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Departmental Meetings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Questions (421)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

421. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any engagement regrading a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/22]

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Written answers

Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.

Ireland is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances, and we have made this position clear to the Singaporean authorities. The Embassy of Ireland in Singapore, together with our European Union partners has actively monitored the case of Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, including calling on the authorities to halt his execution and to commute his sentence to a non-capital sentence. We learned with grave concern that Mr. Dharmalingam's death sentence has been upheld by the courts in Singapore on 29 March. On 30 March, a spokesperson for the EU's High Representative also issued a statement deeply regretting the execution in Singapore of Abdul Kahar bin Othman, who was the first person to executed in Singapore since 2019.

Ireland is unequivocal in its stance against the death penalty and the abolition of capital punishment is one of Ireland’s international priorities. My Department regularly conveys our stance on this matter to all countries where the death penalty is still in use. Our active participation at the United Nations Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. At the 48th Session of the Council, Ireland, as part of the EU27, co-sponsored the biennial resolution on the question of the death penalty which was adopted by vote. The resolution calls on those States that have not yet abolished the death penalty to ensure transparency and respect for human rights. In our intervention at the last Universal Periodic Review of Singapore's human rights record in May 2021 Ireland called on Singapore to consider a moratorium on executions as a step towards abolition.

I remain deeply concerned about the use of the death penalty and Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Singapore in this regard.

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