Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 14 December 2016, the status of his Department's efforts and contribution to seek a solution to this conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14486/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland welcomes the democratic transition which is currently underway in Myanmar/Burma following elections in November 2015. We recognise the positive steps that the new Government of Myanmar/Burma has taken in pursuit of peace and reconciliation, democratic reforms and economic growth. As noted in my reply to parliamentary question number 137 of 14 December 2016, I am however deeply concerned about the plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, as well as Rohingya refugees in neighbouring countries, particularly in light of the escalation of violence in Rakhine State in the wake of attacks on police posts near Myanmar/Burma’s border with Bangladesh in October 2016.I note with serious concern the report of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which issued on 3 February, which outlined experiences of the Rohingya community who recently entered Bangladesh from Rakhine State.

Ireland has consistently called for an independent investigation into the allegations of human rights violations by the security forces, as well as the need for the full restoration of humanitarian and media access to Rakhine State, most recently in its national statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma on 13th March at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC 34).

At HRC 34, Ireland has also supported the ongoing drafting of the EU-led resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma, which conveys the HRC’s serious concerns over the recent deterioration in the security, human rights and humanitarian situation in Rakhine State. Ireland has also supported the inclusion of this issue in the EU’s contact with the Government of Myanmar, including in the most recent EU-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 22 November 2016.

As well as via the context of our membership of the EU and UN, Ireland has been active in raising concerns regarding the treatment of the Rohingya community at bilateral level with the authorities in Myanmar/Burma.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Thailand, who is accredited to Myanmar/Burma, raised these concerns with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Tin during a visit to the country in January 2017. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation closely.