Vol. 455 No. 8
37 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will recognise the right to self-determination of the Tibetan people; and if Ireland will support any resolutions to this effect at the next General Assembly. [13277/95]
In 1979, when Ireland established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, the Irish Government recognised the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Chinese position at that time was and still is that China included Tibet.
In relation to Tibet, a central concern of Government policy has been and remains the respect and protection of the human rights of Tibetans. This is an issue which I raise with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity.
At the UN Commission on Human Rights this year, Ireland, together with our EU partners, co-sponsored a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in China, which indicated concern at "the inadequate protection of the distinct cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity of Tibetans and others". In the event this draft resolution was defeated by the narrowest of margins.
