Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
78 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to discussions on the future of Northern Ireland, in particular on the decommissioning of all remaining weaponry; and the prospects for getting the institutions operational in the short term. [10126/04]
View answerIn all our recent discussions with the political parties elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, we have made it clear that for progress to be achieved on a sustainable basis, we need to see the operation of stable inclusive political institutions, with a definitive end to all forms of paramilitarism. In partnership with the British Government and the political parties, we remain firmly committed to resolving these key issues and to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Agreement contains a commitment to the decommissioning of illegally held arms in the possession of paramilitary groups. The fulfilment of that commitment is an indispensable element of the Good Friday Agreement. Both Governments have welcomed the three acts of IRA decommissioning, verified by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, which have taken place to date. In addition, paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration sets out detailed requirements in relation to the cessation of all forms of paramilitary activity. We will continue to avail of every opportunity to engage with the parties to ensure that paramilitarism from all quarters is brought to an end and that the process of decommissioning is advanced to completion.
We are conscious that other commitments under the Agreement must be met as part of its overall implementation, particularly in the areas of institutional stability, policing, equality and human rights. In this regard, we are working with all the parties to find a context in which the power sharing political institutions can be restored on a sustainable basis and, with the British Government, will continue to advance the implementation of the non-institutional aspects of the Agreement.
80 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a recently published Amnesty International report entitled, Human Rights Begin at Home — Recommendations to Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/04]
View answerI have received a copy of the Amnesty International report, Human Rights Begin at Home. The Government values the contribution that Amnesty International makes to furthering the cause of promoting and protecting human rights internationally and will give appropriate weight to the recommendations contained in the report.
The report calls for the European Union to take effective leadership in putting into practice its human rights policies at home and outside the Union. As the Deputy is aware, support for human rights is a core value which underpins the European Union and is a priority of the Irish Presidency. The EU is a community of shared values, founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. These principles come from the constitutional traditions and international obligations common to the member states of the Union.
The protection and the promotion of human rights not only constitute defining principles of the EU, but also form part of Community legislation. They were explicitly incorporated into and stated as common European objectives in the Treaty on European Union, which entered into force in November 1993. This step represented a significant strengthening of human rights as a priority issue for the EU in its internal as well as external policies.
The charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, which was proclaimed by the three main EU institutions, namely, the Council, the Commission and the Parliament, in December 2000, is aimed at further strengthening the protection of fundamental rights in the light of changes in society, social progress and technological developments, by making the rights more visible in an EU instrument.
On the external policies of the EU, Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union states that efforts to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are among the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU. Article 117 of the Treaty establishing the European Community requires that Community Development Co-operation policy also contributes to the achievement of these objectives. During our Presidency Ireland will work with our EU partners works to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
