Mr. Justin Moran:

As well as meeting this committee, one of the reasons Ms Sleap is here today is to meet representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to present our arguments. We hope the sub-committee will raise with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade the need for Ireland to take a more positive stance in the OEWG. As Ms Sleap said, Slovenia has taken a more positive stance than other EU member states. In November a resolution, co-sponsored by a number of EU member states including Austria and Croatia, was passed at the United Nations agreeing that gaps in human rights law protection existed. A move in the EU common position, though very slow and gradual, is taking place. Any pressure that the sub-committee could bring to bear on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support that would be very welcome.