Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We have withdrawn our two Irish officers who were in Western Sahara. Have we effectively given up, or washed our hands of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO, as a consequence of that? Will our officers be back in? What will be our role in the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara? For me, Western Sahara represents another example of why we should be passing the occupied territories Bill. This is first because it is right and just to do so, but second, because it would remove some of those accusations that were made against us previously.

I also want to touch on an issue about our application of Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, OPCAT, which is in the programme for Government.

We often talk about the human rights record of other countries here. The ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, OPCAT, is long overdue. It is not specifically a role of the Minister's Department but it is in the programme for Government. We often talk about torture and human rights in the context of other nations. We should not fear to hold the gaze against ourselves.