Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the proposals for the return of the ghost city of Famagusta located in northern Cyprus, a demand of Security Council Resolution 550 of 1984; his views on whether such a confidence-building measure would boost reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15686/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I would like to welcome the re-launch of talks aimed at resolving the long-standing Cyprus question. I welcome in particular the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders which lays a solid foundation for the negotiations. I would urge those involved in the talks to engage fully in the process and to work in a spirit of good faith, under the auspices of the United Nations. Ireland would support a solution that provides for a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

As the two leaders themselves acknowledged in their Joint Declaration, a settlement would have a positive impact on the entire region, while first and foremost benefitting Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. I note that both leaders, in their Joint Declaration, also made a commitment to efforts to implement confidence building measures that would provide a dynamic impetus to the prospect for a united Cyprus. I would encourage both sides to agree any such measures that could help build trust and confidence in the talks. At this stage, I would not wish to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations or the nature of any confidence building measures that might be agreed by the parties themselves. I would like to reiterate Ireland's support for the negotiators as they work to agree a mutually acceptable solution.

At the European Council on the 20th to 21st March, which I attended with the Taoiseach, Ireland joined in a strong statement of support for the talks. EU leaders underlined that the European Council supports any confidence building measures agreed by the two parties which could contribute decisively to creating a climate of mutual trust and give impetus to the negotiation process.