Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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501. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a matter (details supplied) regarding the recognition of the Armenian genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24607/15]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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510. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will recognise the Armenian genocide in view of the fact that more countries have officially recognised the genocide such as Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Brazil, as well as Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 510 together.

I have set out the Government’s approach in some detail in a series of recent replies. In particular, I would recall that the sympathy of the Irish people for the dreadful suffering of Armenians was conveyed by President Higgins to President Sargsyan of Armenia on the occasion of the centenary commemoration event in Yerevan, attended by our Ambassador, John Biggar. As my earlier replies make clear, the Irish Government has never adopted a view on this issue because Ireland is not in a position to adjudicate on this contentious matter, involving the consideration of complex legal issues and an assessment of the actions and intentions of many parties in 1915 and following years.

This centenary year has been marked by parliamentary initiatives in various countries around the world, including those referred to by Deputy Pringle. However, it remains the case that these events have not been recognised as genocide by the UN, nor by the vast majority of its member States, whether in Europe or elsewhere. I thank Deputy Byrne for drawing my attention to correspondence he received on this issue in which there is a call for a “bill, resolution or motion recognising the Armenian genocide” to be introduced into this House. I welcome the recent discussion at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, in which the Deputy participated, and I note the outcome.

I believe the members of this House share my hope that Armenia and Turkey would avail of any opportunity to advance reconciliation between their two peoples for the benefit of both countries and of the wider region. There have been important developments in the region, not least the recent elections in Turkey, and I believe the message of reconciliation - including normalisation of their bilateral relations - could find a positive response.