Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

2:30 pm

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

There were three questions on non-proliferation. We were disappointed and spoke quite clearly about the lack of progress to date. We are one of the countries that has pushed this issue recently and we have reiterated the Irish position. It was not discussed at the Lahti meeting and it will not be discussed at next week's meeting. It has been discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, a number of times and we will continue to outline our position on it.

Deputy Kenny's comments on immigration are correct as it is an enormous problem, particularly for the Mediterranean countries. The numbers that came in to small countries such as Cyprus and Malta this summer have been very large, and that has created significant problems for them. There are plenty of policies, co-operative agreements and memorandums of understanding across the Community on how these matters work, but as the Deputy is aware, when people arrive and come into the system, an attempt must be made to deal with them. These countries are bound by the Geneva Convention 1951 and other protocols, but that does not take from the pressure that will continue to be felt by them.

There are long-term goals that we play a part in, such as the significant resources we put into ODA in helping countries in Africa, but as long as there are so many conflicts and problems there, the huge pressure will not be reduced. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has visited Darfur twice this year and has lent his voice to solving many of the problems in Africa.

Countries have pledged to work together but the Spanish decision clearly creates pressure for other countries in the region which do not take the same view. Such countries have made their own assessment. Italy, for example, made a number of decisions that were outside the normal European position, but there are continuing efforts in the European Council, particularly the justice affairs council, to get everybody to work together. There will not be a totally coherent policy when some countries are being hit by such a level of immigration.

We dealt with the issue of Turkey during the Irish Presidency of the EU when the UN initiative had come about, and I remained close to the issue for that reason. I discussed it earlier and reported to the House previously about discussions with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. At her bequest I spoke to Tassos Papadopoulos, whom I have spoken to a number of times since. We spoke again last Friday by telephone. In our view, Turkey must redouble its efforts in pursuing its reform agenda, which it has been told to do and which it should do. The main stumbling block currently is the implementation of the Ankara Protocol and if a solution is not found urgently, I fear the negotiations will head for trouble, which I have made clear. I expect the issue will be discussed in depth at the December European Council meeting.

I have been sympathetic in recent years towards President Papadopoulos, who has been under much pressure. It is not just another issue in Cyprus, it is enormously important for the Cypriot people. On the day I was with the Commission four weeks ago, it had issued its paper and the Deputy will be aware of the effort made since with a number of chapters and in trying to keep the issue going without a total collapse. It will be difficult to proceed without a collapse. Although the Finnish Presidency has worked extremely hard on this, President Papadopoulos will not take a soft option. The original intention was for this to be discussed at a foreign affairs meeting and that agreement would be reached, but I do not believe that will happen. I believe it will end up on the table at the European Council and President Papadopoulos will take a tough line. His position is the Ankara Protocol is not agreed. Where do we go? His position as he sees it, and as we supported during the Irish Presidency, is that if Europe does not stand by one of its own members, which is the issue, he will take a tough line and he has contacted colleagues in his campaign on this.

Deputy Kenny knows from his group that others take a different view. The European pro-Turkey lobby will take its line to smooth a way of continuing the process. We are in for a lively session on this issue.

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