Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There has been documented police brutality yet no senior officials in Bahrain's security forces have been held accountable for allegations of torture, excessive force or extrajudicial killings to date. Peaceful protests are treated with brutality, arbitrary arrests, coerced confessions and, alarmingly, the resumption of the death penalty. What we are seeing is the suppression of civil society organisations and there is no independent media outlet. There is a hereditary dynasty but that dynasty is excluding all but the minority Sunni and is discriminating against the other groups within Bahrain.

The Minister of State mentioned going through the appropriate channels. To go back to Deputy Collins's question, can Ireland raise this at the next Human Rights Council in Geneva? It appears the Bahraini authorities will only act when there is international scrutiny and international pressure. We hope the Minister of State will take that opportunity at the council.

See this speech in context