Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The report of the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict mandated by the UN Human Rights Council last April and chaired by the distinguished South African jurist, Judge Richard Goldstone, was issued on 15 September. The House will know that it makes for salutary reading. Judge Goldstone and his team, including retired Irish Army officer, Colonel Desmond Travers, have produced an extraordinarily comprehensive report with evidence compiled from almost 200 individual interviews and an examination of over 300 reports and submissions as well as public hearings held in both Gaza and Geneva. The report will be formally introduced in the UN Human Rights Council on 29 September.

The main findings of the Goldstone report are deeply disturbing. The evidence it presents indicates that serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, were committed by both Israeli military forces and Palestinian armed groups during Operation Cast Lead.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has consistently underlined the Government's view that the most serious incidents which occurred during the Gaza conflict required a full and impartial investigation. The Government also believes, as the Minister has made clear, that there must be full accountability for any serious violations of international law committed during the conflict. The Goldstone report makes a number of important recommendations with a view to ensuring such accountability. These include possible reference to the UN Security Council and even to the International Criminal Court in the event of the very serious allegations documented not being properly and independently investigated by Israel and the authorities in Gaza.

The exhaustive findings and recommendations made by Judge Goldstone and his colleagues deserve the most serious consideration by all those concerned with the defence of human rights. It is appropriate that the report should receive full and urgent consideration at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. As I have indicated, this will happen next week during the course of the council's current session. We are working closely with our EU partners at present on the development of the EU's response to the report. Although Ireland is not currently a member of the Human Rights Council, we will help to prepare the ground for fruitful discussion there and the preparation of an appropriate response by the council.

See this speech in context