Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the work of his departmental officials with relevant international agencies on Yemen, the Baha'i community in Yemen and the recent sentencing to death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3605/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This case is a cause for concern, in particular as the individual appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs.Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, and attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. Ireland consistently raises the issues of racism and intolerance and advocates for inclusive societies at the UN Human Rights Council, as well as in other multilateral fora. Furthermore, Ireland is unequivocal in its stance on the death penalty. We oppose and condemn its use in all circumstances, and in particular in cases where there are allegations of unfair trials preceding its implementation. The abolition of the death penalty is one of Ireland’s international priorities, and my Department regularly conveys our stance on this issue to all countries where the death penalty is still in use.

The conflict in Yemen, now in its third year, has led to grave concerns about human rights and Ireland has worked in the UN system to address these. At the Human Rights Council in September 2017, Ireland joined the small core group of countries that drove forward the adoption of a Resolution on Yemen, which established a group of international experts to investigate the facts in relation to violations of human rights and humanitarian law on the ground. This group will report back to the Human Rights Council, as an important step towards accountability in Yemen.

Among other pressing issues, this resolution expressed concern at the severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in Yemen, including for members of the Baha’i faith. Ireland calls on all parties to immediately release all Baha’i detained in Yemen due to their religious belief, to cease the issuance of arrest warrants against them and to cease the harassment to which they are subjected.

Officials from this Department also remain in contact with representatives of the Baha’i community in Ireland, with whom they have discussed the situation in Yemen, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

My Department necessarily prioritises its efforts to promote improvements in the general human rights situation, as it does not have the capacity to actively pursue at EU and international level all of the individual cases that arise. Accordingly, my Department will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Yemen, as well as the issues of freedom of religion and the death penalty, and will take every appropriate opportunity to advocate for them.

As regards cooperation with international agencies on Yemen, Ireland has provided almost €11.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen since 2015, in response to the escalating crisis. Ireland provided €5.3 million in support to Yemen in 2017 alone, the majority of which was channelled through the UN Humanitarian Fund for Yemen, which makes funding available for UN agencies which have the best capacity to deliver services on the ground. Ireland also contributes to global funds that allocate funding to the Yemen crisis, including the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which makes emergency funding readily available for UN agencies. Ireland contributed €22 million to the CERF in 2017.

Finally, a real improvement in the human rights situation in Yemen will require an end to conflict. I would like to assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to support all efforts towards a negotiated settlement to the conflict in that country.