Vol. 428 No. 1
75 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will speak to the Turkish Ambassador about recent allegations (details supplied) concerning people dying in police custody in Turkey; and the steps, if any, which have been taken by the Government to deal with this issue.
The allegations to which the Deputy refers cause grave concern to the Government.
The response of the Turkish authorities to this very disturbing situation has not been adequate. Although reforms were introduced on 1 December last to protect detainees, certain areas of the country as well as persons suspected of certain crimes will be excluded from the scope of the new law. It is not clear, therefore, what impact the new law will have. This is particularly disappointing given the concerns of many members of Turkey's parliament and of Turkish public opinion regarding the treatment of persons in detention, and given the commitments made when the present government under Prime Minister Demirel took office towards the end of 1991.
Ireland, with its Community partners, has made clear on many occasions that we expect Turkey to fulfil its obligations in the field of human rights.
The Turkish authorities can be in no doubt about the position of the Irish Government on deaths in police custody. But I can assure the Deputy that I will find further opportunities to pursue the matters to which his question refers.
