David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current situation in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48912/22]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the humanitarian situation in Myanmar; and the initiatives that have been taken by the international community to address the situation. [48926/22]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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This question has to do with Myanmar and the awful situation there. It gives the Minister an opportunity to inform the House of what he and the Government are doing and what is happening at UN level.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is right that it is an awful situation and, because there are so many other awful situations around the world, it may not be getting the attention it should. I remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar. It has been 19 months since the military took control by coup and launched a brutal campaign to retain power and reverse the hard-won progress that had been made in that country. Their actions had devastating consequences for people there. I utterly condemn the coup and attempts to consolidate or legitimise the military regime.

The Government has repeatedly called for the immediate release of detainees. It has expressed abhorrence at the indefensible killing of unarmed civilians and the use of military weaponry, sexual violence, torture and the death penalty by the military regime. It has done so through five national statements since the coup. I also strongly support the EU's adoption of sanctions against the perpetrators of the coup and the economic entities that sustain them.

Ireland has advocated for regular discussion of the situation on the UN Security Council. There have been ten discussions at the council since the coup, regrettably in closed meeting format, most recently on 16 September. At those meetings, we have highlighted our deep concern at the deteriorating situation on the ground, including the death sentences carried out by the military regime against pro-democracy activists. I remain deeply concerned by the politically motivated verdicts against Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and others.

At the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland has consistently supported international efforts towards ensuring accountability and justice, including through the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is precarious and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the armed conflict. More than 14 million people require humanitarian assistance and almost 1.3 million people are displaced across the country. To date in 2022 the Government has provided €1.2 million towards humanitarian needs in Myanmar. We have also responded through our core support for the UN-pooled Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, which has provided over €12 million in response to the crisis this year. In 2022, the EU has allocated more than €27 million in humanitarian aid.

The Government also continues to provide support to the Rohingya crisis, allocating over €8 million between 2018 and 2021 through trusted UN and NGO partners. I will continue to work closely with partners in the EU and at the UN to encourage diplomatic solutions to end a crisis that is entirely self-made by the military in Myanmar. We will continue to try to prioritise and shine a spotlight on that horrific situation, which is not getting enough international attention.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his response and acknowledge the work he and his officials are doing at EU and UN level. Much has been done. Reading the reports from Myanmar is horrifying, as the Minister has alluded to. He mentioned the Rohingya. Will he comment on the plight of those people? I have met some of them here. They are gentle people. I think there are 1 million of them in Bangladesh at the moment in a precarious situation as well. The Minister mentioned sexual abuse, torture, execution, the death penalty and so on.

Will he comment on calls for a global arms embargo and what is being done to make that happen?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is now five years since the Rohingya crisis began in Myanmar. The violence and terror perpetrated by the Myanmar military created conditions where 750,000 Rohingya people had no option but to flee their country. Conditions for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Rohingya people to Myanmar remain very uncertain. Approximately 1 million Rohingya refugees continue to seek refuge in Kutupalong, Bangladesh while tens of thousands more are across the region. Over 140,000 internally displaced persons remain confined to camps in Myanmar. The situation has deteriorated further since the illegitimate military coup on 1 February 2021. I am deeply saddened at reports that over 2,200 people have been killed, approximately 15,000 have been detained, over 1 million have been displaced by conflict and over 14 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Those figures are listed in a statement but when you think about it, it is quite extraordinary that there are 14 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. It is nearly three times the population of Ireland.

On whether Ireland will join the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice, Ireland is a firm supporter of the International Court of Justice. My Department monitors the cases before the court closely and the question of third party intervention in proceedings between states is kept under close review. I will come back and give the Deputy more detail on that if he wants, if there is time in the next round.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree with Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, that what is happening to the Rohingya people is actually genocide? Will the Minister comment on the calls for a global arms embargo? Has he had any contact with states that may be supporting the military there to try to stop them from offering that support and from keeping this junta in place? Are there any Irish citizens in that country? What is their situation? Could they be at risk?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On the question of genocide, we are monitoring the cases before the international court. In this respect it is important to note that the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court is continuing to conduct a criminal investigation into alleged crimes within the court's jurisdictions committed against the Rohingya people. That investigation was authorised by the pretrial chamber of the court in November 2019. The prosecutor visited Bangladesh earlier this year and confirmed during that visit that his investigation would be a priority during his tenure. He has allocated additional resources to the investigative team, in particular with a view to accelerating the collection of analysis and evidence. We are very much supportive of that process and will support its conclusions in the context of the potential genocide that took place there.

On arms embargoes and pressure on the junta in Myanmar, perhaps the most effective way of putting pressure on that junta is through China. I have had conversations with my Chinese counterpart in relation to how China might be more proactive. It is one of the few countries that have the capacity to influence the junta there.