Vol. 572 No. 2
111 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the call for the repatriation of detainees held in US custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in line with international law governing the treatment of prisoners of war. [22784/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, I have on several occasions, both before this House and elsewhere, expressed the Government's concern that the detainees in Guantanamo Bay be treated in accordance with the provisions of international human rights and humanitarian law. The Government's views on this issue are known to the US authorities and have been most recently conveyed to the US Embassy in Dublin last month.
The general right of a person qualifying for prisoner of war status to be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities is provided for in Article 118 of the (Third) Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. An exception to this right is provided under Chapter 3 of the convention, in a case where the POW has been tried and sentenced by the detaining power for the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and of crimes not permitted under its law or international law.
As I have stated previously, I am aware that a number of our EU partners, whose citizens have been detained in Guantanamo Bay, are seeking to resolve matters relating to their treatment with the US authorities. For its part, the Government remains of the view that it is important for the US authorities to maintain the highest international standards at all times in respect of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.
