Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Turner. His response was very useful. Members of the committee would be keen to follow up on his recommendations and the further issues that arise in the context of his reply. By coincidence, on a proposal from Deputy Stanton recently, we agreed to invite ambassadors from various countries to attend at the committee. We agreed that in principle. While we have not specified any action in that regard, I am sure Deputy Stanton will be anxious to put a further level of construct on his proposal following this meeting.

I am interested in hearing about any relationship Church in Chains might have with other organisations. I have in mind in particular the Irish charitable organisation, Trócaire. It is part of the international Caritas group, which seems to me to be doing work that is not hugely removed from the type of work Church in Chains is undertaking. That is not in any way to detract from the importance of what the witnesses are doing and from the significance of this meeting. Members were very keen that we afford our guests the opportunity of a formal meeting, which is not something we do on an ad hocbasis. Their presentation was very useful and their recommendations to us are ones to which we certainly will give careful and due consideration. We have engagements in the committee every few months directly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. I am sure issues raised by the witnesses today will form part of the brief of members at the next meeting the Minister attends, which probably will not be until the autumn.

The witnesses might like to make final comments and leave us with a further message. I notice that Mr. Turner referred specifically to the former Soviet Union and I see reference to eastern Ukraine in some of the documentation that was provided to the committee. Perhaps he will outline his perceptions of any issues that have been brought to his attention in eastern Ukraine, with particular reference to the movement of people, especially children, who have been removed, if not abducted, at very short notice and taken to parts of Russia in which they have no connections or relatives. That is an issue of huge importance and I wonder whether it is one that has crossed Mr. Turner's desk. There is reference in the document under the heading "Europe" to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the consequences it might have for the churches in that area.