Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The Government closely follows the situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar-Burma. Recently reported incidents of serious violence against the Rohingya people in Rakhine state, in particular in Du Chee Tan village in January 2014, are deeply worrying. I welcome the announcement made by Myanmar's President, U Thein Sein, on 28 January that there would be an independent investigation into this incident. This investigation was launched on 7 February and is due to conclude at the end of this month.

Ireland's ambassador to Myanmar, based in our embassy in Hanoi, visited Yangon from 20 to 22 January 2014 and attended the monthly EU heads of mission meeting while there, when the situation in Rakhine was discussed. During this latest visit, the ambassador also received updates on the situation in Rakhine from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, and from non-governmental organisations actively working in Rakhine. From 29 January to 1 February 2014, the EU delegation in Myanmar, along with several EU heads of mission, travelled to internally displaced peoples, IDP, camps in Rakhine state to assess the overall situation in the region and get first-hand information by listening to those involved in ongoing communal conflict.

The EU has specifically called on the Government of Myanmar to address the status and welfare needs of the Rohingya people and to take a zero tolerance approach to violent extremism. The EU has also urged Myanmar to permit the establishment of a country office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Since 2007, over €7 million has been provided by Irish Aid to NGOs and Irish missionaries for both long-term development and emergency and recovery responses in Myanmar. In December 2013, the Tánaiste announced an additional programme of funding worth €500,000. The EU is providing around €70 million to the people of Rakhine state. A large share of this assistance is to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of the region.

Ireland through multilateral organisations such as the EU and UN takes every opportunity to raise the plight of the Rohingya people and urge the Government of Myanmar to address humanitarian and human rights issues. At the 23rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in May-June 2013, Ireland and our fellow council members adopted a presidential statement regarding the situation for Muslims in Myanmar. Council members including Ireland expressed deep concern at the gross violations of human rights against Muslims, including the Rohingya community, urged the government there to grant full citizenship rights to the Rohingya in Rakhine and review the discriminatory 1982 citizenship law. At the upcoming 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to be held from 3-28 March, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tomas Ojea Quintana, is due to present a report on the human rights situation in the country. The special rapporteur recently commented that the present situation in Rakhine "represents a particular obstacle and a threat to the reform process".

The Irish Government is also concerned about the issue of Rohingya people forced to leave Myanmar for neighbouring countries. There have been reports of mistreatment of Rohingya in Thailand and elsewhere. The EU has expressed concerns to the ministry of foreign affairs and the national security council in Thailand.

Myanmar continues to undergo a process of long-awaited transition towards full democracy. Ireland, together with our EU partners, recognises that while significant progress has been made, difficult and complex challenges remain. The situation of the Rohingya is one such challenge which requires the care and attention of the international community and the Government of Myanmar. Ireland will continue to utilise our bilateral and multilateral channels to urge the Government of Myanmar to address the human rights situation of the Rohingya, together with other challenges.

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