Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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586. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been imprisoned since December 2013 due to possession of banned images and teachings of the Dalai Lama; that many Tibetans have been imprisoned for political reasons; that many disappear for months only to reappear before show trials in which they are convicted for crimes against the Chinese State; that many endure torture and long sentences with their illnesses often untreated and that some go for years without visits from families and friends; and if he will raise with his Chinese counterpart the case of this person and Tibetan political prisoners. [9802/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Respect for human rights and the promotion of human rights has always been and will continue to be a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. The Government therefore remains concerned about all reported cases of political imprisonment, including those in China. My Department is however unaware of the case of the individual in question.

Ireland and its partners in the EU have conveyed concern at the restrictions on expressions of Tibetan identity, which appear to be giving rise to a surge of discontent in the region. While respecting China’s territorial integrity, the EU has called upon the Chinese authorities to address the deep-rooted causes of the frustration of the Tibetan people to ensure that their civil, political, economic and social and cultural rights are respected, including their right to enjoy their own culture, to practise their own religion and to use their own language.

The promotion of human rights is an important dimension of the EU’s foreign policy, as enshrined in the Treaty of the European Union. Constructive dialogue remains the EU’s preferred channel for working to improve the human rights situation in China. Human rights are discussed as part of regular political dialogue as well as during specific human rights dialogues with China which have taken place since 1995. The EU raised its concerns about the treatment of members of the Tibetan community at the most recent EU-China Summit in June 2015, and at the 34th EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights in November 2015 which Ireland attended. On this occasion, individual Tibetan human rights cases were raised, and a list of Tibetan human rights defenders was presented to the Chinese side. Individual cases were also raised with the Chinese authorities during the visit to China by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Lambrinidis in November 2015. Bilaterally, Ireland continues to convey its concerns about the human rights situation in China directly to the Chinese authorities through regular contacts in both Dublin and Beijing.

Ireland together with our EU partners believes that constructive dialogue between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama is the best way to address differences and tensions in Tibet and to reach a solution that respects Tibetan culture, language, religion and identity. It is important for the long-term peace and stability of the region that the two sides come to an agreement on the future of Tibet. To this end, we continue to encourage a resumption of meaningful dialogue.