Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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498. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to assist in the search for the kidnapped schoolgirls, abducted in Nigeria in April 2014; the actions he will take; if he has conveyed his concern, and that of the Irish people, at the abduction to the Nigerian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7854/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have repeatedly condemned the abduction of more than 200 young girls by Boko Haram from a school in the Nigerian town of Chibok in April 2014. I have also condemned other appalling acts of violence being perpetrated in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries by Boko Haram. These include the killing in January of a large number of civilians in an attack by militants in the north-eastern state of Borno, and the more recent attacks in Chad, Cameroon and Niger.I have given my full support to the clear demands of the United Nations Secretary General and the High Representative of the European Union that the girls abducted in Chibok be released and that those responsible be brought to justice. I am deeply disappointed that hopes that the girls would be released as a part of ceasefire discussions last October were not realised. The EU as well as several individual EU Member States, the UN and the USA, continue to assist the Nigerian authorities in strengthening their ability to provide security and to combat terrorism. The EU Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Brussels on 9 February, noted that the responsibility to address the immediate security challenge in the region lies primarily with the countries most affected, and called upon them to urgently intensify cooperation and coordination. We welcomed the decision of the States in the region, endorsed by the African Union, to deploy a multinational force to combat Boko Haram, and this is now being established.

The Council also expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the Boko Haram attacks and pledged to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase supports at regional level. Ireland provided €1 million in December 2014 to the UNHCR to assist and support Nigerian refugees in Chad.

Our Embassy in Abuja, working locally in cooperation with the EU and other key partners, remains in close contact with the Nigerian authorities on all issues related to the Boko Haram insurgency, including the appalling abduction of the schoolgirls.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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499. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on recognising the Armenian genocide of 1915, which resulted in the loss of life of almost one million persons. [7928/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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These terrible events continue to overshadow relations between Armenia and Turkey and the two sides maintain sharply different historical interpretations of these events. Ireland has not taken a position on the issue of the recognition as genocide.As we in Ireland know well, the process of reconciliation and coming to terms with the past is never easy. In this year of centenary commemorations, Ireland would urge Armenia and Turkey to take advantage of any opportunity to progress reconciliation for the good of their people, the region, and their shared future. The Irish Government has expressed sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during the period in question.