Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Mooney for his kind remarks. I hope I will have the opportunity of working with him and all other Members of the Seanad to ensure that we achieve a positive conclusion in terms of ratification of the constitution of the European Union. The latter would be of major benefit in terms of the issue under discussion.

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Government maintains regular contact with its partners in the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and I regularly take the opportunity of attending the monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council to review the situation in Cyprus with its Foreign Minister, George Lacovou, whom I regard as a friend. He and his colleagues have kept us fully briefed on their serious concern at the increased levels of activity in the property market in the northern part of the island. The Cypriot authorities are particularly concerned that much of the property development undertaken in recent years has involved land which is legally owned by citizens of Cyprus who were forced to leave their homes and the area in 1974.

It was a source of great pride for the people of Ireland that the historic enlargement of the European Union, which formally ended the tragic and wasteful post-war division of Europe, took place during our Presidency. The Day of Welcomes on 1 May 2004 was one of the central events of the Presidency. On that day, ten new member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, acceded to the European Union. The House will be aware that it had been the clear preference of the Union that a united Cyprus could have acceded on the basis of an agreed comprehensive settlement. We regret that this did not prove possible. During its EU Presidency, Ireland worked closely in support of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, in his efforts to obtain agreement on a settlement. The European Union will continue to give its full support to the Secretary General's mission of good offices. The United Nations retains the lead in the search for a comprehensive settlement and the issue remains under consideration at the Security Council. The Government and its EU partners continue to hope that the people of Cyprus will, before long, achieve their shared destiny as citizens of a united island in the European Union.

The issue of property rights is a crucial element in the search for a comprehensive settlement and it will not be resolved in the absence of such a settlement. The Government maintains contact with the various parties involved including the Turkish Government, which has an important role to play in encouraging agreement on a settlement. During the recent consideration of the decision to enter into negotiations with Turkey, we had regular daily communications with the Turks. The European Union has recognised the positive contribution of Turkey to the Secretary General's efforts last year. In the context of the historic decision of the December European Council to open accession negotiations with Turkey, we and our partners strongly encouraged the Turkish Government to move as soon as possible to start a process that will lead to the normalising of Turkey's relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

I recognise that, historically, this is an exceptionally difficult issue for Turkey. It is also the case, however, that on 3 October next Turkey will open accession negotiations with the European Union, of which Cyprus is a full member. The Government therefore warmly welcomes the decision by the Turkish Government that it will sign the protocol on the adaptation of the Ankara agreement of association with the EU to take account of the accession of the new member states, including the Republic of Cyprus. We have stressed the importance of this during our discussions with Turkish diplomats and our colleagues in Europe.

The December European Council welcomed the important declaration by the Turkish Government that it will sign the protocol before the actual commencement of negotiations. The European Union has given a firm commitment that it will open negotiations with Turkey with the clear objective of accession, if Turkey meets the requirements of membership. These negotiations will inevitably be lengthy, difficult and complex. However, I hope that over time the reality of the accession process, together with the experience of membership for the Republic of Cyprus, will contribute to an atmosphere in which the people of both parts of the island can endorse an agreed comprehensive settlement, based on the proposals of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Annan.

Following the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April last, the European Union agreed that it would work to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of that community. The position at this point is that the Republic of Cyprus is a member state and, in the absence of a comprehensive settlement, the application of the laws and regulations of the European Union to the northern part of the island is suspended. Ireland, together with its partners in the EU, does not recognise the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", in line with UN Security Council Resolutions 541 of 1983 and 550 of 1984. These resolutions are binding on all members of the United Nations.

In this context, I should refer to the issue of the purchase of property, in the northern part of Cyprus, by Irish and other citizens of EU member states. Any Irish citizen considering the purchase of property in the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control should consider very carefully all the complex legal issues involved. It is important also to take full account of the political background. Any future comprehensive settlement in Cyprus will include detailed provisions on property rights which, depending on the particular circumstances, could have significant practical or financial implications for people who have purchased property in the northern part of the island of Cyprus.

The Government will continue to follow closely the development of the situation in Cyprus, in consultation with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the various parties involved. I hope that in the spirit of our European future together, all parties will ensure that their policies and actions are directed towards the goal we all share, namely, a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals which will end the division of the island of Cyprus and ensure a common future for both communities as citizens of a united island in the European Union.