Kathleen Lynch
Question:31 Mr. Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has for the establishment of a human rights unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs. [1435/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Human Rights Unit.
On 14 January in my address to the White Paper Seminar on Human Rights, which has held in University College, Galway, I confirmed my intention to establish a properly resourced Human Rights Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Human rights issues are, of course, constantly dealt with across the range of the Department's existing activities. However, there has been a significant expansion in the range of human rights-related activity in recent years and I believe that it is necessary to reflect this fact in the structure of the Department.
The role that I envisage for the Human Rights Unit is as follows: to provide to me, and through me to the Government, advice on Ireland's position on international human rights issues; to ensure that human rights are taken fully into account in all aspects of our foreign relations, including in our contribution to the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union; through a joint standing committee, whose establishment I have also announced, the unit will liaise with the growing number of non-governmental organisations in this area so that the views and special perspective of the NGO community can be taken into account in the development of policy; the new unit will play a key role in ensuring that reports on implementation of our obligations under international human rights instruments are submitted in a timely and comprehensive manner; the unit will co-ordinate human rights activities, not only within the Department of Foreign Affairs but will also liaise, as appropriate, with other Government Departments in relation to the State's international human rights obligations.
The establishment of a Human Rights Unit will bring us into line with the practive of many of our European partners and enable us to promote human rights issues more effectively during our Presidency of the European Union in 1996.
I am glad the Minister decided to set up this unit. Whereas our record on human rights and recognition of the abuse of human rights in the past has been good, investigation into the abuse of human rights is a specialist skill. I hope this unit, when established, will be proactive. From time to time people whose human rights are abused are ignored or dismissed. I hope this unit will investigate complaiants of abuse of human rights and determine the action to be taken. Ireland has an unique part to play in the prevention of abuse of human rights worldwide. There appears, whether because of better communications or better reporting, to be a greater number of abuses of human rights than ever before. Ireland is perfectly positioned to take action in this regard because, as the Minister rightly said in answer to a previous question, people like myself who have an inherent belief in the protection of human rights for all people have lost faith in the UN in the recent past. There needs to be new thinking in that area. As Ireland is a small, neutral country with a unique record within the UN it has a special role to play. I hope we will lead the UN rather than follow in regard to human rights because there has been much of an example to follow in the recent past.
I take on board what the Deputy said. Whereas all divisions in the Department of Foreign Affairs are involved to some extent in human rights related issues, my proposal to establish a human rights unit reflects current thinking on an international scale in terms of human rights and the necessity, as the Deputy rightly said, to be in a position to investigate human rights abuses. The political division in the Department in particular follows human rights developments in the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Human rights concerns are also a particular focus of the work of the Anglo-Irish Development Co-operation and legal divisions. A human rights division properly resourced as I expect it will be, will ensure a more co-ordinated and focused approach to human rights issues and will contribute to the further development of our policy in this area, which overdue.
President Santer, the new EU Commission President, has indicated it will be the policy of the Union to play an active and leading role in development, co-operation and humanitarian aid. Will the Minister ensure in that context that the human rights record of the countries being assisted will be taken into account in decisions.
I welcome the statement by President Santer. On examination one wil see the record of the European Union in terms of humanitarian aid and assistance across the board which has probably been more substantial than that of any other nation in recent years. That is in part due to the focus by each member state of the Union. That will certainly continue and wil perhaps become more important with the admission to the European Union of the two Nordic countries and Austria who have good records in this area. Obviously in the examination of any situation where the European Union provides humanitarian aid, all aspects will be taken into consideration.