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

In Tunisia and a number of destinations where Irish citizens travel, we do not have a resident full-time ambassadorial presence. In that regard, we rely significantly on our good relations with neighbour states, in particular, EU states. There is a positive and active relationship to ensure we have assistance on the ground in the first instance but also that we have the appropriate information by way of intelligence, advice and guidance that may be available to states that have a specific presence on the ground in any appropriate jurisdiction.

In response to the massacre in Tunisia, an extraordinary meeting of the Political and Security Committee was convened in Brussels on 28 June. During the course of this meeting, the Irish representative to the committee raised a number of issues stating that the goal of terrorists is not only to attack foreigners but also to undermine the democratic process in the birthplace of the Arab spring. The European Union and its member states must do all they can to assist the Tunisians in preventing the terrorists from achieving these objectives.

I expect this matter will be the subject of discussion at the forthcoming European Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels next week. I would say that we need an assessment as to whether there is more the European Union can do to assist Tunisia in countering radicalisation, delivering capacity building against violent extremism and ensuring there is an element of training assistance on the matter of counter-terrorism.

We need to work with the Tunisians to ensure the best possible level of co-operation between the security services on the matter of intelligence sharing. I assure the Deputy that, as regards countries in which we do not have a full-time presence on the ground, we will ensure through our good and positive relations with EU partners that the best advice will be available to us. In the case of Tunisia, I acknowledge the rapid response of our embassy in Madrid that has specific accreditation in Tunis. Its team were on the ground in Tunisia within a matter of hours.

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