Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the ambassador for being so forthcoming and open with the committee this afternoon.

I agree with Deputy Durkan that we have to be very positive on this. It is a window of opportunity that should not be missed. I congratulate the negotiators from Turkey and from Cyprus on this initiative. It is a step-by-step process. The negotiators need to take small steps at a time. The ambassador spoke about words, but words can be overturned and changed as we have seen in Northern Ireland. We wish the negotiators well.

There will be an opportunity for the Turkish ambassador to appear before the committee in the coming weeks and we look forward to that meeting. The committee is available to assist both sides to reach a peaceful resolution. We have had the experience within our own island - a divided island - where two communities work and live closely together. There will always be challenges and, as we know from our experience with Northern Ireland, there will also be challenges in Cyprus.

We thank the ambassador for the invitation to visit his island. If it is possible we will try to do so if we can be of any assistance. We will keep in touch with the ambassador. We wish him well in his role as an ambassador. He has been very forthcoming and open during his time here. I wish him well for the rest of his time here. We look forward to working closely with him.