Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2023
45. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a report (details supplied) by the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42927/23]
View answer46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the United States of America to close the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42928/23]
View answer47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what engagement he has had with his EU and UN counterparts on the issue of the closure of the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42929/23]
View answer48. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken to support the humanitarian resettlement of those arbitrarily detained at Guantánamo Bay, in particular the 16 cleared detainees who remain at Guantánamo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 45 to 48, inclusive, together.
Ireland has consistently advocated that there is no conflict between countering terrorism and respecting human rights, and that States must ensure that any measures taken to counter terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee, and humanitarian law. Ireland therefore strongly defends the importance of placing human rights and rule of law at the centre of all counter-terrorism efforts.
Ireland cosponsored the resolution on terrorism and human rights (A/RES/76/169) at Third Committee of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly which was adopted without vote. During our membership of the UN Security Council, Ireland worked to ensure that the Security Council supports victims of terrorism and holds perpetrators to account, in a human rights compliant manner.
UN Special Procedures play a very important role in the international human rights system. Their work as independent human rights experts contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. Ireland supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, and consistently welcomes opportunities to engage with the mandate.
At the 49th session of the Human Rights Council in 2022, Ireland cosponsored a resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin, for a further three years, and delivered a national statement during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, joining the calls for all States to immediately cease practices of mass arbitrary detention, particularly in relation to counter-terrorism.
I welcome the Special Rapporteur’s recent visit, the first official UN expert visit to the detention facility at Guantánamo. I welcome too the willingness of the United States to facilitate this visit and to engage constructively with the Special Rapporteur.
Together with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently called for the closure of the Guantanamo Detention Centre in the shortest possible time.
In 2009, two former detainees were resettled in Ireland as part of a wider EU effort to resettle detainees who had been cleared for release. This was a humanitarian measure and a practical step towards the ultimate closure of the Guantanamo detention facility.
I welcome the progress President Biden's Administration has made in reducing the number of people detained in Guantanamo, and I hope that further such progress will allow the detention facility to be closed as soon as possible.
