Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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303. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to protect Christian and other minority communities in the Middle East; if he has taken any initiatives in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3852/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have repeatedly condemned the crimes committed against religious and ethnic minorities across the Middle East, including Christians, who have been the victims of appalling crimes, including murder, sexual violence, enslavement and forced conversions.

Ireland, in conjunction with 57 other States, sponsored a resolution calling for the Security Council of the United Nations to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court in 2014, a resolution which was vetoed by two permanent members of the Security Council.

Ireland has provided over €43M in recent years in humanitarian support to the victims of the Syrian and Iraqi crises and will make a further commitment at the forthcoming London conference on the Syrian crisis at the beginning of February.

The only means of securing the protection of Christian communities and other minorities across the Middle East, is through the promotion of sustainable political solutions to the conflicts which have destabilised the region and have been the key factor in the promotion of radical and extremist ideologies. Ireland has been a key supporter of the UN’s efforts to achieve an end to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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304. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on relations with the autonomous provinces of Kurdistan in Iraq and on Ireland's stance on the long struggle of Kurdistan for national independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3854/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.