John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline any concerns he may have in relation to the suppression of the freedom of the media, civic society, and the arbitrary detention of opposition figures in Turkey at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49013/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I remain deeply concerned at the deteriorating Human Rights situation in Turkey and have raised this issue and Ireland’s concerns on a number of occasions when meeting with my Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Çavusoglu, including most recently when we met en margeof the UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York.

During this most recent meeting, I raised concerns over the continued detention of entrepreneur and philanthropist Osman Kavala, in direct contravention of European Court of Human Rights rulings. This is a case which has added importance at present, given Ireland’s current Presidency of the Council of Europe where we have prioritised the protection of civilians in Europe through the European Court of Human Rights.

Ireland has also been consistent in expressing concern over Turkey’s decision last year to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an important international treaty designed to tackle systematic violence against women. My Department and our Embassy in Ankara are active in supporting the advancement of women’s rights in Turkey, including through financial support to the Turkish Women’s Federation, the largest women’s organisation in Turkey, and an additional project supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention through the Council of Europe.

Ireland is also concerned about media freedoms in Turkey. We are supporting capacity development programmes for young journalists, in partnership with the Association of Journalists in Turkey. We will continue to champion freedom of the press in all cases.

Ireland has been clear in its wish to develop a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. The European Union has similarly expressed its readiness to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest. We have also been clear, however, that in order for any progress to be possible here, Turkey will first need to address these longstanding concerns relating to the internal human rights situation and respect for rule of law.