Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be examined and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28301/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the document has been returned to the applicant's parent as requested.
113. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if passports will issue for persons (details supplied) given that the issue dates have passed. [28334/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is reviewing the applications and taking action where appropriate.
115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Zinjiang police files authenticated and published in the media (details supplied) which document a system of internment, forced labour, forced sterilisation and cultural eradication camps; if he intends to designate the actions by the Chinese state against the Uyghur Muslim community as genocide; the representations that he has made to the Chinese government and ambassador in this regard; the discussions that he has had at European Union and United Nations level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28360/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department actively follows emerging reports regarding Xinjiang and I am aware of the recent disturbing files published by a consortium of media agencies.
Ireland remains deeply concerned about the evidence-based reports of human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. We have raised these concerns, along with our partners in the EU and the wider international community, on a number of occasions, both at Ministerial and official level. I raised these issues directly with my Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a visit to China in May 2021.
Ireland has also been active on Xinjiang in the United Nations framework. At the 49th United Nations Human Rights Council in March 2022, Ireland’s national statement called on China to comply with its obligations under national and international law to respect and protect human rights in Xinjiang.
In October 2021, Ireland joined a cross-regional statement on the situation in Xinjiang, delivered at the Third Committee of the 76th UN General Assembly. The statement calls attention to the arbitrary detention of over a million people in Xinjiang and the “systematic human rights violations, including reports documenting torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”
The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue also provides opportunity to raise specific concerns, including in relation to Xinjiang. Ireland and our EU partners remain committed to ensuring that the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue resumes as soon as possible and I am encouraged by the progress made in this regard at the EU-China Summit in April this year.
The EU has also initiated sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against four Chinese persons and one entity for their role in Xinjiang. These sanctions are designed to act as a deterrent and encourage changes in these actors’ behaviour. Sanctions are based on solid legal evidence and are deployed alongside other measures, including dialogue.
Through our Embassy in Beijing Ireland closely followed the visit to China of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. Ireland had been calling for this visit, and for full, meaningful and unfettered access for the High Commissioner and her team. High Commissioner Bachelet visited Kashgar and Urumqi, both cities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, along with Guangzhou in southern China. We are now assessing the outcome of this trip and we will continue to call for the publication of the High Commissioner’s full report on the situation.
The Deputy also asks about a designation of genocide. It is a term that has a particular meaning under international law and the recognition of events definitively as genocide involves a complex analysis of both facts and law. Ireland follows the practice of recognising genocide only where this has been established by a final decision of a court in Ireland or a judgment of an international court, or where there is international consensus on the matter. To date, this has not been the case as regards the situation in Xinjiang.
Ireland's practice in this regard does not undermine the seriousness with which the Government approaches the situation in Xinjiang. The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora to address our concerns.
119. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a child passport will issue on time for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal travelling on 8th June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28419/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that a passport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request that a passport application by a person (details supplied) is expedited given that the delay has been caused due to an error in the Garda station when singing as a witness and not due to the fault of the applicant or their guardians. [28495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28519/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28520/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra137. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application of a person (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28524/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 123, 125, 134, 135, 137 and 138 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.
