Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate if Ireland has raised the ongoing abuses of the Tibetan people by the Chinese Communist Party at any multilateral for a since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35610/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The protection and promotion of our human rights remains a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy. Ireland regularly discusses human rights concerns, including in respect of Tibet, with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora, including with regard to the treatment of ethnic minorities. Both the Taoiseach and I raised our long-held concerns in relation to human rights in China with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Ireland in February this year.

As part of its submission to the Universal Periodic Review of China at the Human Rights Council in January 2024, Ireland highlighted the treatment of ethnic and religious groups, including in Tibet. More recently, at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025, Ireland reiterated our concerns over restrictions on civic space in China and about the treatment of Tibetans in our national Item 4 Statement.

At the same session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland also joined EU Member States in a group statement, which expressed concerns about the human rights situation in China and specifically included reference to the situation in Tibet including, inter alia, the ill treatment and unlawful detention of human rights defenders. China was urged to abide by its obligations under national and international law to respect, protect and fulfil the rule of law and human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and other persons belonging to national or ethnic, linguistic, religious or other groups and minorities across China.

At the most recent EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which took place in Brussels on 13 June, the EU expressed concern about the particularly vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities in China, and noted in particular the cases of a number of activists, writers and religious leaders in Tibet.

Ireland will continue to address human rights concerns with China, both bilaterally and as a member of the EU, through our contacts in Dublin and Beijing, and through the relevant multilateral channels.