Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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330. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to fact that the Turkish interior ministry has now declared 370 NGOs and associations which were operating legally inside Turkey to be closed down; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that 199 of these NGOs were Kurdish organisations that form an essential component of Kurdish civil society and have been providing vital services such as legal advice, help for prisoners and their families, assistance to women victims of violence and promoting Kurdish cultural activities; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that organisations such as the Peace Association of Turkey were also targeted; and if he will condemn this attempt to eradicate all traces of independent civil society and raise the issue with his Turkish counterpart. [35965/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply troubled about recent developments in Turkey, which have exacerbated ongoing concerns about Turkey’s adherence to core values such as democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. I am also gravely concerned at the mounting threat to civil society.

The increasing tensions in the south-east of the country are also very troubling. The ongoing hostilities in that region have impacted negatively on the ordinary people of Turkey, including the Kurdish minority.

I have consistently expressed my regret at the breakdown of the ceasefire in summer 2015 between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). It is critical that both sides return to dialogue to allow the political process to resolve the Kurdish issue to resume.

In a statement which I issued on 4 November expressing my concern at the arrests of pro-Kurdish opposition members of parliament, I repeated the importance of the resumption of political dialogue, as did Minster Murphy during the extensive debate on Turkey which took place at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 November.

In a statement issued on 8 November, the EU also called again on Turkey to resume political dialogue to resolve the Kurdish situation.

My officials met last week with members of the pro-Kurdish opposition HDP party, who gave a detailed overview of the current situation, and described the closure and restrictions on some 200 Kurdish NGOs, including organisations which provide meals to children, women’s associations and human rights lawyers’ associations. They also detailed the restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, and the shutting down of Kurdish TV channels.

While condemning absolutely the 15 July attempted coup, and recognising Turkey’s need to take measures to protect its internal security, I have repeatedly called on the Turkish authorities to maintain a proportionate and measured response, and to uphold core democratic principles, human rights and rule of law, including in respect of minorities in the country.

At the same time, Ireland believes that it is important to keep the lines of communication open with Turkey, and that we must try to hold open the long-term European perspective for all the people of Turkey.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a new draft NGO law that was approved in principle by the Egyptian Parliament; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that NGOs in Egypt feel that this latest draft NGO law means putting an end to the work and existence of the civil society organisations that are now trying to survive the ongoing crackdown on NGOs and continue their work, despite the government’s unprecedented violations of the freedoms of assembly and association; and if he will raise these concerns regarding this law with his Egyptian counterpart. [35966/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the recent developments in respect of this bill. Ireland and its EU partners are engaged with the Egyptian authorities on an ongoing basis on issues concerning the status of civil society in Egypt. Ireland recognises the important contribution which civil society plays in strengthening dialogue between state institutions and citizens, both domestically and internationally.

I discussed the question of human rights with Foreign Minister Shoukri, including the position of civil society organisations, most recently during my June visit to Cairo, and I remain open to raising such issues in future contacts.