Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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641. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals to raise the need for a co-ordinated response to the persecution of Christians in many regions throughout the world at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the United Nations or other international fora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians. Ireland and the EU consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

On 9 March 2016 at the United Nations Human Rights Council Ireland presented a statement addressing the importance of freedom of religion or belief at an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Professor Heiner Bielefeldt. The statement can be found on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the following address: .

Ireland was also active in the negotiation of the EU led resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Third Committee in 2015 and the EU led resolution on Freedom of Religion of Belief at the 31^stsession of the Human Rights Council in March 2016.

During the past year, Ireland has reiterated its commitment to defending the right to freedom of religion or belief on many occasions, including during a UN Security Council debate on the victims of attacks and abuses on ethnic or religious grounds in the Middle East on 27 March 2015, during my address to the UN General Assembly in New York on 1 October 2015 and during my meetings with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in September 2014 and May 2015.

Ireland works within and alongside the EU to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, notably with the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013. Ireland also pressed for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief to be included in the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019, which was adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July 2015.

Ireland will also continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians through its official bilateral contacts, stressing the responsibility of governments to protect all citizens and minorities, irrespective of their religion or belief.

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