Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar with that country’s diplomatic representatives and at European level; and the further measures he plans to take to seek on this issue. [41775/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I strongly condemn the violence taking place in Rakhine State. I am also deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis which has developed both within Rakhine State, and in neighbouring Bangladesh, where over 500,000, mostly Rohingya, refugees have arrived since 25 August. This Government has consistently raised its concerns at the situation through our own statements, in the context of our EU membership and through participation in UN fora. On 15 September I issued a statement on this issue in which I called on the security forces to de-escalate the situation, to respect international human rights law, and to ensure the protection of all civilians in the affected area.

I also raised this in my statement to the UN General Assembly on 23 September, where I stressed the need for the suspension of military activity; an end to violence; the upholding of the rule of law and the recognition of the right of return of all those who have had to leave the country.

Along with other EU Member States, Ireland has consistently urged the Government of Myanmar to restore access to Rakhine State by humanitarian actors and media organisations. I welcome the extension of the mandate of the UN Fact Finding Mission, which took place at the Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, and call on the Government of Myanmar to fully cooperate with it and to grant it the necessary access to Rakhine State and other areas of the country.

The ongoing developments and the EU’s response has been, 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.

Myanmar does not have a resident Embassy in Ireland; the Embassy of Myanmar in London is accredited to Ireland.