Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
418. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will use its seat at the United Nations Security Council to raise the plight of the people of Tibet; if Ireland will specifically raise matters that have been raised in recent reports by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14672/22]
View answerThe promotion and protection of human rights is a core pillar of Irish foreign policy, and Ireland is active bilaterally and in multilateral fora on human rights issues, including in relation to China. During my trip to China in May 2021, I raised Ireland’s concerns in relation to human rights directly with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Ireland has also been actively engaged on these issues in multilateral contexts. At the 48th UN Human Rights Council in September in 2021, Ireland joined an EU Group Statement of 26 Member States which called on China to abide by its obligations under national and international law to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including in Tibet, Xinjiang and in Inner Mongolia. The EU reiterated these concerns in a statement at the UN General Assembly last October, which Ireland supported.
The EU also makes use of its dialogue with China to address human rights concerns. The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue provides opportunity to raise specific concerns, including in relation to Tibet. Ireland and our EU partners remain committed to ensuring that the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue resumes as soon as possible. The situation of minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang was also raised at the most recent full EU-China Summit in 2020. The next EU-China Summit is scheduled to take place on 1 April.
Together with our EU partners, Ireland will continue to engage with Chinese authorities, bilaterally and in appropriate multilateral fora, to address our concerns.
