Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I thank both of our guests for joining us and for their very enlightening and indeed frank presentations. I will start in reverse order.

The Republic of North Macedonia is a country that I have some familiarity with. In a previous life I was on the joint consultative committee with the then former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, with the European Committee of the Regions. I had the opportunity to visit Skopje and beyond on a number of occasions. I must echo the absolute disappointment of the Irish Government that we have not proceeded to the next stage. That is something that is being reflected by our Minister and our Taoiseach at European Council level and will be repeated next week at the General Affairs Council meeting. I place, however, perhaps some misplaced and some actual hope in the meeting in Zagreb next year and the commitment of the incoming Croatian Presidency to further this, which is the path we need to go down. It is very important that ongoing talks, both with North Macedonia and Albania are moved separate to any review. They should not become one another. We can review the enlargement policy separate to the actual starting of the accession negotiations. I wish North Macedonia well and believe there is great potential for increased bilateral co-operation between Ireland and North Macedonia. I look forward to the day when there are embassies in both countries and a much greater interaction.

To address the Turkish ambassador, I have been a long-time supporter of Turkish accession to the European Union, as have the Irish Government and most Irish political parties. I will be quite frank, as the ambassador was in his address, that it is becoming more difficult to be that supporter at a European level. I appreciate that there are colleagues in member states who are always, naturally, ill-disposed to this idea. It then becomes an issue in internal political campaigns. While the ambassador cites certain criticism of recent actions as being unfair, he must appreciate that from a European point of view, it is not always possible to give the benefit of the doubt.

If we look at what the European Union believes in, the fundamental values of the rule of law, democracy, and the rights of humans, we therefore have serious concerns at what is going on in Turkey. That does not have to be an unfair criticism until it is fully explained.

The recent activities on the border with Syria and Kurdistan are also extremely worrying.

I agree with the ambassador that we need to increase the level of communication because, all having been said, I still very much believe that a Turkey within the European Union is a much better prospect for everyone, not just in the EU and in Turkey, but for the wider region. Looking at the history of Turkey and the secular vision laid out by Ataturk, I have to ask whether Turkey is really still serious about joining the EU. Turkey says it is , but I would question its actions, especially in recent months.

The more we ask these questions of each other - and I ask the same question of other colleagues - as to whether they are serious about these accession talks. Ireland is serious. As a member of the governing party, Ireland within the EU will always push for Turkish accession. It would be much more helpful if it was a bit easier to do this at a European level.