Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 2002

Vol. 558 No. 4

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

226 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the major international human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, maintain that the human rights situation in Iraq cannot and will not be solved by military action; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that Amnesty International in particular has repudiated any war on Iraq in the name of human rights as a case of misappropriation of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24625/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government is aware that these views have been expressed. However, the current crisis with Iraq and the most recent UN Security Council resolution relate to the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction rather than to the continuing unsatisfactory human rights situation there. It remains the policy of the Government that the use of force must remain a matter of last resort in dealing with this issue or with any other which may arise.

Question No. 227 answered with Question No. 223.