Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened with concern to the Deputy's comments. I want to assure the Deputy that the case of Ms Bibi remains of concern to the Government. As I have previously stated, officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and at the Embassy of Ireland in Ankara, have made representations on Ms Bibi's case to the Pakistan authorities.

The EU has also been active on this issue. In light of this debate I will request the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to seek a meeting with the chargé d'affaires of the embassy of Pakistan in Dublin at the earliest opportunity to convey again our concerns about Ms Bibi's case. Our embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor closely Ms Bibi's case in Pakistan and will continue to report back and make representations as appropriate.

Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. Ireland consistently presses for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council and will continue to do so. Ireland will also continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians through its official bilateral contacts with the countries in question.

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