Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 February 2014
27. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will commit to including human rights issues in his discussions when visiting foreign countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8050/14]
View answerThe commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of Ireland’s foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. I believe that, in addressing human rights concerns, we must pursue them in the most effective way, taking advantage of the most appropriate opportunities to make our case, privately or publicly, bilaterally or multilaterally, as best fits the situation.
A primary approach is to engage with the international human rights machinery which has been established to monitor implementation of universal human rights standards. As a small state with a limited diplomatic network, Ireland places great value on multilateralism as a platform for raising human rights issue. This includes engaging actively at the UN Human Rights Council and in the Universal Periodic Review, the principal UN mechanism whereby the human rights record of each individual UN Member State is publicly examined by other Member States.
In addition to raising human rights concerns through multilateral channels, Ireland also raises human rights issues in our bilateral contacts. The conversations are generally conducted on a confidential basis, in line with normal diplomatic practice. I discuss human rights issues on a regular basis with Foreign Ministers from other countries, including when visiting foreign countries. I also regularly address human rights issues at Ministerial meetings at the EU level with Foreign Ministers of third countries.
Officials in my Department make Ireland’s views on human rights issues clear in their contacts with officials from other governments. Irish embassies work, within the capacity of their resources and often as part of a coordinated approach, to support the work of human rights defenders and civil society organisations in third countries. This includes addressing legislative and administrative restrictions on the operation of human rights defenders, drawing on findings by human rights agencies, raising cases with third country governments and contributing to the development of national human rights strategies by the EU.
No country is perfect when it comes to human rights. Ireland’s position on the responsibility of each government in relation to the promotion and protection of the human rights of their citizens is quite clear, and none of the countries with which we deal are in any doubt about our views in this regard.
