Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
678. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the issue of Christian persecution and genocide in the Middle East, Syria and Iraq at European Council level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1154/17]
View answerI have repeatedly addressed the question of the protection of Christians and other religious minorities in Syria and Iraq in particular in my meetings and engagements at both the EU and the UN. The protection of minorities from violence and terrorism is inseparable from achieving peaceful resolutions to the conflicts in both Syria and Iraq.
Ireland has also raised our concerns over the protection of minority populations, including Christians, at the UN Human Rights Council.
Allegations of genocide and other reports of violations of international law are a matter for legally competent and internationally recognised tribunals, in particular the International Criminal Court. Ireland has repeatedly called for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
I welcome the recent and overwhelming support by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 2016 to establish an “International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 under the auspices of the United Nations”, which was supported by Ireland and 104 other Member States of the United Nations.
Ireland has long stressed the importance of accountability for the victims of such crimes and believes that this is essential to the protection of human rights.
