Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he can unilaterally or in conjunction with his EU and UN colleagues focus attention on the manner in which refugees continue to be mistreated at various locations throughout the globe with a view to achieving an international minimum standard for all refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28341/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency charged with upholding the rights of refugees and asylum seekers under international law and with providing essential humanitarian assistance to displaced persons globally, there were almost 70 million refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2017. One person is forcibly displaced every two seconds. Most displaced persons still live within the borders of their own countries but over 25 million are refugees, forced to seek protection in countries other than their own. 85% of displaced people globally are hosted in developing countries, such as Irish Aid partner countries Uganda and Ethiopia. At the global level, the Member States of the United Nations came together in 2016 and unanimously adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which expressed a shared political will to address large movements of refugees and migrants in a more coordinated and humane manner. Ireland played a leading role in co-facilitating this landmark Declaration, and we are continuing on our efforts in its follow up.

Central in this is the commitment in the New York Declaration to putting in place two Global Compacts by the end of this year – one on refugees and one on migration. Ireland is actively engaged in the negotiations for both these Compacts, advocating strongly - including within the EU - for an approach which places the dignity and human rights of all people on the move at the centre of our response. Any approach or solution needs to be comprehensive, addressing all aspects of the issue, from the causes of mass exodus to the responses necessary to cover the range of refugee situations.

Meanwhile, there is a well-established body of international law, notably the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, with protections and minimum standards. Ireland believes strongly that these must be respected and is consistent in advocating for this with our partners at the global and EU levels.

Ireland also provides significant support through our aid programme to, amongst others, UNHCR and UNRWA, which is responsible for Palestinian refugees. In addition, the Irish Naval Service helps save lives through its actions to assist those who get into difficulty trying to cross the Mediterranean.