Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7714/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The case the Deputy refers to relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to conspiracy to murder, and whose appeal was heard in March 2004. The court's decision is awaited.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with his Argentine counterpart, or at European Union level, the implementation of the UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7615/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Argentina has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and it has constitutional status in that country. On 10 December 2004, the Committee Against Torture published its conclusions and recommendations on Argentina's fourth periodic report under the convention. It welcomed, inter alia, the efforts made by Argentina to combat impunity in respect of crimes against humanity committed under the military dictatorship and that country's recent ratification of the optional protocol to the convention. However, the committee also expressed a range of concerns, including about the many allegations of torture and ill treatment committed in a widespread and habitual manner by the security forces and state agencies, and made a series of recommendations to the government of Argentina aimed at preventing torture and ill treatment.

The President of Argentina, H. E. Nestor Kirchner, has pledged to make the effective protection of human rights a cornerstone of his agenda, and Ireland and our EU partners are encouraged by the clear indications that the government of Argentina has the will to improve the human rights situation. We look forward to the implementation of concrete measures to this end, particularly with regard to abuses committed by the security forces. I have not yet had the opportunity of meeting my Argentine counterpart but would look forward to discussing a range of issues of mutual interest with him. These would include human rights issues, particularly as both our countries are members of the UN Commission on Human Rights.