Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have already raised the issue of the closure of Guantanamo at Secretary of State level. It continues to be discussed at official level between the EU and the US.

From an ethical and humanitarian point of view, I have deep reservations about the forced feeding of hunger strikers. Medical organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have expressed significant concern about this practice. In the context of the Guantanamo detention centre, a range of medical and legal groups, international relief organisations and UN officials have called on the US Administration to stop the forced feeding.

As Deputy Crowe is aware, Ireland is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, UNHRC, where concerns about the situation have been voiced. This month, the UN special procedures mandate holders called on the US to respect and guarantee the life, health and personal integrity of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, particularly in the context of the hunger strike. The UN special rapporteur on health also expressed specific concerns about forced feeding or other forms of coercion being applied to individuals on hunger strike.

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