Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the potential threat to a person (details supplied); the actions he will take in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46652/18]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in Pakistan accused of blasphemy and convicted of the offence under Pakistan's blasphemy law and sentenced to death; and if will he raise the person's case with his Pakistani counterpart and request that the person is freed and removed from the exit control list. [47069/18]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he made representations to the Pakistani Government or its ambassador regarding the high profile imprisonment of a person (details supplied) for blasphemy; if requests have been made to his Department to offer asylum to the individual and that person's family following the public disturbances and disorder following the individual's release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47182/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 154 and 156 together.

Under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Ireland works within and alongside the EU and UN to address the persecution of religious minorities wherever it occurs.

I am aware of the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani woman convicted in 2010 of Blasphemy and sentenced to death. Following an appeal, the Supreme Court of Pakistan recently overturned her conviction. I commend the judges of the Supreme Court for doing so and for upholding the rule of law in a very difficult situation.

I continue to follow developments in the case and strongly condemn all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur and who the victims are.

Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

I am fully aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan and will continue to raise the issue with the Pakistan Government as well as through the framework and mechanisms of the European Union and the United Nations.

Decisions on granting asylum rest with the Minister for Justice and Equality. I understand that neither Ms. Bibi nor her family members have sought asylum in Ireland to date. I also understand that any request for international protection in Ireland from Ms. Bibi would be given every consideration.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations made to the Tanzanian Government on the level of the threat to the LGBT community and supporters of opposition parties there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46738/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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‘The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy For Changing World’ states clearly that: “We are committed to promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, who continue to suffer disproportionate levels of violence and face systemic discrimination in many countries.” There is no situation in which a person’s fundamental human rights should be prejudiced because of their sexual orientation.

This clear policy informed the Tánaiste’s letter to the Foreign Minister of Tanzania, Mr Augustine Mahiga, immediately upon learning of statements by the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner targeting members of the LGBTI+ community. The Tánaiste called upon the Tanzanian Government to ensure the protection of LGBTI+ people in line with Tanzania’s national and international human rights commitments.

Minister Mahiga subsequently issued a formal statement, distancing his Government from the Regional Commissioner’s comments and reiterating Tanzania’s commitment to uphold its international human rights obligations.

My Department, including through the Embassy of Ireland in Dar es Salaam, is monitoring the situation in Tanzania and working closely with partners in support of the protection and promotion of human rights.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the sanctions he is seeking at EU level against Saudi Arabia for the killing of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46773/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland fully supports calls for independent and impartial investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. High Representative Federica Mogherini has issued a statement on behalf of the European Union insisting on the need for ‘continued thorough, credible and transparent investigation, shedding proper clarity on the circumstances of the killing and ensuring full accountability of all those responsible for it’. Having called for investigation we must wait and give consideration to findings based on verifiable evidence before considering next steps. Our approach will be in tandem with our EU partners and will depend on the next steps taken by Saudi authorities.

As previously mentioned in the Dáil, I met with the Saudi Ambassador, H.E. Mr Nail bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, on 18 October and stressed the widespread shock caused by the case and the necessity for credible and open investigation. It is imperative that an investigation gets to the facts of the case and ensures that those responsible for the killing are held accountable. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have reiterated Ireland’s concerns to the Ambassador in recent weeks.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right under international human rights law. Journalists play a vital role in holding governments to account. Ireland has consistently raised issues of human rights in Saudi Arabia, at bilateral, EU and international level. At the UN Human Rights Council in September, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on ‘Safety of Journalists’, condemning all violence against journalists and urging all states to ensure accountability for such attacks.

Ireland specifically raised the Khashoggi case at the UN Human Rights Council on 5 November in our intervention during the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

Ireland will continue to raise concerns about human rights issues directly with the Saudi authorities, and at EU and international levels, whenever appropriate opportunities arise.