Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to draw up a list to prioritise the issues and the locations. We have asked through parliamentary questions that there be an identification of the most pressing cases globally. Most of them fall within the report to which Mr. O'Gorman referred. We will circulate that to the relevant embassies and ask whether they might be prepared to make a response before the committee. In some cases, that may not be possible. One ambassador is ill currently but perhaps the chargé d'affaires might decide to come along. Similarly, we will circulate the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to ensuring the issues raised will be highlighted during discussions at EU and UN level.

As members said, one atrocity can fuel the fires to such an extent that the response is equally bad or even worse with the narrative continuing. Once that happens, people become conditioned and there can be no end to it. We have all met in our constituency clinics the victims of various forms of torture who have come from some of these countries, particularly those who have been subject to electric shock treatment. That is particularly barbaric.

Mr. O'Gorman made his case well and we thank him for that. We will follow up as best we can through the channels available to us.