Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2020

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Questions (88)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

88. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that An Garda Síochána is engaged in an EU research project called ROXANNE which is working in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Public Security which is guilty of human rights abuses on a grand scale and that such a collaboration, co-operation and association undermines the ethos of Ireland as an upholder of human rights and defender of rights especially given its human rights record of abuse of prisoners, brutal killings, the torture and imprisonment of children and that the ministry itself is located in an illegal settlement in occupied territory contrary to Ireland’s international policy and the EU’s Euro-Med and Neighbourhood agreements. [42253/20]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I understand that Project ROXANNE is an EU-funded collaborative research and innovation project under the European Union Horizon 2020 programme. The involvement of An Garda Síochána is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner.

The participation of Israel in the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme is governed by a 2014 agreement between the EU and Israel that makes Israel subject to the relevant EU legislation establishing Horizon 2020 and its implementing rules. Article 6 of the agreement states that the agreement does not apply to the territory occupied by Israel in 1967. Ongoing implementation and oversight of the Horizon 2020 agreement with Israel is a matter principally for the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Horizon 2020 regulations stipulate that research and innovation activities must comply with ethical principles and relevant EU and international legislation, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the European Convention on Human Rights. Several mechanisms are in place at the level of programme implementation to ensure compliance.

The human rights situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a priority for Ireland and we takes every opportunity to raise human rights concerns with all appropriate interlocutors. We will continue to work with EU partners to promote coherent and effective EU action to push for an end to settlement expansion and a lasting and peaceful two-state solution.