Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 2

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria.

Ray Burke

Ceist:

34 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government considers that progress has been made in the transition to civil rule in Nigeria, to be completed by October 1998, and in promoting full respect for human rights in view of the fact that the State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree No. 2 of 1984, which allows for indefinite incommunicado detention without trial of political prisoners and the Federal Military Government (Supremacy and Enforcement of Powers) Decree No. 12 of 1994, which prohibits legal challenge to any military decree or to any action which violates the human rights provisions of the Constitution, remain on the statute book. [24792/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I refer to the reply which I have given to a Priority Question on this matter on 11 December which addresses the ongoing concerns of the Government and our partners in the European Union about the human rights situation and the pace and manner of the transition to democratic rule in Nigeria. In my reply I also outlined the ongoing process of consultation and close review being undertaken by the European Union in relation to Nigeria. This process is taking full account of legal instruments such as those raised by the Deputy and any relevant undertakings given by the Nigerian authorities to the United Nations, the Commonwealth and other relevant bodies.