Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Maybe we could distribute atlases to all members.

I regret we do not have a sub-committee on human rights. The committee’s remit was extended to include trade but there was no extension to cover human rights. This is unfortunate, particularly considering our role on the UN Human Rights Council.

It is hard for Ireland to move child morbidity and mortality as an individual issue because it is linked to the millennium goals. I feel we are aiming low in our aspirations when we should be aiming higher. Being tied into the EU Presidency earlier this year gave us some opportunities but it also limited what we could raise.

There are other human rights issues which we could tackle. My colleagues earlier brought up the issue of human rights clauses being included in trade agreements. I know Ireland pushed hard to have such a clause included in the Colombian trade agreement, much to the resistance of many. However, clear violations of human rights clauses have no consequences for trade agreements. Could the delegation expand on this? What are the reporting mechanisms for such breaches? Relying on individual governments to investigate themselves which could result in the suspension of a trade agreement is laughable.

I note Sri Lanka will chair the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week but Canada has refused to attend it because of concerns, that in the space of a little over 100 days during the final days of the country's civil war, Sri Lankan forces killed between 40,000 and 70,000 civilians in a no-fire zone. A UN report was done on this and the UN Secretary General discussed the matter with the Sri Lankan President, and his brother who is foreign Minister. They have not been held to account when there is a case for war crimes and crimes against humanity. There was no follow-up to some of the recommendations of the UN report on what happened in Sri Lanka. It made it quite clear that Sri Lanka needed to investigate events at army level, up to the commander in chief, and at a political level. What is Ireland doing about this? Will it raise it at the next council meeting?

The Sri Lankan President being made the chair of the Commonwealth is nothing short of rewarding war criminals. As leader of his country, he orchestrated an attack and told his generals to set up no-fire zones where people were told they would be safe. Every time they moved into these zones, however, they were targeted by the Sri Lankan military which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. I will accept there were war crimes on both sides. However, Ireland should raise this matter at the council. We should grab the opportunity even if it upsets some people. If we are on the council only to make friends of the whole world, we will definitely achieve nothing. We have a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade but no human rights Minister or committee that could assist this delegation.

A dedicated committee might do some of the heavy lifting, including making the case that the President of Sri Lanka is most certainly eligible for trial for war crimes at The Hague. The United Nations produced a report on the issue but seems unable to tackle this individual. I would like to know what the UN hopes to do next. Perhaps Ireland should lead the charge on this. We are not a member of the Commonwealth and, as such, need not be too worried about the Sri Lankan President's position as president of that alliance.