Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 October 2014
154. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the disappearance of 43 students in southern Mexico; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the students were supposedly abducted by local police linked to a drug cartel; and if he has directed the Irish ambassador in Mexico to raise our human rights concerns in the case with the Mexican Government. [40678/14]
View answerI am aware of the disappearance of the students in the incident that took place at Iguala, in Guerrero State, in Mexico recently. I wish to extend my sympathy to the families of those affected and to record my hope that the Mexican authorities will be able to resolve speedily this terrible case. In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we address these issues on an on-going basis through our Embassy’s contacts with the Mexican government and, in particular, through their engagement with the Delegation of the European Union in Mexico City. I would like to support the statements made by the EU Delegation:
“The EU Delegation welcomes the statements made by the federal authorities and the President of the Republic, in which it is assured that “upon these inhumane acts, there is no place for impunity”, and welcomes also the creation of monitoring committees in the Senate and in the Chamber of Representatives, related to the Iguala case.
In the same vein, the EU Delegation takes good note of the detentions that have taken place and expresses its concern at the apparent infiltration of organized crime into local entities and is confident that the Mexican authorities will carry out an exhaustive investigation regarding these acts of barbarism and that the full wrath of law will fall upon those responsible.”
