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Human Rights Issues.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004

Wednesday, 24 November 2004

Questions (74)

Denis Naughten

Question:

49 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the US Administration aspects of the recently published Amnesty International report, Human dignity denied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30033/04]

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Written answers

The recent Amnesty International report, Human dignity denied: Torture and Accountability in the War on Terror, details reported abuse of detainees held by US forces, particularly at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. It calls for a full commission of inquiry into US detention and interrogation practices and policies during the war on terror. The report also includes a series of recommendations to the US Government under Amnesty International's 12 point programme for the prevention of torture by agents of the State. This extensive Amnesty report builds on earlier reports from the same organisation in relation to its concerns about the treatment of those detained by US forces.

The US authorities are well aware of the Government's concern regarding the treatment of detainees in both Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. These concerns had been made known to the US Administration well before the publication of Human dignity denied on 27 October 2004. Such concerns have been raised on a number of occasions both by the Taoiseach and my predecessor and also through the Embassy of Ireland in Washington and with the US Embassy in Dublin.

During the recent Irish Presidency of the European Union, the Government also ensured that the wider European concern on these issues was expressed. For example, on 17 May 2004 the EU Council of Ministers, acting on the initiative of the Irish Presidency, expressed its abhorrence at recent evidence of the mistreatment of prisoners in Iraqi prisons and condemned any instances of abuse and degradation of these prisoners. I might add that in the Declaration on Combating Terrorism issued at the EU-US Summit in Dromoland Castle on 26 June 2004, both sides reiterated their determination to work together to combat terrorism while sharing a commitment to protect and respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which our societies are founded and which terrorism seeks to destroy.

I can assure the Deputy that in my own future contacts with the US Administration I will raise human rights issues when appropriate. While I have not had the opportunity to visit Washington yet in my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I look forward to meeting with Secretary of State-designate Dr. Condoleezza Rice in the period ahead and I have already conveyed my warm congratulations to her on her nomination.

Question No. 50 answered with QuestionNo. 16.
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