Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues through bilateral contacts, the European Union and the United Nations. We have never shied away from addressing those issues.

Ireland made two recommendations to Saudi Arabia during the most recent human rights council universal periodic review process in October. These recommendations focused on the right to freedom of association and the improvement of women’s rights through ending the male guardianship requirement which would allow women to conduct official business as Saudi Government officials. Ireland is an active member of the European Union human rights group in Riyadh which co-ordinates EU policy on human rights issues with the kingdom and progresses implementation of the EU’s human rights country strategy for Saudi Arabia. It enables member states to share information on human rights issues and discuss how these can be most effectively progressed.

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