Vol. 412 No. 3
48 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to raise the issue of the imprisonment, currently in solitary confinement, of Mr. Mordechai Vanunu by the Israeli Government for allegedly revealing details of the Israeli nuclear weapons programme; if he intends to raise the matter at the European Council with a view to promoting EC action to end this denial of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Israeli authorities are fully aware of the importance which the European Community and its member states attach to the need to respect and observe human rights. Ireland has joined with its EC partners in making clear to Israel our concerns on human rights issues with particular reference to the Occupied Territories.
The specific case of Mr. Vanunu who is now serving a term of imprisonment in Israel has not been discussed within Europpean Political Co-operation but I am aware that some partners have raised it bilaterally with Israel. It is not my intention to raise the matter at the European Council.
