Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1682/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am gravely concerned by the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, which continues to deteriorate. The worsening crisis is causing mass migration that creates challenges to host communities and to regional stability.

This crisis is having a dire impact on the Venezuelan population both inside and outside the country, and on the neighbouring countries that are receiving ever increasing numbers of Venezuelan migrants and refugees. The UN estimates that the number of Venezuelans who have left their country since 2015 has reached over three million, with the majority of these travelling to nearby countries in the region.

Humanitarian needs are acute, with severe shortages of food and medicine leading to high rates of malnutrition and the spread of illness and disease. I am particularly concerned by the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, and I urge the Government of Venezuela to acknowledge the full extent of that crisis and allow humanitarian actors to operate without interference.

Neighbouring countries hosting Venezuelan migrants are carrying an enormous burden and must be supported. The situation is particularly acute in Colombia, which has received over one million Venezuelans. In addition, large numbers of Colombians, formerly economic migrants in Venezuela, have returned home to Colombia.

Ireland is fully supportive of the €55 million funding that has been committed by the EU for humanitarian assistance. This funding supports the EU response to help the most vulnerable, and support the reception capacities of the host communities in the region. The EU's assistance, delivered through partners on the ground, focuses on emergency healthcare, food aid, shelter and protection for the most vulnerable families affected by the crisis.

I, along with my EU partners, have repeatedly called on the Venezuelan Government to engage in dialogue with the opposition, to respect the electoral calendar and to fully restore the country’s democratic institutions. It is regrettable to see the Venezuelan Government not heed these calls for fresh presidential elections in accordance with internationally recognised democratic standards and the Venezuelan constitutional order.

On 10 January, President Maduro started a new mandate on the basis of non-democratic elections. Ireland was not represented at the inauguration, and fully supports the declaration by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini of 10 January. This statement reiterates that the May 2018 presidential election was neither free nor fair, and that its outcome lacked credibility. The statement also urges President Maduro to recognise and respect the role and independence of the democratically elected National Assembly, to release all political prisoners, to uphold the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to urgently address the needs of the population.

Ireland also regrets the negative impact the assumption of this new mandate may have on the possibility of a negotiated solution to this crisis. It is my continued belief that credible and meaningful dialogue is the most effective means of achieving a peaceful negotiated solution to the crisis currently affecting the country. To that end, it will be vital that the EU remains engaged with all stakeholders in Venezuela.

The EU is currently exploring the potential of setting up an International Contact Group (ICG) for Venezuela. This group would consist of the EU, a number of EU MS, and other important actors with varying political views on the situation in Venezuela. The ICG would not have the role of a mediator, but rather would aim to facilitate a solution to the crisis. The role is envisaged as mainly assisting in putting conditions in place to allow for a political process to take place. I would welcome the establishment of an ICG and I hope that it will be a useful vehicle for information sharing and encouraging dialogue.

The situation in Venezuela continues to be discussed at the highest levels within the EU and was discussed by Foreign Ministers at our meeting on 10 December. I welcome the high priority given to the issue by the EU, and I believe that it is important for us to work in step with our like-minded regional partners.

Our Embassy in Mexico is responsible for our diplomatic relations with Venezuela and is monitoring the situation closely, engaging with partner organisations on the ground and with EU Missions in Caracas. Ireland will continue to engage regularly with our EU partners on this issue, as well as with affected countries in the region.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the situation in Rakhine state and in particular recent clashes in the region; the efforts being made by the EU, UN and international community to protect civilians and uphold human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1684/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am very concerned by the recent escalation of violence in Rakhine State and I call for the immediate cessation of violence before further loss of life. All sides must exercise restraint and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.

I welcome the unilaterally declared ceasefire by the Military in many of the conflict areas in the North and East of Myanmar something I hope can be extended beyond four months and include Rakhine State. Ultimately, the long-standing and very deeply rooted tensions and divisions in Rakhine State can only be solved through dialogue and an inclusive political process. The report of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State is an important tool in this regard providing a roadmap for sustainable peace building and development for the benefit of all civilians. In the meantime, civilians must be shielded from the violence that has once again forced people to flee from their homes.

Officials in my Department, including in our embassies in Thailand and Vietnam, will continue to monitor the situation in close contact with the EU Delegation in Myanmar. We will continue to work with our international partners to urge progress within Myanmar on these difficult issues. Together we must pursue a future that brings peace, reconciliation and prosperity for everybody in Myanmar.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on efforts at EU and international level to prevent the persecution of Christians around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1685/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right, which is replicated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private and to manifest one’s religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur and who the victims are.

Ireland is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion through our work at the EU, the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. Ireland also uses the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism of the Human Rights Council, to remind countries under review of their obligation to advance fundamental freedoms, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, under international human rights law.

At EU level, Ireland played a key role in the adoption by the European Union of guidelines on freedom of religion or belief during our Presidency in 2013. These guidelines provide a framework for the promotion of this right in the EU's external human rights policy.

Addressing the high level segment of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in February 2018, my colleague, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon highlighted threats to freedom of religion and belief and minority religious communities worldwide, including those of Christian, Muslim and Baha’i faiths.

At the same session of the Council, Ireland participated in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, welcoming the work he has undertaken to date and assuring him of Ireland’s continuing support for his mandate.

Most recently at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in November 2018, Ireland supported the EU led resolution on freedom of religion or belief and we also participated in an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, during which we condemned restrictions placed on fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom or religion or belief, by using national legislation to enforce such measures in the name of national security.