Written Answers Nos. 1-20
12. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised, or will consider raising, at European Union or United Nations level concerns regarding Turkey's status as a safe state for the return of refugees, given recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to the contrary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11896/16]
View answer17. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at European Union or United Nations level the question of Turkey's status as a safe state for refugees being overturned; the efforts he is making to cease the return of refugees to Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11914/16]
View answer28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the European Union-Turkey refugee deal is not in contravention of European Union or international law, and that it upholds the human rights of the refugees concerned, given reports by a number of human rights watchdogs, such as Human Rights Watch documenting human rights abuses in the deportation process, and raising concerns regarding the safety of refugees returned to Turkey; if Ireland will accept any more refugees, other than those agreed in September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 17 and 28 together.
The European Union and Turkey have engaged deeply on developing joint approaches to the migration crisis and the EU’s engagement with Turkey was the focus of the European Council on 17 and 18 March 2016. The core intention of the Agreement which emerged from the Council is to break the business model of the people smugglers who are profiting from the suffering of the vulnerable. In particular, it aims to discourage the victims of people smugglers from risking their lives and dangerous sea journeys. The very significant decline in the number of people attempting to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to the Greek Islands since the agreement entered into force suggests that it is achieving its aims.
The need for the agreement to comply with EU and international law was a key concern for very many EU Member States, including Ireland. The legal advice of the EU institutions and the Attorney General’s Office was that the terms of the Agreement were not in breach of EU or International law.
The EU and Turkey have agreed that there will be no blanket returns. Each migrant has the right to apply for international protection in Greece and to have their application assessed on an individual basis in line with international law, including with a right to appeal. Part of this assessment process includes ascertaining whether Turkey can be considered a safe country given an irregular migrant or asylum seeker’s individual circumstances.
Turkey has provided formal guarantees as part of the EU-Turkey Agreement that Syrian refugees returned to Turkey will be granted temporary protection upon return. Non-Syrians in need of international protection who are returned to Turkey, will also be able to apply for and receive protection there. The European Commission reported on 4 May that Turkey has received all those returned from Greece in accordance with the Agreement.
The EU is also committed to assisting Turkey deal with the enormous challenge of hosting some 2.7 million refugees and to improve the situation for these refugees. To this end, the EU has established a €3 billion Facility for Refugees in Turkey. This Facility aims to support Syrians and other refugees by providing access to food, shelter, education, and healthcare.
I am aware of recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, including testimony from migrants and witnesses that some Turkish border guards have used violence against Syrians. These reports are very worrying and will require a full investigation by the Turkish authorities. While Turkey has a right to secure its border with Syria, all actions on the part of Turkey must be in line with international law.
More broadly, the issue of human rights in Turkey has been raised by the Taoiseach at European Council and continues to form an integral part of the country’s enlargement process, which we, along with our European partners keep under close review. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 May, I reiterated Ireland’s concerns in respect of the rule of law, human rights and freedom of the media in Turkey and the need to hold Turkey to account to the core European values inherent in the accession process.
On 10th September 2015 the Government agreed to establish the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and to accept up to 4,000 persons in total under the EU’s resettlement and relocation programmes. It is expected that these numbers will be augmented further by family reunifications. The figure of 4,000 includes approximately 2,600 asylum seekers to be taken from Italy and Greece under the EU relocation programme and 520 refugees which the Government has committed to taking in by the end of 2016 under Ireland’s refugee resettlement programme.
Since 2015, 276 people have been resettled and a further 10 relocated to Ireland. A further 11 people were resettled on 17 May, while an additional 138 are expected in June and a further 108 September 2016. 31 people are expected to be relocated to Ireland from Greece in the coming weeks, and the State has pledged to take a further 40 on relocation from that country shortly afterwards.
The relocation and resettlement programmes are specific EU orientated programmes. They are separate to the ongoing acceptance of refugees who make applications for asylum in this jurisdiction or decisions made from time to time to accept groups of refugees from specific regions of the world.
14. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received a briefing from the Irish ambassador in France on the Nuit Debout movement of young persons and trade unionists which has emerged in response to the attempt by the President of France, Mr. François Hollande, to change the country's labour laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11951/16]
View answerThe Irish Embassy in Paris reports continually on all significant political and economic developments in France, including the question of labour law reform. The issue of labour law reform is an internal matter for France and I do not propose therefore to comment further on this matter.
15. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his European Union and United Nations colleagues continue to press for humanitarian assistance in the various conflict zones globally; if he and they are considering the provision of safe or protective havens for civilian communities fleeing from war, genocide and terrorism, and making peace-keeping interventions in the most sensitive war zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11912/16]
View answerResponding to the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crisis worldwide poses a huge challenge for the international community. Violations of international humanitarian law preventing access to communities in need of assistance compound this challenge. Ireland continues to work with our partners to respond actively and effectively. Last year, we provided some €140 million in humanitarian assistance. Earlier this week, world leaders, civil society and representatives of the private sector gathered at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, which was called by the UN Secretary General to address the scale of humanitarian crisis. President Michael D. Higgins and I led Ireland's delegation to the Summit.
We have seen the scale of the humanitarian crisis first-hand in Europe over the last year as increasing numbers flee conflict in desperate need of safety. 60 million people worldwide are now displaced their homes. Over 4.8 million people have fled from Syria alone. Many millions more – in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Nigeria – have sought safety within their own countries.
Providing safe havens within conflict zones is extremely difficult, especially where the warring parties do not prioritise the protection of civilians. Such safe havens require a mandate from the UN Security Council as well as robustly equipped peacekeeping personnel.
As UN Secretary-General Ban has stated: “Peace operations can and have succeeded when they are an expression of strong and unified international political will. … To deploy them in the absence of a political strategy for resolving the conflict is to risk lives and money in pursuit of a peace that will likely remain elusive.”
In many of today’s conflicts, this political will is lacking, including from some on the UN Security Council. However, in other places, the UN is active and there are more than twice as many UN peacekeepers deployed today as there were 15 years ago. Ireland is playing its part, with 356 uniformed Irish personnel currently serving in seven peacekeeping operations.
16. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the hunger sieges taking place in Syria, given that Ireland is supportive of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in Turkey this week; and his views on many non-governmental organisations being critical of the summit because of the failure of the international community to uphold basic international humanitarian law and refugee rights. [11898/16]
View answerThe five-year long conflict in Syria has been brutal, with more than 400,000 people dead, and consistent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict.
Ireland strongly condemns the deliberate blocking of food aid to civilians as a tactic in this brutal war. 90% of civilians under siege are victims of the Assad regime. I deplore in the strongest terms the attacks against medical facilities, and the removal by the Syrian authorities of medical supplies from convoys en route to besieged areas. There must be legal accountability for these crimes, and in 2014 Ireland co-sponsored a resolution calling for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Conscious of the difficulties in securing humanitarian access, I am determined that Ireland’s funding for Syria will support those organisations which are best placed to reach those in need, including in besieged areas. In 2015, Irish Aid provided a total of €1.75 million to support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Both have succeeded in recent months in negotiating access to besieged towns for convoys of food and other humanitarian supplies.
Against the background of this appalling conflict, and its tragic humanitarian consequences, the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul earlier this week was an important opportunity to galvanise the international community in ensuring more effective and responsive humanitarian action. Ireland’s delegation to the Summit was led by President Michael D. Higgins, and Joe McHugh T.D., Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid. Civil society organisations had a strong and valued presence. Ireland shares their outrage at violations of International Humanitarian Law, and their conviction that the international community must do more to enable refugees to rebuild their lives. The World Humanitarian Summit was an opportunity to re-affirm our joint commitment to principled, effective humanitarian action.
18. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received a briefing from his ambassador in Brazil regarding the suspension of the President of Brazil, Ms Dilma Rousseff, and the subsequent withdrawal of a number of Latin American ambassadors from Brazil. [11950/16]
View answerMy Department is closely following developments in Brazil in light of the ongoing political situation, including the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff and our Embassy in Brazil provides regular reporting on the latest developments and their possible repercussions. The events are also the subject of ongoing discussion at EU level in Brussels.
Ireland and our EU partners share the view that the current political situation in Brazil, including the suspension of President Rousseff, is a matter for the legislative and judicial branches of that country. Consequently it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the constitutional process currently underway in Brazil, other than to assure the Deputy that we will continue to follow the situation closely.
In addition to the ongoing political reporting provided by our Ambassador and Embassy, a key priority for Irish officials in Brazil is to prepare for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro. Ireland will open a temporary consulate in the city for the duration of the games in order to provide assistance to Irish athletes, officials and spectators, as required.
19. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is addressing the implications of a British withdrawal from the European Union with his European Union counterparts; if he is fully committed to the European project; if he is conscious of the need to review the impact of ultra-nationalism across Europe; the need for a specific response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11913/16]
View answerThe Government's position on the EU-UK question is clear and has been outlined on many occasions: while respecting that this is a decision for the UK voters to make on 23 June, as our friend, closest neighbour and partner, we want the UK to remain as a member of the European Union.
My Ministerial colleagues and I have been active in our engagement with the UK Government, and with our EU partners, in outlining our concerns and our interests in this matter, and in working for an acceptable deal at EU level in February, that enabled Prime Minister Cameron to recommend and campaign vigorously for the UK to remain in the EU.
There has been no discussion at EU level of the implications of a British exit - much would depend on the withdrawal negotiations and the shape of the future EU-UK relationship. For the time being therefore, we await the result of the referendum and stand ready to engage with the next phase as appropriate.
The Government is, of course, fully committed to the European project, as are the vast majority of Irish people.
On the issue of ultra-nationalism, the rise of such movements, which are not committed to democratic means, in some states in Europe is clearly of great concern. Given its particular history, Europe has to be vigilant to the false promises of extremist ideologies with their simplistic solutions to complex problems.
Where extreme movements – of whatever political hue – advocate violent responses or target particular groups in society, they must be met with the full rigours of the law.
20. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to recognise Palestinian statehood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11894/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to recognising the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict. The Government works consistently to achieve a free, independent and sovereign Palestinian state, not just in theory but in fact, and all of our actions on the Israeli/Palestinian issue are directed to that end. It is central to our objective of a two state solution that will ensure the security and prosperity of both peoples. I am considering carefully whether the immediate recognition by Ireland of a state of Palestine, prior to its real achievement on the ground, could be a helpful step towards that goal.
The motions passed in the Seanad on 22 October 2014 and the Dáil on 10 December 2014 are very important factors in that consideration. Other factors are the symbolic importance of such a declaration for the Palestinian people, its likely impact on the prospects for advancing the peace process, and its effect on Ireland’s ability to exercise influence on developments.
In considering this question, I am deeply conscious that prospects for reaching a peace agreement have continued to worsen over this period, and underlined the importance of trying to break the deadlock and stimulate new efforts. The conference being hosted by France next month will be an important test of that possibility.
I continue to follow closely developments in the region. This month, I have met a cross party delegation from the Knesset, and earlier this week I met with the French envoy preparing the June conference, to discuss that initiative. I am also making arrangements to visit the region again myself next month.
Ultimately, the timing of any move on recognition is a matter for assessment and decision by the Government.
