David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State on his first visit to the committee and I thank him for being here and for his introduction. I want to raise a few issues on human rights in Singapore and whether they are taken into account when drawing up agreements such as this. I understand there is an internal security Act and they have issues with the suppression of media, freedom of expression and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, LGBTI, rights. The Minister of State might comment on that if he can. In a recent election, one party took 83 out of 93 seats. I also understand the death penalty is still in place in Singapore and that it has high execution rates. Singapore also has caning, public flogging and so on. I am concerned about whether some of these issues are taken into account and discussed when the EU enters into agreements with other countries.