Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
73. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his staff have had engagements or meetings in 2018 with the Hungarian Prime Minister; if so, the details of these engagements or meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31902/18]
View answer74. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has formally raised at European Foreign Affairs Council meetings issues regarding Hungary, including the threat to the rule of law and the anti-democratic actions of its Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31903/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.
Engagement with all EU Member States is a key priority for Ireland in protecting and advancing our interests at EU level. In such engagements, we raise not just issues of mutual interest but issues of concern.
There are concerns over the civic space available for NGOs to continue to operate in Hungary. These concerns have been exacerbated by the passage of legislation recently by the Hungarian Parliament aimed at individuals and organisations providing assistance to migrants and asylum seekers.
The European Commission is, in the first instance, charged with ensuring the application of the Treaties and is responsible for promoting the general interest of the Union.
Last December, the Commission announced that it was referring Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to inter-alia, the laws on higher education (the “Lex CEU”) and on NGOs adopted in 2017. In the case of these two issues, Hungary is considered to have failed to address EU concerns about these laws or amend the legislation to bring it in line with EU standards. These cases are likely to be heard by the Court later this year.
Notwithstanding this, it is important that Hungary and the European Commission engage on these issues and that, ultimately, a resolution may be achieved.
The Foreign Affairs Council oversees the EU's external actions and for this reason has not held formal discussions relating to the rule of law in Hungary. The General Affairs Council addresses horizontal and cross-cutting issues, including rule of law issues. For example, it is currently, at the request of the European Commission, examining the issue of the rule of law in Poland.
Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known and were raised by the Taoiseach when he met with Prime Minister Orban on 4 January last.
