Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 42: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports an application for EU membership by Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2692/12]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 43: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the 2009 European Court of Human Rights ruling on the Bosnian Presidency in respect of a potential application for membership of the EU by Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.

The Ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in December 2009 (Sejdic and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina) held that the prohibition in the Bosnian Constitution against those from the Roma and Jewish minorities from standing for election to the Parliamentary Assembly and for the State Presidency violates the European Convention on Human Rights.

As outlined by the European Commission in its 2011 – 2012 Enlargement Strategy, compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights is an essential requirement of the Interim Agreement and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the absence of agreement on a new Bosnian government since the last elections in October 2010, there has been little meaningful progress towards harmonising the Constitution with the Sejdic and Finci ruling. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not yet, therefore, in a position to make a formal application for EU membership and it is likely to be some time before this is possible.

In general, however, Ireland has been, and will continue to be, a firm supporter of the EU accession process and would support the application of any country with a European perspective that meets the necessary requirements for membership and that upholds and promotes the ideals and values of the European Union.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 44: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports an application for EU membership by Turkey; the reasons behind his position on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2694/12]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 45: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the Turkish treatment of the ethnic Kurd minority at an EU level in respect of EU discussions on potential Turkish EU membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2695/12]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 46: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the treatment of homosexuals in the Turkish military in respect of EU discussions on potential Turkish EU members, EU-Turkish relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2696/12]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 47: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the treatment of homosexuals by the Turkish State in respect of EU discussions on potential Turkish EU membership, EU-Turkish relations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2697/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 to 47, inclusive, together.

Our approach to EU enlargement is positive. Expanding the Union encourages a more prosperous and stable Europe and the process itself is equally beneficial to candidate countries in encouraging them to implement economic and political reforms and to strengthen their democratic values.

Respect for these norms as set out in the Treaties, the adoption of a European perspective which those values reflect, strict adherence to membership conditions, and the capacity of the EU itself to integrate the new member are all important factors in assessing the pace and progress of an applicant's accession. Turkey is introducing reforms required under the accession process, albeit sometimes not as quickly as might be hoped for. I remain confident that the prospect of accession will continue to promote fundamental reform, to strengthen democracy and human rights, and to bring about further modernisation in that society.

Respect for human rights and democratic standards form a key element of the enlargement negotiations with Turkey. In recent years, Turkey has been developing an outreach programme towards the Kurdish minority. The measures include greater recognition of the rights of the Kurdish population, including use of their own language in daily life and in public affairs.

Along with our EU partners, we will continue to encourage Turkey to implement further reforms, including further outreach to the Kurdish minority and proper recognition of their rights. Indeed, through the EU-Turkey human rights consultations, and the use of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, we are engaging with Turkey on addressing our concerns in relation to the treatment of all minorities within the country, including the LGBT community.

The position of Turkey on these issues is not yet quite in line with the EU's values and ideals, but the government in Ankara is aware, from its continuing contacts with the Union that the issues of human rights and democratisation need to be fully addressed by a prospective member State.

Questions Nos. 48 to 50, inclusive, answered with Question No. 38.