Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
53. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has called upon the government of Türkiye to release a person (details supplied); if he has raised his prison conditions with the government of Türkiye, European partners or at the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6935/24]
View answer54. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has engaged with the government of Türkiye regarding the conditions of political prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6936/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.
Türkiye is a fellow member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for EU membership. Ireland has made clear our concerns for human rights in Türkiye, including in relation to prisoners and the implementation of rulings of the European Court of Human rights.
Minister of State Burke discussed the matter during a meeting with a delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye, in January 2023. Ireland also regularly raises the issue at multilateral fora. I most recently voiced concerns at the non-implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings at the July 2023 Foreign Affairs Council, during an agenda item on EU-Turkiye relations. More broadly, Ireland consistently emphasises the need for full implementation of judgements of the Court in high-level engagements with Council of Europe stakeholders.
Human rights are a fundamental aspect of EU membership and Ireland is fully supportive of the EU’s engagement with Türkiye around this. The EU regularly highlights the issue through public statements, Council Conclusions, and the Commission’s Annual Reports, and in bilateral engagements with Türkiye.
Ireland has also supported the Council of Europe’s extensive engagement in the area of human rights in Türkiye. The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, in a 2019 report, stated that the restrictions imposed on Abdullah Ocalan in the prison on the island of Imrali, from the time of his arrest up to November 2009, including lengthy periods in solitary confinement, were not acceptable. While I have not raised the case of Abdullah Öcalan specifically in my bilateral engagements with Turkish contacts, I continue to strongly advocate for fair trials and on the treatment of prisoners in Türkiye.
As a candidate country for EU membership and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, it is important that the Turkish authorities follow up on the recommendations of the European Commission and the Council of Europe and on the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.
Ireland, alongside our European counterparts, will continue to monitor all aspects of the EU-Türkiye relationship, with a particular focus on human rights. We will continue to voice our concerns bilaterally and multilaterally wherever possible.
