Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will do my best to answer everyone's questions if I can. I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 11, 19, 20 and 23 together.

I am happy to have an opportunity to answer these questions because this is a very current and worrying series of developments. I am deeply concerned about the unjustifiable and disproportionate response of the Iranian authorities to Iranian citizens protesting against the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody after her arrest for allegedly violating dress code regulations. Ireland does not believe that anything short of full equality for women should be the objective, anywhere in the world. No woman should lose her life because of how she chooses to dress herself.

I commend the women and men of Iran who have exercised their fundamental right to assembly and protest. It is most regrettable that the response of the Iranian security and police forces has resulted in the further loss of lives, as well as a large number of people being injured. The use of force against non-violent protestors is unjustifiable and unacceptable. People in Iran have the right to peaceful protest and that right must be ensured in all circumstances. Iran is a party to the ICCPR. I call on the Iranian authorities to abide strictly by the principles enshrined in the ICCPR, including the right to peaceful assembly. The decision by the Iranian authorities to severely restrict Internet access and to block instant messaging platforms is a further cause for concern, and is a clear violation of freedom of expression.

On 21 September I met with the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, at the UN General Assembly high level week in New York. I relayed to him my deep concerns regarding the circumstances of Ms Amini’s detention and death. During my visit to Tehran in February of this year, I also raised Ireland's concerns in relation to human rights in Iran with the minister, particularly the rights of women and LGBTI+ persons and respect for freedom of religious belief.

I urge Iran to immediately conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of Ms Amini’s death. Ireland, along with our fellow European Union member states, will consider all options at our disposal to respond to the death of Mahsa Amini and to the actions of the Iranian authorities against the protestors. In my statement issued on 3 October, I condemned the unjustifiable and disproportionate response of the Iranian security apparatus to peaceful protests, as I have done again today. In addition, I reminded the Iranian Government of its obligations under the ICCPR. In meetings with Iranian officials, officials of my Department will continue to repeat these fundamental messages.

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