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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 6

Written Answers - Human Rights Abuses.

Seán Haughey

Question:

109 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government and the EU will call for an immediate independent international investigation into the ongoing mass murders in Algeria; if they will call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice; if some Algerian asylum seekers could be accommodated in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4702/98]

Richard Bruton

Question:

111 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's plans, if any, to assist the citizens in Algeria; if he will take international action to bring an end to the killings there; and the special provisions, if any, his Department is making to deal with refugees from Algeria. [4983/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 111 together.

I set out in detail the Government's position as regards Algeria in my reply to parliamentary questions answered on 19 February 1998.

In brief, the Government has stressed its close solidarity with the Algerian people in all contacts which we have had with the Algerian authorities. I emphasised this issue in my discussions with Algerian Government leaders during my visit to that country last December. On that occasion I pressed for the admittance of UN special human rights rapporteurs to Algeria. I also indicated that together with my EU colleagues, I was at the disposal of the protagonists should the EU be requested to help facilitate a political solution.

The Government has also been active at the level of the EU in urging greater efforts by the Union towards the ending of violence in Algeria. We were particularly supportive of the offer made during the recent visit of the ministerial level EU Troika when the EU side offered to provide humanitarian assistance to the survivors of massacres in Algeria — an offer which the Algerian Government declined.

I will continue to pursue a policy of active diplomacy and urge my colleagues in the Union to do so individually and collectively as I believe therein lies the best hope of success in this tragic situation.

Questions regarding refugees and asylum seekers are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in the first instance.
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