Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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412. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that 11 MPs from the People's Democratic Party, HDP, and the party’s two co-chairs, were recently arrested in Turkey; his views on the dramatic escalation in the crackdown on democratic politics and civic society in Turkey; and if he will urgently raise his concern over these arrests with his Turkish counterpart. [34443/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am gravely concerned about the most recent developments in Turkey, in particular the detention of the co-chairs of Turkey’s second largest opposition party, HDP, and several of its elected representatives on 4 November, which was made possible by the lifting of parliamentary immunity from some 130 MPs last May. I issued a statement on 4 November, in which I expressed Ireland’s concern at the arrests and also at the intensification of the media crackdown, and I emphasised the need to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law. My officials communicated the statement to the Turkish embassy.

While I have acknowledged that the failed coup was both an unacceptable attempt to undermine democracy and a traumatic shock for the people of Turkey, the Turkish authorities must exercise restraint and maintain a proportionate and measured response.

In addition, Ireland’s concerns are fully reflected in the EU statement issued on 8 November, in which the EU expresses its deep concern at recent developments in Turkey, in particular, the continued restrictions on freedom of expression, including media freedom, the closure of more media outlets and the arrests of the editor-in-chief and several staff members of the Cumhuriyetnewspaper; renewed suggestions of reinstating the death penalty; the exacerbation of existing tensions in the south-east; and the arrests of HDP MPs. The EU statement recalls that it is crucial that parliamentary immunity is applied to all democratically elected representatives on a non-discriminatory basis.

Furthermore, developments in Turkey were discussed in the meeting of Ministers’ Deputies at the Council of Europe on 9 November, at which Turkey was represented. Ireland’s representative expressed our concern at the current situation in Turkey , and recalled that rule of law, human rights, democracy and freedom of expression are core Council of Europe values. Turkey was also discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 November, where Minister of State Dara Murphy represented Ireland.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the discussions he has had with other EU leaders on the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, the war in Syria and the deployment of Irish Naval Service vessels to the Mediterranean Sea. [32798/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The migration crisis remains a key priority for the European Union and it has been discussed many times in various Council formations. Last month, migration was discussed at the European Council, the Foreign Affairs Council (which I attended) and the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Migration is again on the agenda of the December European Council. I have also discussed the crisis in bilateral meetings with a range of Foreign Minister colleagues.

As regards the situation in Syria, I discussed the conflict with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 17 October. We were joined by UN Special Envoy Steffan de Mistura. The Council adopted conclusions condemning atrocities in Syria, and in Aleppo in particular; called for an immediate end to the bombardment of Aleppo and the protection of civilian populations across Syria; ending restrictions on the provision of humanitarian assistance and the lifting of all sieges; reaffirmed the EU’s support for a political resolution to the conflict in Syria; condemned the illegal use of chemical weapons by the regime and Daesh and called for accountability through referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court; and condemned the actions of Daesh.

The men and women of our naval service have played an outstanding role in humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean. Working in close cooperation with their Italian colleagues they have rescued over 14,700 people. Following a Government Decision in May 2015, the L.É. Eithne, was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May, 2015, to assist the Italian Authorities with the migrant crisis. Two further vessels were deployed during 2015. This year, there have been three naval vessels deployed to the Mediterranean.

I have discussed our naval operations in the Mediterranean with my Italian opposite number, including during his visit to Dublin in July.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to stop the appalling slaughter of innocent civilians in Aleppo, Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35141/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I utterly condemn the actions by the Assad regime and its allies, including Russia, in Aleppo, and demand the immediate end to the bombardment of that city and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian assistance in Aleppo and across Syria.

I discussed the Syrian conflict with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 17 October. We were joined by UN Special Envoy Steffan de Mistura. The Council adopted conclusions condemning atrocities in Syria, and in Aleppo in particular; calling for an immediate end to the bombardment of Aleppo and the protection of civilian populations across Syria; calling for an end to restrictions on the provision of humanitarian assistance and the lifting of all sieges; reaffirming the EU’s support for a political resolution to the conflict in Syria; condemning the illegal use of chemical weapons by the regime and Daesh; calling for accountability through referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court; and condemning the actions of Daesh.

I met the Russian Ambassador last month to convey my grave concerns at the appalling events in Syria and Aleppo in particular. During the meeting, I urged that Russia use all its influence to end the bombardment of Aleppo and make every effort to ensure that civilians in Syria are granted full protection of their rights. I asked Ambassador Peshkov to relay these concerns to his authorities in Moscow.

In addition, senior officials in my Department met with the Ambassador, at my direction, on two occasions to convey to him in the clearest terms Ireland’s serious concerns over the horrific situation in Syria.

I had an opportunity to discuss the Syrian conflict during my meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on 30 October. I also discussed efforts to renew the political process during my recent trip to the Gulf where I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Al Madani.