Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent events whereby a US soldier has been found guilty of abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and sentenced to three years' imprisonment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26843/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government strongly and repeatedly condemned the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq when they came to light. Our concerns were conveyed directly to the US authorities. The Taoiseach raised the issue with President Bush at the EU-US summit at Dromoland Castle in June 2004, during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. Once the situation became clear, the US authorities committed themselves to ending the abuse of prisoners in Iraq and to bringing the perpetrators to justice. In keeping with that commitment, a number of US service personnel have been convicted and sentenced by military courts. If any further evidence of abuse comes to light, I would expect that similar action will result. I would not wish to comment on the individual cases of persons charged in these incidents.