Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Turkish accession negotiations with the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14639/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Turkey has had a perspective towards membership of the European Union since the conclusion of the Association Agreement of 1963, although negotiations on accession did not open until 2005.

Negotiations with Turkey are proceeding, albeit at a slow pace. Of the 35 negotiating chapters, ten are now open, of which one has been provisionally closed. In its 2008 assessment of Turkey's preparations for accession, the Commission calls on Turkey to reinvigorate the process of political reform. It states that significant further reforms are needed, in particular on amending the rules governing political parties; freedom of expression and freedom of religion; and to establish an ombudsman function. In the Commission's view, further progress is also needed in other areas such as judicial reform, the fight against corruption, gender equality, minority rights and the civilian control of the military and to bring the legislation on trade unions into line with ILO and EU standards.

The Progress Report makes it clear that the pace of the accession negotiations will reflect the pace of reform as well as Turkey's fulfilment of the necessary conditions for membership. Following the start of full fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the Commission also encourages Turkey to support a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. Turkey has not yet fulfilled its obligations of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol of the Association Agreement by opening its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from the Republic of Cyprus. Eight specific negotiating chapters cannot be opened, nor can any more chapters be provisionally closed, until Turkey fulfils its commitments under this so-called Ankara Protocol.

Ireland continues to support the accession negotiations with Turkey, while insisting that Turkey fulfil its obligations, including supporting a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue and fulfilling its obligations under the Additional Protocol.