Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way his Department plans to address the threat of religious fundamentalism to Ireland; the measures or discussions which will be taken at a European Union Foreign Affairs Council level with regard to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is extremely important for the Minister and his Government colleagues to be in a position to give the public a clear message that our State forces remain diligent, vigilant and very alert in their monitoring and surveillance work to ensure any potential terrorist threats to our security are dealt with successfully in the wake of recent terrorist activity in Europe.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I concur with all the sentiments he has outlined. As he is aware, it has been estimated that at least 25 to 30 Irish citizens have travelled to Middle East conflict zones in the last four years. He will also be aware that three Irish citizens have died in the conflict zones in that region since 2010. Does the Minister have any reasonable grounds to accept that those figures are correct? He is probably aware that a report compiled by CNN in 2014 suggested that Finland is the only country that is the country of origin of more foreign fighters per head of population than Ireland. The EU Commission estimates that approximately 5,000 people have left Europe to fight in wars in Syria and Iraq. Those countries were mentioned by the Minister earlier. Does the information available to the Minister, to the EU or to other State agencies, particularly the Department of Justice and Equality, if that information is available to the Minister, confirm or refute the figures I have quoted, which have been in the public domain for some time?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Justice and Equality has given the Cabinet a comprehensive report on the possible threat posed to Ireland by international terrorism and the measures to prevent attacks. There is no specific information in relation to any threat to Ireland from international terrorism. The Deputy made the point that Ireland might be being used in some way as a hub or transit area, or indeed as a location for training camps. This has been suggested in the media. Ireland is not a transit hub for people to travel to Turkey or beyond on their way to Syria, any more than any other country with international flight connections could be said to be a hub for such people.

There is no evidence to support assertions that appeared in the media that there are organised terrorist training or recruitment camps in this country. We take such threats very seriously. The Minister for Justice and Equality is updated on a regular basis by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, and I are in constant contact with our European colleagues. Only last Monday, on behalf of the European Union, the High Representative, Ms Mogherini, issued details of an EU-wide plan to ensure we were alert to a threat and also to ensure there was no accommodation or tolerance for people who were prepared to threaten the legitimacy of the state or engage in terrorist activity.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The comments of the new High Representative are important and worthwhile. We had a similar exchange in our short meeting with her when she visited this country. It is extremely important that this issue be kept on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council at all times to ensure there is an EU-wide approach and that the message will still go out to the public to be vigilant and diligent in addressing any issue that might arise.

Did the Minister have an opportunity during the recent annual meeting of ambassadors to address the specific issue of threats from terrorist sources with ambassadors in the Middle East region? We need to have intelligence from our diplomats and representatives based in these countries.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Both my Department and I are in regular contact with ambassadors of the many states in the Middle East and beyond that have offices and residences in this jurisdiction. On Monday of this week I was very pleased to have the opportunity to engage with the secretary general of the Arab League, Mr. al-Arabi, when the issue was raised with him in the context of the current difficulties.

I wish to revert to what I said about the comprehensive strategy of the European Union under the headings of prevention, pursuit, protection and response. It is very important that the issue of capacity building in partner countries be addressed to investigate suspected offences in order that we can ensure there is a proper and adequate exchange of information across EU member states. We must share as much information as possible, but we also must ensure there is not a level of isolation in communities. I very much welcome and acknowledge the very close relations between minority communities in this city and the authorities. It is important that every effort is made towards inclusivity and integration and that there not be any level of isolation or grievance on the part of anyone living in this country that might lead them to travel to Syria or the Middle East or to engage in the type of terrorist activity to which the Deputy referred.