupt terrorist travel and ultimately to bring perpetrators to justice. Ireland will continue to work closely with our EU partners on all these strands.
