Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the communication he has had with the British Government and Ministers regarding the savage bomb attack in Manchester in recent days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25641/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Let me first reiterate my absolute horror at the callous attack on the people of Manchester and the United Kingdom last Monday night. On Tuesday I spoke with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and conveyed the heartfelt sympathy of the people of Ireland for our nearest neighbours. I also visited the British Embassy in Dublin to sign the Book of Condolences there, as did President Higgins and the Taoiseach. At my request, our Ambassador in London, Dan Mulhall, was also in contact with the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, and conveyed sincere condolences to him and to the citizens of Manchester.

My colleague Joe McHugh is due to travel to Manchester next week and, while there, will in person convey our sympathy and solidarity directly to the people of Manchester, a city with close and long-standing ties to Ireland.