Paul Connaughton
Ceist:188 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the continued use of the death penalty in the US with the administration there. [21105/03]
Written Answers. - Capital Punishment.
The Government is adamantly opposed to the use of the death penalty and accordingly seeks its universal abolition. We believe that its abolition contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights. The Deputy will be aware of the efforts we have made in conjunction with our EU partners and in accordance with the common EU guidelines on the issue of the death penalty to seek its universal abolition. The EU has pressed for abolition and has also issued démarches on the use of the death penalty in many countries, including the United States. The EU also raised the issue in its human rights troika meetings with the US.
The EU guidelines adopted in 1998 set out clearly the common EU position on the use of the death penalty. These guidelines now form the basis for Ireland's concerted interventions, along with other EU member states, in death penalty issues. The Government is of the view that an EU intervention on this issue carries significantly greater force than individual bilateral interventions. In the recent past, démarches have been made in the US, according to the EU guidelines, at both federal and state level on behalf of a number of individuals. The guidelines state that, where the death penalty still exists, the EU will continue to press for its use to be progressively restricted and for moratoria to be introduced. In addition to interventions on the use of the death penalty in principle, it has also been agreed that, where the facts of individual cases suggest a violation of basic minimum standards under international law, the Union will consider making a specific intervention.
At the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights the EU tabled a resolution on the death penalty. The resolution was adopted by a wider margin than previously. The resolution called upon all states to abolish the death penalty or impose a moratorium on its use, and urged those states which retain the death penalty to comply with the minimum standards established by the UN's economic, social and cultural council in 1984. The resolution attracted a record number of co-sponsors (75).