Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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369. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland contributed to the debate on the rule of law in Poland at the General Affairs Council Meeting on 16 May 2017; if so, if he specifically addressed and spoke out against the threat to the rule of law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24408/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Commission outlined its concerns and informed the Council on the state of play of its dialogue with Poland on the rule of law at the General Affairs Council on 16 May last. The Commission remains convinced that dialogue is in principle the best way to resolve this issue. The EU is a community of shared values including the Rule of Law. In his intervention, the Minister of State for European Affairs Dara Murphy, TD, along with Ministers from a number of other Member States, supported the Commission on the importance of the Rule of Law and urged renewed dialogue between Poland and the Commission so that a solution may be reached.