Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the EU Council is monitoring activities in Turkey on the EU-Turkish immigration deal done on refugees. [7360/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The core intention of the EU-Turkey Statement agreed between EU leaders and Turkey last March was to break the business model of the people smugglers profiting from the suffering of the vulnerable and to discourage migrants from risking their lives in dangerous sea journeys. The need for the Statement to comply with EU and international law was a key concern for all EU Member States, including Ireland. The legal advice of the EU institutions and of the Attorney General’s Office was that the terms of the Statement were not in breach of EU or international law. Progress on the implementation of the Statement is monitored by the European Commission, which publishes quarterly reports. The latest report, from 8 December 2016, confirms the substantial fall in the number of crossings since the Statement was agreed. The European Commission monitors the return of new irregular migrants and asylum seekers to Turkey, which is carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of EU and international law, and in full respect of the principle of non-refoulement.

The European Commission also reports on progress under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which is designed to ensure that the needs of refugees and host communities in Turkey are addressed in a comprehensive and coordinated way, including through humanitarian assistance, education, health, and socio-economic support.

The Fifth Report on progress made on the implementation of the Statement is expected in early March.