Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which members will be elected to the new UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19531/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the safeguards in place to ensure that countries with a poor human rights record will not be able to take up positions on the new UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19532/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 153 together.

The elections to the new UN Human Rights Council took place on 9 May 2006. A total of 47 seats were contested, with each regional group being allocated a certain number.

The General Assembly Resolution establishing the Council included a number of provisions aimed at addressing concerns relating to the human rights records of its members. Whereas election to the former Commission on Human Rights was by a simple majority of States present and voting in the General Assembly, members of the Human Rights Council have to receive the support of an absolute majority of the General Assembly. In addition, States are elected by secret ballot.

Prospective members of the Council are also obliged to commit themselves to upholding the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights, and will be the first to be scrutinised under the new universal periodic review mechanism which will examine the extent to which international human rights standards are respected on the domestic level. Ireland, together with our EU partners, will seek to shape the periodic review mechanism so that it provides a credible and effective oversight process.

A mechanism has also been established to allow for the expulsion of a member of the Council if it is deemed by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly to be responsible for gross and systematic violations of human rights. Ireland and our European Union partners have also undertaken not to vote for any State that is subject to Security Council sanctions for human rights related reasons.

I am confident that when the Human Rights Council meets for the first time on 19 June, it will represent a fresh start for the human rights machinery of the UN.