Irish speaker shows support in House session

The speaker of Ireland’s parliament Seán Ó Fearghaíl on Wednesday urged his country and Cyprus to adopt a common approach on several important topics, most notably their stance towards Turkey.

Ó Fearghaíl took part in the House foreign affairs committee, accompanied by Irish MEPs Brendan Howlin and Ruairí Ó Murchú.

During the meeting, he stressed the need for the EU to show Cyprus the same solidarity and sensitivity that it is showing to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion due to Turkey’s continuous provocations against the island and the pressure brought about by the increasing migratory flow.

He also called for increased cooperation between the two countries in the field of education, particularly as far as universities are concerned.

Moreover, Ó Fearghaíl thanked Cyprus for the support shown to Ireland on Brexit, which he said is still affecting his country.

“Small countries such as Ireland and Cyprus are often faced with common struggles and issues and they should support each other,” he said.

“For Cypriots it must be particularly painful to witness the Turkish occupation on a daily basis. This must stop and, for that to happen, leaders on both sides need to entertain a productive dialogue.”

As far as the issue of migratory flows to Cyprus are concerned, the Irish speaker called on the EU to step up their support for frontline countries, which are often the first stop for illegal migrants and asylum seekers.

“Also, in addition to the EU’s just and unified response to the crisis in Ukraine, the bloc should also start looking at other problematic situations in the world, such as the ones taking place in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.”

Speaking after Ó Fearghaíl, Disy MP Haris Georgiades said that the EU should consider Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a wake-up call, stressing the need to come up with effective foreign policy solutions where needed.

“Cyprus has had to deal with the same aggressive actions carried out by Turkey for years. The EU must ensure that its foreign policy strategies work effectively in the entire Eastern Mediterranean region to ensure stability, as the current situation represents a threat for the entire continent,” Georgiades said.

Akel MP George Loukaides thanked the Irish delegation for their support to Cyprus’ struggle for reunification and urged for further cooperation on higher education, particularly after Brexit, which resulted in higher tuition fees for Cypriot students in the UK.

Diko MP Christiana Erotokritou also thanked Ó Fearghaíl for using the term ‘occupying army’ in reference to Turkey, adding that too often the term ‘division’ is used instead. She also called for increased cooperation between Cyprus and Ireland as far as tourism and agriculture are concerned.