Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use this Government's good offices with the US Administration to encourage the US to approve the draft resolution for a new United Nations human rights council presented by the president of the General Assembly on 23 February 2006. [9952/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the negotiations on the draft resolution establishing the human rights council are still ongoing in New York. The European Union has issued a statement on the text indicating that the draft resolution is acceptable to the Union, even if it does not contain all that we had hoped for. The statement also supports the President of the General Assembly's efforts to secure the broadest possible backing for the early establishment of the human rights council. Ireland played an active role at an EU level in securing support for the text.

The United States has indicated that it wishes to see certain changes to the draft resolution before it can support it. While the EU understands the thinking of the United States, we have grave doubts about whether such changes are achievable. Against that background, there have been ongoing discussions between the European Union and the United States both in Washington and in New York to see if the United States might be prepared to modify its position.

A human rights council established on the basis of this draft resolution would represent a marked improvement on the current Commission on Human Rights. In addition to important new elements, positive features of the Commission on Human Rights — such as effective access for civil society and the network of special procedures — would be maintained.

In light of this, Ireland is committed to supporting the text produced by the President of the General Assembly and will continue to work for its early adoption. I will take advantage of any opportunity which may arise during my visit to the United States next week to set out our position.