Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that the Laotian Government handed over nine refugees, who escaped from North Korea and fled to Laos, to the North Korean authorities and that this move has endangered the lives of these refugees; and if the Irish Embassy in Hanoi, which is accredited to Laos, has discussed the issue with the Laotian Government. [30761/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am aware of the recent case of nine refugees from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), repatriated to their native country from the Laos People's Democratic Republic in May. I share the concern expressed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, in a statement on 5 June 2013, and support her call for all States to observe the principle of non-refoulment. All States should refrain from the expulsion of refugees to countries where they may face persecution. This principle is a core tenet of international humanitarian law. The international community is extremely concerned about the dire human rights situation in North Korea. Ireland, together with the members of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva in March 2013, approved a resolution to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the matter. This resolution deplored the grave, widespread and systematic human rights abuses in the country and also called upon North Korea to immediately end the use of torture and labour camps against its citizens, including repatriated citizens. Ireland, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and together with our international partners, will continue to urge the DPRK Government to address the dire human rights situation in the country and related issues regarding the repatriation of refugees through the relevant multilateral channels.