Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ministerial Travel.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

230 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action which has been or will be taken arising from visits to Northern Cyprus by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport and other members of the Government; the action which has been or will be taken to ensure future compliance by all Oireachtas Members with Government policy on visits to northern Cyprus; and the Government's policy vis-à-vis visits by Deputies, Ministers, and other State employees to northern Cyprus. [21630/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport recently made a private visit to northern Cyprus. His visit did not imply recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. No other Minister or Minister of State in the present Government has visited northern Cyprus since taking up office. It is Government policy to advise members of the Oireachtas not to associate themselves with events connected with the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The Irish ambassador in Nicosia, in the course of his diplomatic duties and in accordance with established procedures, visits northern Cyprus from time to time and has contacts with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community.