Charlie Flanagan

Ministers were given the opportunity to meet the new Commissioners over the course of two days of meetings in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Flanagan said there is “clearly a renewed impetus on the part of the member states and the Commission to make necessary improvements to the European asylum system”.

He added: “No member state wants things to continue as they are and the fresh perspective of the new Commission will help us to design a European asylum system that is fair, robust, humane and sustainable.”

The Justice and Home Affairs Council yesterday formally adopted a set of conclusions on victims’ rights, following discussions at previous Council meetings in October.

It includes a call for the European Commission to draw up an EU strategy on victims’ rights for 2020-2024, which it says should include a systematic approach to ensure victims’ effective access to justice and compensation.

Mr Flanagan said: “I was pleased to take the opportunity to outline the measures Ireland has taken to enhance victims’ rights in recent years. This important work will continue.

“I believe that victims of crime must be at the heart of our work as justice ministers. The ratification by Ireland of the Istanbul Convention earlier this year is a measure of the progress we have made but expressing our support for these EU Conclusions shows this is not the end. Ireland remains committed to reinforcing and protecting the rights of victims because by definition they are at the core of a victims orientated system.”