Mr. Colm O'Gorman:

To clarify the issue for the Deputy, I cannot unilaterally change a position paper adopted by our global movement. We were asked to present an overview of the world's human rights in 2014 and our assessment was that it was a pretty dark and miserable year. It was characterised by pretty gross failures at the political level - at the level of political leadership, particularly at the level of the UN Security Council and by many world governments - in terms of intervening appropriately on a range of issues. Deputy Quinn asked whether politicians and governments had done anything useful or helpful in 2014 or 2015. I am happy to record Amnesty's appreciation and support of some of the things the Government has done on human rights in the last number of years. I was just talking about the role the LE Eithnehas played in the search and rescue missions that recently started in the Mediterranean. On the Irish level, we are repeatedly on the record as being very supportive of the introduction of gender recognition legislation, the bringing forward of the marriage equality referendum and a whole range of things that Ireland has done. Indeed, when we talk about Ireland, particularly its role internationally, we talk about it as a champion for human rights. As such, I hope that when I come before the committee, it would be aware of the repeated comments Amnesty makes about the role Ireland has traditionally played and continues to play as a champion of human rights at the global level. I take that as given, frankly, but it may be that we need to articulate it more clearly in a situation like this. However, this was a moment when we were asked to present on our view of the world's human rights and I am afraid it is a bleak picture.

The Deputy asks Amnesty to talk about something a bit more positive. I was just talking about the role of the LE Eithneand the reinstatement of humanitarian search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean. That is a very positive development. In the period between 1 January and 26 April 2015, 27,722 people that we know of attempted to cross the Mediterranean, of whom 1,721 drowned or disappeared at sea. That is approximately one in 16 or 6.2% of all people who undertook the crossing. I take as the turning point 27 April, the date the first additional ship was added to Operation Triton, and before the expanded search and rescue mission. Matters have improved significantly since then in terms of ship numbers. Between 27 April and 15 June 2015, 31,418 people attempted the crossing, of whom 95 died. That is one in 330 or 0.3%. It is a hugely dramatic improvement in the situation. Interestingly, it also compares very favourably with the period when Operation Mare Nostrum, the Italian-led mission, was in place. Between 27 April and 15 June, 2014, 31,173 people attempted the crossing, of whom 363 died, or 1.16%. The humanitarian search and rescue mission has obviously had a dramatic effect on the number of people who are dying in the Mediterranean. As I said earlier, we think it is tragic that certain European leaders could only be stirred into action after two dramatic shipwrecks in a week that claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people. The committee will be aware of those because I know it was an issue of concern to members.

There are a number of European countries which have really led on this and we applaud the role they have played. We have consistently talked about Ireland's response to the Syrian refugee crisis in particular and the need to see that response in the round and in its fullest possible sense. Ireland has had a real focus on providing humanitarian assistance to the countries surrounding Syria. Irish Aid support to refugees in Lebanon and other countries has been particularly significant. It is an approach Ireland has taken. We understand Ireland was very positive on proposals for resettlement and redistribution and we welcome that even though we would have liked to see it go further at EU level. While we welcome all of that, if the level of naval and aerial assets is reduced at all, we are concerned we will see an increase in deaths in the Mediterranean. It is very important to keep that in place for as long as necessary. As I said earlier, the key issue to address what is happening in the Mediterranean is to address the systemic issues that are pushing refugees and migrants to take to the seas in the first place and to open more safe and legal routes to access Europe. Why are people washing up on Greek shores? It is because land borders are almost completely closed to people seeking protection in Europe. People are being forced into the Mediterranean.