Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
330. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he has raised issues with their sentence of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26445/22]
View answerIreland is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and has consistently made our opposition clear to the Saudi authorities. I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. When I visited Saudi Arabia last year, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the continuing use of the death penalty. Officials from my Department have also raised concerns over the use of the death penalty directly with the Saudi authorities.
Ireland welcomed the first EU-Saudi Arabia Human Rights Dialogue, held in Brussels in September 2021 and chaired by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore. A number of human rights issues were discussed at the Dialogue, including the use of the death penalty.
The abolition of the death penalty will continue to be a foreign policy priority for Ireland. I urge Saudi Arabia to establish an immediate moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. We will continue to monitor this case, and to make our concerns clear to the Saudi authorities.
