Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 284: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 19 January 2005 with Mr. Zhou Ji of China, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24303/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 285: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 13 April 2005 with the Minister for Education, Hon. Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Namibia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24304/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 286: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 4 July 2005 and 27 October 2005 with Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Sha Hailin, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 287: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 11 October 2005 with Egyptian Minister for Education Yousri El-Gamal, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 288: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 22 and 23 February 2006 with Vice Minister Zhang Zhijun and Minister for Education Mr. Zhou Ji of China, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24307/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 289: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 28 February 2006 with Ambassador Manette Ramaili of the Kingdom of Lesotho, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Lesotho; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24308/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 290: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 6 February 2007 with Minister for Education Geoffrey Lungwangwa of Namibia, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Namibia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24309/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 291: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 19 June 2007 with Vice Minister Wu of China, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24310/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 292: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 10 October 2007 with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xinsen, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24311/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 293: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 12 December 2007 with Ambassador Mohammed Bin Nawaf al Saud of Saudi Arabia, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24312/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 294: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, during his meeting on 3 April 2008 with Egyptian Ambassador Amr Helmy, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24313/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 294, inclusive, together.

The meetings at Ministerial level to which the Deputy refers were arranged to discuss specific issues, including the common challenges and issues which are faced by Ireland and other countries in the area of education and the potential for co-operation between educational institutions. The meetings with Ambassadors were primarily courtesy calls. Issues outside my remit such as Human Rights issues in other countries were not raised at these meetings, as I have no official functions in this area.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is primarily responsible for pursuing the issue of human rights in other countries, which is central to Ireland's foreign policy. Where the situation warrants, the Minister for Foreign Affairs makes known the Government's concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question, either bilaterally, including in high-level meetings, through the EU which has an active human rights dialogue with many countries, or through action at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.