Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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361. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the efforts the Government is making to highlight the persecution of Christian and other minority groups in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32121/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, 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.

In recent years, we have contributed to strengthening international frameworks to uphold the rights of religious minorities. The actions taken include: agreeing EU guidelines on the protection of freedom of religion or belief during our 2013 EU Presidency; co-sponsoring proposed Security Council resolutions on Syria which included provisions to provide legal accountability for the victims of the conflict, including religious minorities; an address last year by the Tánaiste to an international conference of European and Middle Eastern States on protecting the victims of Da'esh terrorism; addressing the UN Security Council on protection of religious minorities in the Middle East. I have raised the protection of Christians in the Middle East in speeches to the UN.

Clearly however, much of the persecution of Christians and other minorities taking place now in the Middle East is a direct consequence of the breakdown of law and order, absence of state authority and in some cases open civil war. We must also recognise that we are limited in terms of possible direct actions, as we have no representation on the ground in Syria and Iraq and no possibility for engagement with groups who fundamentally reject any notion of religious freedom or pluralist societies.

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. This is something we have discussed on many occasions here in the House. Ireland has been a key supporter of the UN's efforts to achieve an end to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and this will continue to a priority in our diplomatic efforts.