Finian McGrath
Ceist:287 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with the US authorities and at the UN. [25062/03]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Issues.
Finian McGrath
Ceist:289 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if prisoners bound for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have passed through Shannon Airport. [25298/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 289 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have, on a number of occasions, made known the Government's concerns regarding the treatment and status of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, both in this House and elsewhere. These concerns are shared by our partners in the EU. The Government recognises the threat posed by terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda, but stresses the importance that the highest international standards of human rights and humanitarian law be maintained in combating international terrorism.
The United States is well aware of the Government's view that those detained at Guantanamo Bay should be treated in accordance with the provisions of international human rights and humanitarian law. These concerns, which are voiced as a friend of the United States, have been conveyed most recently to the United States Embassy in Dublin by my Department in September.
On the Deputy's question on whether individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay have passed through Shannon Airport, the Government has no information to suggest that this is the case.
Finian McGrath
Ceist:288 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if the maximum support will be given to this person's sister and family. [25063/03]
The Irish Embassy in Buenos Aires has been monitoring developments in the case to which the Deputy refers since it was notified of the person's arrest in December 2001. The person is currently serving a sentence of four years and 11 months in Argentina. Having been held at a high security prison close to the city of Buenos Aires for the first year and a half of this sentence, he has now been transferred to a lower security unit in the province of Chaco in northern Argentina. I understand that he has expressed satisfaction with this arrangement, particularly because it facilitates family contact, as telephone calls may be received on a daily basis.
A diplomatic officer at the Embassy has visited the person on a number of occasions and has delivered food, cigarettes, clothing, phone cards and other essential items to him, together with letters, parcels and money deposited with my Department by his family. He has also brought various medical problems experienced by this person to the attention of prison medical staff and has facilitated visits to him by an Irish Christian Brother and other visits on a weekly basis. The Embassy has also ensured that the person has had access to adequate legal representation since his arrest.
I assure the Deputy that my Department maintains regular contact with members of this person's family and endeavours to keep them informed of developments in relation to the case. The Embassy in Buenos Aires is also in contact with the person's legal adviser and with the relevant Argentine authorities. I assure the Deputy that both the Embassy and the consular section in Dublin will continue to provide all possible consular assistance for the individual and his family.
Question No. 289 answered with Question No. 287.