Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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173. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the alleged human rights abuse of African-Americans in the United States of America by police authorities; if he raised the matter with the ambassador of the United States of America to Ireland; if the embassy has raised this matter with the authorities in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15327/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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What is the Minister's view of the human rights abuses of African-Americans in the US, in particular, a number of killings of African-Americans, including the killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray and others by police authorities, and the killings of Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis and others? Those killings have given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and they point to a systemic racism in the US state and police force. Has the Minister raised this issue, or will he raise it, with his US counterparts?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of recent reports of alleged police-led human rights abuses against African Americans in the US and the extensive public concern created by those allegations. These concerns, and the need to address them, have been acknowledged by the US authorities at the highest level. President Obama stated in an address to the US people in November, following the decision of the grand jury in the Michael Brown case:

The fact is, in too many parts of this country, a deep distrust exists between law enforcement and communities of colour. Some of this is the result of the legacy of racial discrimination in this country. ... The good news is we know there are things we can do to help. And I’ve instructed Attorney General Holder to work with cities across the country to help build better relations between communities and law enforcement.

I am very conscious that people in all parts of the world continue to suffer discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin. Ireland is firmly committed to the principle of non-discrimination and is a party to the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. I therefore fully support President Obama and his Administration's efforts to address the concerns raised by these recent incidents and to build improved relations and trust between US law enforcement and all communities around the US.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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I will also quote President Obama, who said "What happened in Ferguson may not be unique, but it's no longer endemic or sanctioned by law and custom". It is endemic. A report by the US Department of Justice found a pattern of civil rights violations by the Ferguson police department and points to shocking statistics. Some 90% of people who received a citation in Ferguson were African American, and 95% of manner of walking along roadway charges and 94% of failure to comply charges were followed against African Americans. This points to racist practices by the police and a blind eye being turned to those by city officials. However, they are not unique to Ferguson. There are hundreds of Fergusons across the country. In the seven years up to 2012, an African American has been killed by a white police officer approximately twice per week. Black people are three times more likely than white people to be killed when they encounter police.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I refer again to President Obama's strong response on behalf of the American people following the grand jury's decision in the Brown case, from which I have already quoted. I commend to the Deputy and the House President Obama's inspiring speech on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. It is a comprehensive statement on race relations in the US in terms of progress made there during the past 50 years and an honest and frank assessment of the journey still to be completed, including reform of the US criminal justice system regarding its treatment of African Americans.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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There is systematic racism in the US, and this is reflected in the actions of the police, which are seen in the statistics in black and white. I also raise the treatment of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a celebrated prisoner and former Black Panther who was the victim of a racist frame-up, has been on death row since 1982 and, in recent weeks, has faced potential execution through medical neglect.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the Abu-Jamal case to which the Deputy refers. Indeed, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ICESCR, Ireland supports the right of all people to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as enshrined in Article 12 of the covenant. I note that the United States has signed but not ratified the ICESCR and therefore is not a party to it.