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A ban on children from Belarus coming to Ireland was today discussed on the fringes of an EU meeting in Luxembourg.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, held talks with his Belarus counterpart on the continuing suspension of visits by young victims of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

The meeting with minister Sergei Martynov on the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg was the latest in a series of intensive contacts between both countries.

The authorities in Belarus stopped children from leaving the country in August after some failed to return to their homeland from trips abroad.

Mr Martin said today: “I hope now that negotiations can proceed quickly and to the satisfaction of both Governments.

“I expressed the hope to Minister Martynov that the discussions could be concluded as swiftly as possible so as the suspension of visits can be lifted.”

Mr Martin said he used the meeting to outline what steps Irish officials are taking towards achieving an agreement to regulate the visits.

The Irish Ambassador to Moscow has travelled to Belarus to meet officials there while Belarus diplomats based in London have also been in Dublin to meet Mr Martin.

Children from Chernobyl have been visiting Ireland for recuperation visits for 17 years.

“These visits have been to the benefit of both countries, but especially the children and the host families in Ireland who receive them,” said Mr Martin.

It is understood that officials from a number of Government departments, including Foreign Affairs as well as Health and Children, are involved in the efforts to resolve the current difficulties.

Last month Mr Martin met with Chernobyl Children’s Project International head Adi Roche who raised her concerns on the issue.