Monica Barnes
Ceist:21 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has recently raised the matter of the death penalty with the US authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8307/00]
Written Answers. - Capital Punishment.
The Government is completely opposed to the use of the death penalty and, accordingly, aims at universal abolition. We believe that its abolition contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.
Ireland along with its EU partners has raised the use of the death penalty frequently with the US authorities. Recently a general demarche was carried out on behalf of the EU by the EU troika at Ambassador level, to the US Under Secretary for Global Affairs, Mr. Frank Loy, in order to formally deliver an EU memorandum on death penalty. At that meeting the use of the death penalty both at state and federal level was discussed.
The Under Secretary pointed out that as a federal country each state can decide when and how to implement capital punishment.
We are particularly concerned that in the US, where more than 600 people have been executed since the reinstatement of death penalty since 1976, as many as 81 people in 21 states have been found innocent and removed from death row. Another death row prisoner – Mr. Joseph Nahume Green – was acquitted and released in Florida this week.
We therefore welcome moves such as the moratorium imposed in the US State of Illinois on all pending executions to review death penalty procedures. We hope this is a step on the road to the abolition of the death penalty in all 38 states and at federal level. The EU Troika, acting on behalf of the EU, has requested all US governors to follow the example of the Governor of Illinois.
We will continue with our EU partners to press for total abolition of the death penalty. Discussion is at an advanced stage within the EU on tabling a resolution on the question of the death penalty at the current session 56 session of the UN Commission on human rights. Ireland is working to ensure maximum support for this resolution.