Matt Carthy
Ceist:82. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23647/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 May 2024
Ceisteanna (82, 91)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:91. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on his Department's engagements and general relations between Ireland and Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23953/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 91 together.
My EU colleagues and I regularly engage with our Georgian counterparts on a range of issues, including bilateral relations, Georgia’s EU membership perspective and, more recently, our concerns regarding increased democratic backsliding in the country.
The Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashivili, visited Dublin on 13-16 September last. I hosted a working lunch for the Minister on 14 September, and we discussed issues of common interest and concern. Our meeting was primarily focused on Georgia’s EU membership aspirations. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding enhancing Georgia-Ireland relations across a range of areas.
I reaffirmed to Minister Darchiashvili that the European Union is a union of values, and emphasised that the best way to secure Georgia’s progress towards EU membership is by demonstrating genuine commitment to European values and to the human rights of all citizens.
Foreign Minister Darchiashvili also had meetings with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, as well as with parliamentarians.
The Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Teimuraz Janjalia, subsequently visited Dublin on 5-6 December. He had meetings with Minister of State for European Affairs Peter Burke, and met separately with parliamentarians. The focus of the visit was on Georgia’s progress towards EU accession. A Georgian parliamentary delegation also visited Dublin in December to discuss diaspora issues with Minister of State Fleming.
Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs travelled to Tblisi in January this year for comprehensive bilateral political consultations, led by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Teimuraz Janjalia on the Georgian side, with a focus on bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as Georgia’s EU membership aspirations.
Ireland will continue to engage with Georgian counterparts, particularly to emphasize that EU accession is a merit-based process, and to highlight our concerns regarding democratic backsliding. The adoption of legislation on the “transparency of foreign influence” by the Georgian parliament, in the face of strong international criticism, and the disproportionate use of force against those protesting the legislation, are not in line with fundamental EU values and norms. I have made this clear in my public statements and we continue to urge the Georgian government to withdraw the legislation.