Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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228. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the support Ireland is providing to the Kurdish people in Turkey, given that the Kurdish population in Turkey has been under bombardment from the Turkish state since the breakdown of the peace process in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8870/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The domestic situation in Turkey remains a matter of concern, both for Ireland and our European partners. I would like to reiterate the serious concern I have expressed several times already in this House at the escalation of violence since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) last summer. This breakdown has been all the more regrettable given that there were positive signs in the peace process as recently as early 2015.

Ireland has been a strong supporter of the peace talks between the Turkish Government and the PKK and, through the work of the Conflict Resolution Unit of my Department, financial assistance has been provided to an international NGO which has facilitated study visits to Ireland by Turkish and Kurdish MPs, journalists, and advisers working for peace. The current situation demonstrates clearly the critical importance for all sides to cease hostilities and return to dialogue and I take this opportunity to urge again all sides to do so. The most recent Progress Report on Turkey, published by the European Commission in November 2015, emphasised the importance of this too.

The issue of human rights in Turkey has also been raised by the Taoiseach at the European Council.

Officials in my Department, both at headquarters in Dublin and in our Embassy in Ankara, will continue to follow developments in Turkey very closely.