Foreign Affairs Minister in Brussels to discuss counter-terrorism strategy

Minister for Foreign Affairs has arrived in Brussels, where the EU Foreign Affairs Council is meeting for the first time since terror attacks in Paris.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has arrived in Brussels, where the EU Foreign Affairs Council is meeting for the first time since terror attacks in Paris.

They will be discussing the development of a counter-terrorism strategy.

Minister Flanagan said that today's meeting is an opportunity for the EU to presents a united front against terrorism, and that the Irish Government is looking at legislation to prevent attacks here as well as in the EU.

“We will be focus on measures that will be taken to prevent future attacks," he said.

"We're looking at our own legislation in Ireland, and we're looking at going beyond security issues so as to ensure that we can reach out to minority communities in our own state - and indeed throughout the European Union."

Minister Flanagan says the threat to Ireland is low, but we remain on alert.

“I’m satisfied from my discussions with the Minister for Justice, she is updated on a daily basis by the Garda Síochána, by Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan,” he said.

“Every effort is being made to ensure that we are fully aware of any threat.

“Obviously, it’s difficult to give guarantees, however we can be satisfied that any threat to Ireland is low, but nevertheless it is important that we remain on alert.”