Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in welcoming Mr. Colm O'Gorman and his colleague, Ms Aisling Seely. He made a very detailed presentation. Mr. O'Gorman brings great clarity to an unbelievable catalogue of a frightening disregard of human rights. What he outlined was torture on a massive scale, particularly in one country.

In regard to the UN Convention against Torture, what method is in place to monitor its implementation in each country that has signed up to the convention? It is obviously not adequate. Are there annual or biennial visits by UN personnel to review the working, or lack of it, of the convention?

Mr. O'Gorman made very little reference to the international community. I think there is a message in that to the international community that it is not playing the part it needs to play. For ourselves, we belong to the European Union. Has High Representative Commissioner Ashton and the External Action Service been to the fore in highlighting these dreadful situations confronting so many people?

In the course of his presentation, Mr. O'Gorman mentions twice or three times the violence against women. I think one of the major themes running through every presentation in which we deal with human rights issues is the prevalence of a totally unacceptable level of violence against women. We had the appalling abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria.

From his contacts is Mr. O'Gorman aware of any progress towards the UN achieving a resolution in regard to Syria? We know that has been blocked. Syria is not getting the coverage it deserves due to other international disasters. There was some commentary recently that the Halawa family were not happy with the support they were getting. I hope and trust the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is being as active and supportive as possible to that family. Are there any indications that Mr. Halawa will get an early release?

Again I thank Mr. O'Gorman for his very detailed presentation.