Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1208. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be liaising with counterparts in the UN Human Rights Council to seek a referral of the conflict in Gaza to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for its investigation. [34285/14]
View answerThe Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has recently confirmed that it does not, at present, have jurisdiction in relation to Gaza. Neither of the relevant parties has taken the necessary steps under the Rome Statute to allow the ICC to have jurisdiction in regard to this situation, nor has the UN Security Council chosen to refer this situation to the ICC. The UN Human Rights Council does not have a role under the Rome Statute in referring cases to the International Criminal Court. However, the HRC has established its own investigation into alleged human rights violations or abuses in the recent conflict in Gaza. The Government fully supports this investigation, and will extend to it any assistance required.
