Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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829. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to political developments in Turkey; his views on the Turkish Government's crackdown on civil society since the failed coup attempt; his further views on the fact that the Turkish Government has reportedly suspended 15,200 state education employees and demanded the resignation of almost 1,600 deans from private and state universities and that 2,700 judges have also reportedly been detained; and if he is concerned that President Erdogan is increasing his authoritarian hold on power in Turkey. [24491/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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856. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the increased crackdown on civil, political and human rights in Turkey and that the Turkish Government is using the failed military coup to repress civil society and political opposition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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857. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Turkish Government has suspended 11,285 teachers for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, and that the Government have also removed 24 democratically elected mayors in Kurdish run municipalities; and if he will raise his concerns over these developments with his Turkish counterpart. [26298/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 829, 856 and 857 together.

I condemned the attempted coup of 15 July in Turkey as a criminal act and an attack on democratic principles and institutions. In the aftermath of the coup, the people of Turkey publicly expressed their strong desire to protect and preserve democracy, in many cases coming out onto the streets to make their voices heard.

I have expressed my concern that some of the actions taken since the coup are contrary to democratic norms. The large number of people detained or suspended from their jobs in the public service, judiciary and academia, the arrests of journalists and the closure of media outlets are cause for concern.

Together with our European partners, I have been deeply engaged in dialogue with Turkey to offer support during this time of crisis and to make clear that in addressing the aftermath of the coup, democracy, human rights, rule of law and freedom of the media have to be respected. I made these points directly to the Turkish Minister of European Affairs, Mr Ömer Çelik at the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Bratislava on 2-3 September, and again at a specially convened meeting of Council of Europe Foreign Ministers with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu on 7 September.

On each occasion, I expressed Ireland’s support for a democratic and stable Turkey, and also our concerns about developments on human rights, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom. I made it clear that the Turkish authorities, in their reaction to the attempted coup, must uphold democratic principles and the rule of law, and that the response must be proportionate and measured.

I also took the opportunity to again condemn the spate of terrorist attacks in Turkey, including those carried out by so-called Islamic State/ Da’esh, the PKK and their affiliates.

Turkey is an important partner for the EU and we will continue to engage with Turkey, and to encourage a reaction to the post-coup situation that strengthens democracy and the rule of law.