Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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288. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his EU counterparts the situation in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39515/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned by the violence taking place in Rakhine State and reports of serious human rights violations. All perpetrators of violence must be brought to justice in line with the rule of law. The Myanmar security forces involved in ongoing operations have a duty to exercise maximum restraint and to protect unarmed civilians.

The crisis has led to hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians fleeing the country. I urge all sides for a de-escalation of tensions, and full observance of international human rights law. Unrestricted humanitarian access is essential. UN agencies and other humanitarian actors must be allowed to return and resume their operations imminently.

This Government is raising its concerns both through our contacts with the Government of Myanmar, in the context of our EU membership and through participation in UN fora. I have not yet had an opportunity to discuss recent developments in this situation with my EU counterparts. However the ongoing developments and the EU’s response has and continues to be discussed in detail at official level in Brussels and in Myanmar since the escalation of violence in Rakhine State on 25 August. I have been briefed on these discussions, and Ireland fully supports the statements made by EU High Representative Mogherini on this issue. We will continue to engage closely with our EU partners on this matter as the situation evolves.