Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Turkish membership of the EU; if he agrees that Turkish membership should not be considered until such time as Turkey withdraws from our fellow EU member State, Cyprus, and lifts all its restrictions on trade, airflight and shipping and so on in relation to Cyprus. [21023/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union has a long and close relationship with Turkey. Accession negotiations were opened in 2005 and Ireland makes a constructive input to those negotiations. As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. Enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. It is subject to rigorous conditionality and should take account of the capacity of the EU to integrate new members. Enlargement is a negotiated process and, as in any negotiation, the eventual outcome and timeframe cannot be predicted.

These factors shape Ireland's supportive approach to Turkey's candidacy. There are, in addition, potential gains to the single market and to trade through the accession of a country of Turkey's size. The Union's reach and influence in the Middle East and Central Asia could be enhanced through Turkish accession.

Turkey still has substantial work ahead in meeting the established criteria and conditions for membership. I met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in Dublin on 10 March 2010. In the course of that meeting, Minister Davutoglu outlined the progress Turkey has made on reforms in a number of areas as it has sought to bring Turkey more in line with the EU acquis. He explained how the accession negotiations provide a strong incentive for Turkey to pursue reforms, strengthen democracy and human rights and further modernise the country. While much has been achieved in Turkey in these areas, the challenge is now for Turkey to maintain and accelerate the progress on reforms.

I reiterated to Minister Davutoglu Ireland's support for the Turkish candidacy. At the same time, I noted the Council's deep regret at Turkey's continued non-compliance with its obligations under the Ankara Protocol by continuing to refuse to open its ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from the Republic of Cyprus. The Council will not permit eight chapters of the accession framework to be opened and no further chapters to be provisionally closed until Turkey fulfils its commitments in this regard.

I also highlighted the need for Turkey to make progress towards normalisation of its relations with the Republic of Cyprus. In line with successive European Council conclusions, Ireland expects that, as emphasised by the Negotiating Framework, Turkey should actively support the ongoing negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded.