Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile telephones. It is not sufficient to put them on silent.

I am delighted to welcome a delegation from the Turkish Parliament: Mr. Rubi Acikgoz, chairman of the Turkey-Ireland Interparliamentary Friendship Group and a member of the Justice and Development Party; Ms Safak Pavey, member of the EU harmonisation committee and the Republican People's Party; Mr. Ahmet Kaymaz, legislation expert; and Ms Dilek Demirkol, interpreter.

In 1987 Turkey applied to join the EEC and in 1997 it was declared eligible to join the EU. Negotiations have been under way for several years. The committee is interested in the enlargement issue. We have had several meetings on the Balkans and last December we hosted Mr. Egemen Bagis, Turkish Minister for Europe and principal negotiator for EU membership, for a detailed discussion on how Turkish accession was progressing. The Minister explained that Turkey's long accession process was in many ways as important as membership itself. Having visited Turkey over the past year, I know Turks are keen to progress EU membership but they are disappointed that the process is taking so long bearing in mind other countries have acceded over a much shorter timescale.

I ask Mr. Acikgoz to make some opening remarks.