Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response of the Chinese Ambassador to his expression of concern regarding the situation in Tibet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13620/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On my instructions, senior officials of my Department have been, since 17 March, in regular touch with the Chinese Embassy in Dublin to seek information about developments in Tibet and to convey my deep concern at the situation there.

We have sought, including in my statement of 31 March, to address the following:

to urge all sides to exercise the maximum restraint, and to underline the importance Ireland attaches to the right of freedom of expression and peaceful protest;

to urge the Chinese authorities to allow greater access by the media and independent observers to Tibet in order to facilitate an assessment of what has been happening there;

to establish from the Chinese authorities what has happened to the protesters, both those who had surrendered themselves to the authorities and those who had not, as well as seeking assurances of their well-being and the release of imprisoned peaceful protesters ;

to encourage substantial dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, which I believe remains the only sustainable way of ensuring the preservation of Tibetan religious and cultural identity, as well as addressing Chinese concerns regarding their territorial integrity.

The Chinese Ambassador has assured us of the seriousness with which he takes the Government's concerns and undertaken to relay faithfully these messages to his authorities in Beijing. The Chinese Embassy has kept the Department informed of the views of the Chinese authorities on the situation in Tibet.