Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2017
37. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his officials have written to Ms Aung San Suu Kyi regarding Ireland's concerns about the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. [40540/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Rakhine State, Myanmar, in particular the treatment of the Rohingya people. Developments in Myanmar, and the related humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh, are being monitored carefully by my officials. Ireland is pressing for an end to the violence, for restoration of humanitarian aid and media access to Rakhine State, and for full investigation of allegations of human rights violations by the Myanmar security forces. In order to address the long term drivers of the tensions underlying the current violence, Ireland has also called for the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State to be implemented swiftly and in full by the Government of Myanmar.
As I have outlined in previous responses in this House, Ireland is engaging in the efforts by the EU and in international fora, including at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, to press for a resolution of these issues.
The ASEM Foreign Minister’s Meeting will take place in Nay Pyi Taw next week and is being chaired by Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, Aung San Suu Kyi. This meeting presents an important opportunity to engage directly with the Government of Myanmar on this issue. Ireland will be represented by Minister of State Ciarán Cannon at this meeting, and I have asked him to convey the Government’s concerns to representatives of the Government of Myanmar on my behalf.
