Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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116. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his counterparts across Europe, with the Chinese Government and-or with the Chinese Ambassador the human rights abuses in respect of the Uighir people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28546/20]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland has been quiet on the human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim population by the Chinese Government; and if the treatment of the Uighur people will be condemned by way of a statement in Dáil Éireann. [25416/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 140 together.

This is an issue of serious concern, as was underlined last week by the series of worrying reports on Xinjiang. Ireland has not been quiet on this matter, and I have spoken in this House about our concerns regarding the situation in Xinjiang on numerous occasions.

We, along with our EU partners, remain deeply concerned about the credible reports regarding restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and forced sterilisations and birth control in the region.

Ireland has been vocal about raising this issue, along with other partners in the international community. In our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September, Ireland reiterated our deep concern regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, and urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At EU level, the deterioration of the human rights situation, including the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang, was raised by EU leaders with China on 14 September, and it was agreed to discuss these issues further at an EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing later this year. The matter was also raised during the EU-China Summit on the 22 June.

Prior to this, Ireland was also one of 27 States to support a Joint Statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 30 June 2020, which also called on the High Commissioner to provide regular information about the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.

This week, Ireland is supporting a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee which reiterates our grave concern regarding the situation in Xinjiang, and recalls the exceptional letter of concern issued by 50 UN Special Procedures mandate holders which called on China to respect human rights and to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers.

Ireland has previously supported a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee in October 2019, and a Joint Letter at the UN Human Rights Council in July 2019, which called for the Chinese Government to urgently implement eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, and to uphold its international obligations and respect human rights in Xinjiang.

The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora as appropriate.