Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 3

Written Answers. - Visit of Dalai Lama.

John Gormley

Question:

71 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will extend an official invitation to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and members of his Government in exile to a State visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14030/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government holds the person and the office of the Dalai Lama in the highest regard and considers him to be a significant force for moderation given the present circumstances which exist in Tibet. His Holiness is always welcome to visit Ireland whenever he wishes.

I assure the Deputy that in its bilateral contacts with China, and through the EU, Ireland has consistently called on the Chinese Government to respect the rights of the Tibetan people and to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Last September the Taoiseach raised the situation in Tibet during his meeting with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhu, in Dublin. He called for a dialogue between the affected parties with a view to overcoming the current impasse.

I reiterated this position during my meeting in Beijing with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Tang, on 23 January. I highlighted the level of concern in Ireland in relation to Tibet and strongly encouraged the Chinese authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the issues of concern.

Ireland is also pursuing the issue of Tibet through the EU-China human rights dialogue, which has proven to be the most effective fora in which to raise human rights issues of concern with the Chinese authorities. At the last session of the Dialogue on 5-6 March, the EU raised its concern about the problem in Tibet, in the context of the political and cultural rights of minorities. The EU put forward its concerns, in particular over the detention of monks, closure of monasteries, and discrimination in population control policies.

The issue was also raised at the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights which recently took place in Geneva. In its statement on the human rights situation worldwide the EU highlighted the problem in China, and Tibet in particular.

Ireland will continue to raise its concerns regarding the situation of Tibet with the Chinese authorities.