Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of terrorist groups that are linked to a brand of religious fundamentalism claim their actions are in pursuit of their religious beliefs. Religious leaders have condemned such actions as not in accordance with religious beliefs. We must continue to make this distinction. The threat is posed not by religious beliefs, but by terrorist and criminal groups. The Minister for Justice and Equality takes the lead role in assessing and responding to the threat to national security posed by international terrorism. The Minster recently said that there is no specific information concerning any threat to Ireland and that the level of threat is kept under constant review by An Garda Síochána. The appalling attacks in Paris and Nigeria, as well the as action taken by police to prevent further attacks in Belgium, have served to remind us that terrorism does not respect borders. The Paris attacks showed that the potential for terrorist attacks is heightened by European citizens returning from areas of conflict.

International co-operation is vital to preventing and responding effectively to the terrorism threat. At EU level, the Foreign Affairs Council endorsed the EU counter-terrorism strategy for Syria and Iraq, which has a particular focus on foreign fighters, in October of last year. Last Monday in Brussels, foreign Ministers agreed to make a summary version of the strategy publicly available in the interests of transparency and to demonstrate to the public the comprehensive nature of the EU response. The strategy is built around the four pillars of preventing, pursuing, protecting and responding. Its objectives include preventing violent extremism, promoting a counter-narrative, pursuing terrorists by building human rights-compliant capacity for investigations, detention and prosecution of offences, enhancing aviation security and tackling the movement of arms and weapons technology. On Monday, we discussed the need to implement the strategy urgently, to intensify engagement with and assistance for countries in the Middle East and north Africa and to continue to work closely with partner organisations such as the Arab League. I assure the Deputy that we are taking a two-pronged approach to this issue. This involves the national strategy, under the auspices of the Minister for Justice and Equality, and the work that is being done at EU level, at which the Government is represented by me and the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy.

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