Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1177. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of organisations have identified 60 countries throughout the world where Christians are persecuted for their religious beliefs; his position on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33177/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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My Department has received a publication listing 60 countries where Christians are persecuted from Church in Chains. Church in Chains is a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade- NGO standing Committee on Human Rights which meets 5 times a year. Ireland strongly condemns, and attaches great importance to combatting, all forms of persecution or discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

The persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East is a cause for particularly serious concern. In recent weeks, we have seen the extreme brutality and lawlessness demonstrated by ISIS in Iraq and in Syria which is utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. Threats and violence aimed at minority communities, including Christians and Yazidis, are intolerable.

I am extremely concerned for the plight of Christians and other minorities and the threat they face from ISIS. Accordingly, Ireland has allocated €1.1 million to the emergency response to the conflict and unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, with a focus which includes Christians and other minority groups.

In addition, Ireland presses for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including the EU and UN.

Ireland is also working within the EU to address these issues, notably with the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union last year. These Guidelines provide EU officials with an overview of the legal and policy framework within which the right to freedom of religion or belief is protected. They also elaborate an EU strategy on how to engage with third countries on the right to freedom of religion or belief, a strategy which we hope to see bear fruit as we assess the implementation of the Guidelines.

Ireland stands in solidarity with human rights defenders around the world advocating for their right to freedom of religion or belief, and we will continue to work to help to realise a world in which this right is respected and protected.

I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to actively support freedom of religion or belief across our foreign policy.