Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

For the reasons I have mentioned, Ireland clearly supports Turkey's application for membership of the EU. The question of Turkey's accession to the Union will depend on its ability to meet the conditions for accession to membership. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl is aware, such conditions relate inter alia to politics, human rights and compliance with international agreements. The process of accession is at an early stage. I do not think it is simply a question of some countries agreeing with it and others not agreeing with it. At this stage, it is a question of compliance with the conditions that attach to EU membership. To date, discussions have been completed in respect of just one of the 35 chapters. It is likely that the discussions and negotiations on Turkey's accession will take some time. We will have to wait to see the pace of those negotiations following the parliamentary elections in Turkey.

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