Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Criminal Courts.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

102 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the recommendations made by an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 2 in respect of the draft statute of the special court in relation to Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29587/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The report of the Secretary General of 4 October 2000 on the establishment of a special criminal court for Sierra Leone is still under consideration by the Security Council.

This report considers, in a substantive and constructive manner, a number of the issues that Amnesty International has raised.

We share the concern of Security Council members on the need to establish a court which is both equitable and effective in bringing to justice those responsible for the atrocities committed in Sierra Leone. This will necessitate a balanced, practical and legal assessment of the best means of achieving this goal. As a member of the Security Council next month, Ireland will be working closely with other council members to that end.

In so doing, Ireland will of course take into account pertinent recommendations of the NGO community together with the observations made and questions raised in the report of the Secretary General.