Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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414. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that religious persecution is on the agenda for the next United Nations Human Rights Council meeting; if Ireland will co-sponsor the regular resolution on freedom of religion or belief tabled by the EU for the next UN session in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45234/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. Ireland, with its EU partners, has previously expressed concern over the climate of intolerance towards religious groups and minorities in a number of countries around the world.

The elimination of religious intolerance and persecution has been at the forefront of Ireland’s human rights agenda for almost 20 years. Ireland has consistently taken a strong position in various international fora with regard to eliminating such intolerance.

Ireland consistently presses for effective action to counter the persecution of religious minorities in all relevant international fora, including the EU and UN. In September this year, I highlighted the issue when I addressed the UN General Assembly in New York. I also raised it during my meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

In this context Ireland has participated actively, at both the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council, in the negotiation of resolutions on this fundamental human right.

At the UN Human Rights Council in March 2014, Ireland co-sponsored the resolution tabled by the EU on the freedom of religion or belief. This resolution stressedthe importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue in all its forms, including among individuals of, and within, different religions and beliefs, and with broader participation, including of women, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.

Ireland expects that the EU will again run a resolution on the freedom of religion or belief at the March 2015 session of the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland will co-sponsor and participate in the negotiations of the draft resolution.

At the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Ireland has also been actively involved in the negotiations of an EU-led draft resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the Third Committee.

My Department will continue to advocate for the promotion and protection of the freedom of religion or belief bilaterally, within the EU, and in multilateral fora such as the UN and the Council of Europe.