Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for debate. It is very important that we discuss this and make our voices heard as a neutral country. I am in no way taking from the savage despicable war and slaughter in Ukraine but there are other parts of the world to which we do not give equal time. I thank Sister Kathleen McGarvey for outlining so clearly how Christians in Nigeria are under constant attack. Christians are under attack on a daily and hourly basis not only in Nigeria but also in Yemen and some parts of the eastern world we are supposed to have liberated. A US coalition of forces bombed places to bits. We saw what happened in Afghanistan. It is hard to believe that under some of the dictators Christians, minority Muslims and members of other faiths were allowed to worship with impunity and protection. Since the dictators were removed, people have not had the same freedom of worship. It is a shocking situation. It is hard to believe that in 2021 the Nigerian Government oversaw the slaughter of 4,000 Nigerian Christians.

The Nigerian Government has a one-sided view on the issue. It believes that it is a case of two sects fighting among themselves. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the slaughter of Christians with impunity by Boko Haram and other Muslim groups. It is atrocious. Our Government should be raising the matter at UN level, where we are represented on the Security Council. However, as far as I can see, our Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs are silent on the matter. I am calling on them to act and to call this out for what it is: the absolute slaughter of Christians. One would hate to wonder whether the lack of a response is due to the colour of people's skin. What is going on there is shocking. As I said, Uachtarán na hÉireann linked the slaughter of people in a Christian church in Nigeria with climate change. I do not know how that could have been dreamt that up. Nevertheless, I am thankful to the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise the matter. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's reply telling us what he is going to do. As a neutral country, we should be raising the issue to high heaven. We should be highlighting that it is happening throughout the world. As a neutral country, we have a proud record of peacekeeping. We should raise these issues. This week the Taoiseach was in Ukraine. Slaughter is going on in other parts of the world as well, yet there is not a word or a peep about it. The media seem to be very slow to report it. The issue must be highlighted. We must hold the Nigerian Government to account. I am a member of the International Catholic Legislators Network. I have heard first-hand accounts from Nigerian Members of Parliament and Government Ministers of what is going on. I am very concerned about it. Deputy Michael Collins also wanted to raise the matter today, but unfortunately he was called away and is not in attendance. I thank him for joining me in raising the issue. I hope that the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will give us some hope and will outline what the Government is doing to highlight the persecution of Christians and other minority groups worldwide.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue. It is an issue that I would have raised myself as an opposition Deputy. I am grateful that he has raised it today. It gives us a chance to outline exactly what the Government is doing and where we are raising the issue at international forums. Religious persecution is on the rise in many different parts of the world. I welcome this opportunity to outline the important work that Ireland is doing to protect and defend faith-based minorities from attack and to advance religious freedom for all.

The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is regarded as a fundamental freedom, and is set forth in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN Human Rights Committee has confirmed that the right includes the freedom to change religion or belief, or to adopt atheistic views. The promotion of freedom of religion or belief is a priority for Ireland's human rights engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels, as reaffirmed in The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, no matter where in the world it occurs or who the victims may be.

At a multilateral level, the right to freedom of religion or belief features prominently in our engagement at the UN Security Council, in the General Assembly and at the Human Rights Council, as well as through our participation in intergovernmental alliances dedicated to religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities. As recently as 21 March 2021, Ireland participated in a special sitting of the UN Security Council where we raised issues relating to freedom of religion and belief. In particular, Ireland used this opportunity to share our own experience of religious conflict, reflecting on the important role that religious leaders have played in securing peace for Northern Ireland. Ireland condemned the use of religion or belief to create hierarchies of humanity which are artificially constructed to generate categories of belonging and exclusion. This can never be tolerated. Ireland consistently co-sponsors resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and at the Human Rights Council. Ireland is also a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, as well as the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Indeed, my own work on the General Affairs Council deals with antisemitism. Both the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief work to strengthen, advance and promote religious freedom. Within the EU also, Ireland works with partners to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. During our Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013, Ireland played a key role in the development and adoption of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief. These guidelines provide a framework for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief in the EU's external human rights policy.

I wish to take this opportunity to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the attack last month on innocent civilians gathering to attend Sunday mass at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria. It was the latest in a string of deadly faith-based attacks to take place in the country over the past decade. The attack resulted in the death of multiple people and left a further 40 wounded. There can be no justification for acts of violence or discrimination of any kind on the basis of religion or belief. Atrocities of this kind remind us that we cannot take religious freedom for granted. Our diplomats and embassy in Abuja continue to work with local civil society on the ground to monitor developments in relation to the investigation of the attack. Ireland takes very seriously its commitment to ensuring the right to freedom of religion or belief, and continues to use all avenues available to highlight our concerns and to actively engage with like-minded partners.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Nolan for repeatedly asking parliamentary questions on this issue and for highlighting the matter. She is associated with this Topical Issue matter. Last Saturday, we were fortunate enough to have a celebration of mass by our parish priest, Fr. Michael Toomey, out at a mass rock, where priests were victimised and terrorised, and indeed, paid the ultimate price with their lives during the time of the Penal Laws. Thankfully, we have moved on since then. We were able to celebrate mass there. Fr. Paddy O'Hanlon started the tradition of saying the mass some 20 years ago. We have the mass every July amuigh faoin spéir. It is a wonderful day in the parish. It is nice to remember that.

The Minister of State referred to the vicious attack on the church in Nigeria where people had gathered to worship. Such attacks are happening on an hourly, daily and weekly basis. The Nigerian Government must be held to account. It is the same in Yemen and other countries in the world where people are persecuted. Ireland must be at the forefront in highlighting the issue. I do not hear anything. The Minister of State outlined how the issue is being raised by our officials at a UN level. Why is our Taoiseach not cheerleading on the issue, as he is on matters in other countries, such as the war in Ukraine? We must be even-handed. We must deal with all persecution on the basis of religion. The ease of access that Boko Haram and other groups have is obnoxious and obscene. They can easily recruit people who do not have a great education. I wish to thank the religious sisters and the priests of Ireland. They have travelled all over the world to provide education. They are still doing it. Goodness knows, they get enough criticism in this House, but I want to salute them for what they have done and what they continue to do. We need to keep highlighting the issue at UN and EU levels and anywhere else that we can raise it, because it is just not acceptable that this kind of religious persecution can take place. The savage loss of human life is atrocious.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising the issue. I previously outlined that we engage considerably on the issue at a multilateral level. I will refer to some of our most recent work in this area. At the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which concludes later this week in Geneva, Ireland took important steps to highlight our concerns around religious freedom. Along with 46 other countries, Ireland signed up to a joint statement on human rights in China. The statement noted with particular concern reports of China's restrictions in Xinjiang, which include restrictions on the right of the Uyghur population to freedom of religion and belief. Ireland also presented an item 2 national statement, which called on the Chinese authorities to respect international law, particularly in relation to the rights of those living in Xingjian and Tibet. At the Human Rights Council, Ireland has previously supported resolutions to extend the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur for Religious Freedom to allow a continuation of this important and meaningful work on the world stage. Furthermore, officials in my Department have been following with great interest the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, taking place in London this week. We participated, on Tuesday of this week, in a parallel event at the British Embassy, which included attendance by members of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum. All of this work that is being done by officials at a multilateral level with different bodies is done on behalf of the Government of Ireland and the people of Ireland. The Taoiseach cannot be at every single meeting.

However, as I think the Deputy can see now, there is a huge amount of work being done by the Government in this area and I am grateful he has given me a chance to outline that. Ireland is fully committed to protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief and continues to use all avenues available to highlight our concerns and actively engage and support like-minded partners. I again thank our embassy in Abuja for the work it is doing in following the investigation and working with people on the ground on behalf of Ireland, this Dáil and the people to get justice there and to ensure an investigation can find out what happened and put a stop to all this violence and discrimination against people because of their religion or belief.