Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, during his meetings from 13 March to 20 March 2005 with Chinese Vice Minister Zhu Guangyao and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Zonghuai of China, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, during his meeting in 2005 with the Minister for Environment of Singapore, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Singapore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24301/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, during his meeting on 31 January 2008 with Ambassador Amr Helmy of Egypt, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24302/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 to 394, inclusive, together.

Human rights are, and have always been, a priority of successive Governments and central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, the Government monitors the human rights situation in many countries, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including non-governmental organisations. Where the situation warrants, the Department of Foreign Affairs makes known concerns about human rights violations to the Government in question, either bilaterally, including in high level meetings, through the EU which has an active human rights dialogue with many countries, or through actions at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

The specific meetings referred to in the questions were either courtesy visits or were conducted as part of a St. Patrick's Day itinerary. It is usual to discuss matters relating to my brief as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at such meetings.