Emergency Meeting Of EU Justice Ministers Held In Brussels

Frances Fitzgerald has attended an emergency meeting of EU Justice and Interior Ministers in Brussels to discuss the European Union's reponse to the Paris terrorist attacks.

As well as making clear Member States' solidarity with France, the focus of Ministers was ensuring an appropriate and unified response to the attacks, including all reasonable measures to counteract the terrorism threat.

Speaking at conclusion of the meeting, the Minister for Justice and Equality said she had expressed on behalf of Ireland her deepest sympathy to the French Government and to the people of France.

Referring to the issues discussed at the meeting, the Minister said that she had offered Ireland's support for the proposals put forward by France as reflected in the Council Conclusions.

The Minister said: "Today we stand in solidarity with France, the French people and all those who have suffered at the hands of terrorists. The savage attacks in Paris last Friday struck at the heart of the values and freedoms espoused by the European Union and are a chilling reminder of the dangers we face from international terrorism.

"This stark reality was again put in sharp focus this morning when the French Interior Minister, Mr Bernard Cazeneuve, informed the meeting of the breaking news he had received of a terrorist attack underway in Mali.

"The first duty of any Government is to protect the safety if its citizens. Ireland supports the measures France has tabled and it is now the collective duty of the Member States to take all reasonable steps necessary to face down this heinous threat and keep the people of Europe safe."

Referring to the critical importance of cooperation between the police and intelligence services in combating terrorism, Minister Fitzgerald added: "Enhanced access for EU police and security services to data and intelligence sharing has a critical role in the fight against terrorism. It is now more essential than ever that the Passenger Name Records Directive be agreed urgently. Ireland fully supports this measure and I hope that early agreement with the European Parliament can be secured."

(MH/JP)