Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presentations and thank the witnesses for the interesting material and facts they have presented to the joint committee. Bishop McAreavey's remarks on the killing each year of 100,000 Christians paint a disturbing and worrying picture. It is something of an understatement, therefore, to suggest the international community should be concerned about this issue because it is clearly that crimes against humanity are taking place on a vast scale.

Bishop McAreavey and Ms O'Reilly asked that direct assistance be provided to rebuild and protect churches and spaces where Christians and other minority groups meet. My understanding is that local Christian leaders in some of the affected areas would prefer discreet support to be provided because public support might lead to further persecution. Can a balance be struck between providing support and avoiding the creation of further difficulties for those who are being persecuted?

Bishop McAreavey raised the important issue of raising awareness. I do not know if the persecution of Christians and other minorities has been the subject of a major debate in the United Nations General Assembly which holds plenary sessions every September. I understand 160 countries are represented at this forum which discusses the issues of the day. The House of Commons held a full debate on the persecution of Christians some time ago and I believe the European Parliament has also debated and passed a motion on the issue. Has the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference or its sister organisations in other countries succeeded in having debates held on this issue in other Parliaments, whether at committee or plenary level? As the Vice Chairman stated, Ireland is a small cog in the global wheel. I do not mean to detract from the obligation on the Oireachtas to highlight human rights violations and other concerns. If the sister organisations of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference had an opportunity to make presentations to parliamentary committees in other countries in the West, it would make an important contribution towards raising awareness of the terrible injustice being done to many innocent people.

Ms McGrath Gumbo from Trócaire pointed out that humanitarian aid must be provided to people regardless of their race, creed or nationality. All of us support this principle. She also stated that the humanitarian principles which guide Trócaire's response can be a valuable form of protection for the organisation's staff and its local partners from coercion, threats and demands from armed groups. Will she address the issue of safety for humanitarian workers from all non-governmental organisations on the ground?

Mr. Turner of Church in Chains also raised the need for greater awareness and concern about the ongoing persecution of individuals in international fora. Could Ireland use its membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council to greater effect in terms of keeping this issue on the agenda of the United Nations and international community generally?

Ms Smith of Open Doors noted that the epicentres of the ongoing persecution are the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Are there links between the persecution taking place in these two regions?

Ms Smith also referred to apostasy laws. Are there potential remedies in international law to deal effectively with this important issue?