Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government expressed its deepest sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during the terrible events of 1915, which resulted in the appalling deaths of large numbers of the Armenian population in the Ottoman empire.

No Government has taken a position on the recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide, believing that it is not in a position to adjudicate on this contentious matter involving the consideration of a number of legal issues and an assessment of the actions and intentions of many parties during that time. There is no international consensus on whether the events of 1915 can be considered a genocide. Ireland follows the practice of recognising genocide only where this has been established by a judgment of an international court, or where there is international consensus on the matter. Consequently, I do not propose to bring forward a motion or resolution on the matter at this time.

These terrible events continue to overshadow relations between Armenia and Turkey and the two sides maintain sharply different historical interpretations of these events. As the Irish experience demonstrates, the process of reconciliation and coming to terms with the past is never easy. Ireland urges Armenia and Turkey to take advantage of any opportunity to progress reconciliation on this matter for the good of their peoples and the wider region. I believe it is important that we do not permit current international developments in the region to influence our judgment on events that took place as far back as 1915.

I know that is not the response the Deputy was looking for. However, it is important that Ireland be consistent in its approach on such issues and I have outlined that consistency.

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