Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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392. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the manner in which his Department plans to address the threat of religious fundamentalism to Ireland; the measures or discussions that have taken place at a European Union Foreign Affairs Council level with regard to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7649/16]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A number of terrorist groups are linked to a brand of religious fundamentalism and claim that their actions are in pursuit of their religious beliefs. However, religious leaders have condemned such actions as not in accordance with religious beliefs. We must continue to make this distinction: the threat is posed not by religious belief, but by terrorist groups. The Minister for Justice and Equality takes the lead role in assessing and responding to the threat to national security posed by international terrorism. The Minster has stated that there is no specific information concerning any threat to Ireland, and that the level of threat is kept under constant review by An Garda Síochána. Appalling attacks over the past year in France, Lebanon, Mali, Turkey and elsewhere have served to remind us that terrorism does not respect borders. The recent horrific attacks in Brussels have demonstrated once again that the potential for terrorist attacks is heightened by European citizens returning from areas of conflict. Accordingly, while member states have the primary responsibility for addressing terrorism, an effective response requires international cooperation.

At EU level, external action to prevent and counter terrorism has been discussed regularly by the Foreign Affairs Council. An EU Counter Terrorism Strategy for Syria and Iraq, was approved by the FAC in October 2014 and an outline of this was subsequently made public.

Further discussions took place at the FAC in January and February 2015. At our 9 February meeting we reiterated the EU’s support for swift implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. We highlighted the need to step up EU external action and to that end, agreed to pursue initiatives in five broad areas. These concerned strengthening partnerships with key countries in the Middle East and North Africa and with regional bodies such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; supporting capacity building in those countries; countering radicalisation and violent extremism; active engagement with international partners and organisations; and addressing underlying factors and crises.

Under the heading of countering radicalisation and violent extremism we welcomed initiatives to facilitate interfaith dialogue, we invited the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to continue efforts to defend and advocate freedom of expression, religion and belief particularly in the MENA region, and we agreed that the EU would continue to work with faith-based organisations.

Our discussions and conclusions fed into a meeting of the informal European Council on 12 February. This meeting also took account of work undertaken by EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers to promote EU internal security. Heads of State and Government set out an agenda for action for 2015 on internal and external EU action. This detailed guidance included a focus on promotion of tolerance, non-discrimination, fundamental freedoms and solidarity, including stepping up inter-faith and other dialogue, and promoting narratives to counter terrorist ideologies.

Work on these various strands continued throughout 2015. The December Foreign Affairs Council reviewed progress in implementing the measures agreed at our February 2015 meeting. Progress was achieved in a wide range of areas, supported through the provision of substantially increased funding for counter terrorism activities in third countries. Some €142 million was allocated in 2015 compared to just €10 million four years previously. A comprehensive package of assistance has been put in place for Tunisia and it is hoped that this will lead to similar packages for other countries in 2016.

Counter terrorism experts were appointed in 2015 to a number of EU delegations in the MENA region, Turkey and Nigeria to work closely with the host countries to tackle the terrorist threat. We also strengthened cooperation with international partners including the UN, the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. We agreed on the need to step up our efforts in 2016 and that priority should continue to be given to counter terrorism cooperation in the MENA region, Turkey and the Western Balkans.

The FAC will keep the effectiveness of EU external action under review throughout 2016. I expect that there will be a continuing focus on the need to promote political solutions to the underlying crises; the importance of continuing the EU’s support for work on counter-radicalisation; and stemming the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, funding and weapons in Syria, Iraq and more widely in the region in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

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