Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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103. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to call for the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry into the actions of China with regard to the Uighur population in Xinjiang in view of Ireland’s current role on the UN Security Council; if he has raised the plight of the Uighurs in China to date in his role on the Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12216/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the province of Xinjiang, including in relation to reports of systemic abuse, torture, arbitrary detention, forced labour, forced sterilisations, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief.

We have been active in raising our concerns in relation to this matter. Most recently, on 6 October 2020, Ireland was one of 39 countries to support 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 allow, immediate, meaningful, and unfettered access to Xinjiang.

Ireland also raised this matter during our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September 2020, where we urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ireland has also previously supported a number of statements at the UN Human Rights Council, in June 2020 and July 2019, and at the UN Third Committee in October 2019. These statements, among other things, urged China to urgently implement the 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. They also called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide regular information on the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.

Ireland’s approach on the Security Council is informed by our record as a country with a consistent, principled and independent foreign policy. We put forward our perspectives on all issues on the Council agenda, and engage with all Council members, including China, while listening carefully to the views of other Council members.

The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy. Although the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang is not on the Security Council agenda, the Government will continue to monitor and assess the situation and engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora to address our concerns.