Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
77 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the appropriate authorities the situation regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33188/12]
View answer78 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will endorse the requests of human rights activists. [33285/12]
View answer82 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating situation of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons; and if he has raised this matter with the Israeli authorities; and if he will intervene with them in the case of a person (details supplied). [33348/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 78 and 82 together.
In my replies to earlier Questions about Palestinian hunger strikes, I made clear my continuing concern for Mr. Akram Rikhawi, who was continuing with his protest. He has been on hunger strike now for over 80 days. Although he was for much of this period taking mineral and vitamin supplements, he is believed now to be only taking water, and is in a critical condition. There are reports that he may be periodically blacking out, although he remains in control of his actions.
I had hoped that Mr. Rikhawi's protest could be satisfactorily resolved along the same lines as earlier protests, but this has not proven to be the case so far. I continue to call on both parties to actively consider pragmatic solutions which can avoid a tragic outcome. The Irish Ambassador has conveyed my concerns about this case directly to the Israeli authorities at a senior level, following up on earlier messages, and has also been in contact with the ICRC. Our Representative Office in Ramallah has been in contact with NGOs working with the prisoners and with Mr. Rakhimi's lawyers. The EU has also conveyed its concerns at Head of Mission level.
