Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his engagements with the government of Turkey in relation to the escalating situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15546/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very concerned by recent developments in Türkiye, including the arrest and detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, along with other public figures, members of the press and civil society representatives. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have raised these concerns directly with senior Turkish officials.

As a member of the Council of Europe, and an EU candidate country, it is essential that Turkish authorities respect the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law.

Ireland has consistently made clear our concerns about human rights backsliding in Türkiye, including in relation to the implementation of rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. We have raised the topic at both bilateral meetings and in multilateral fora.

Reports of restrictions on the press and social media are an on-going concern; the right to freedom of expression should not be compromised. We also take note of the sizeable protests that are taking place across Türkiye. The ability to protest peacefully is a fundamental right, and we urge all parties to avoid escalatory actions and refrain from acts of violence. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is keeping its travel advice for Türkiye under review, in light of the potential for further protests.

We continue to monitor the situation, and reiterate the importance of fundamental rights for all democratic societies in our engagements with the Government of Türkiye.