Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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848. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action Ireland is taking at the UN Security Council to highlight China's genocide of the Uyghur Muslim population; the details of his response to a recently released 25,000 word report (details supplied); his plans to discuss the findings with the authors of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18660/21]

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.

The term “genocide” is a term that has a particular meaning under international law. Definitive recognition of a genocide involves a complex analysis of both facts and law. Ireland follows the practice of recognising genocide only where this has been established by a judgment of an international court, or where there is international consensus on the matter. This approach does not undermine the seriousness with which we approach China’s activities in Xinjiang.

In response to the situation, under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR), the EU adopted sanctions on 22 March 2021 against 1 entity and 4 individuals in China due to their involvement in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The EUGHRSR allows the EU to target serious human rights violations and abuses by State and non-State actors worldwide. It enables the EU to respond rapidly and in a more tangible and direct way for human rights, one of the fundamental values of the EU and its foreign policy.

Ireland and the EU have also raised our concerns with Chinese authorities in both bilateral and multilateral contexts. Most recently, Ireland raised concerns regarding the situation in Xinjiang in our National Statement at the UN Human Rights Council in March this year.

Ireland also supported a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee on 6 October 2020 that 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. We also reiterated our concerns in our National Statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September 2020, which urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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 and listen carefully to the views of all Council Members, including China.

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.