Richard Bruton
Question:17 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he last raised the issue of the death penalty with the United States authorities. [12836/00]
Written Answers. - Capital Punishment.
The Government is completely opposed to the use of the death penalty and accordingly aims at its universal abolition. We believe that its abolition contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.
The EU has had a common position on the death penalty since June 1998, on the basis of which it has taken action in third countries. Ireland along with our EU partners has, in line with the common position, raised the use of the death penalty with the US authorities on a number of occasions. The EU has made a number of humanitarian appeals to the US authorities for the commutation of the death sentences of a number of individuals. In addition, a generaldémarche was carried out in February on behalf of the EU by the EU Troika at ambassador level, to the US Under Secretary for Global Affairs, Mr. Frank Loy, in order to formally deliver an EU memorandum on the death penalty. At that meeting the use of the death penalty both at state and federal level was discussed.
We welcome moves such as the moratorium imposed in the US State of Illinois on all pending executions in order to review death penalty procedures. We hope that this is a step on the road to the abolition of the death penalty in all 38 states and at federal level. The EU Troika, acting on behalf of the EU, has requested all US governors to follow the example of the Governor of Illinois.
We particularly welcome Senator Russ Feingold's National Death Penalty Moratorium Bill which, if enacted, would impose a nationwide moratorium on executions while an independent commission conducts a thorough and comprehensive review of the death penalty. Moves by individual state senates such as Nebraska and New Hampshire should also be encouraged in their efforts to abolish the death penalty.
We will continue with our EU partners to press for the total abolition of the death penalty. Ireland took an active role in ensuring maximum support for the EU-sponsored resolution on the death penalty at the recent 56th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. The resolution called upon all states which still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to completely abolishing the death penalty. It was adopted following a vote.