Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the new UN Human Rights Council will begin its work; the composition of the new UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25123/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The UN Human Rights Council is at present holding its inaugural session in Geneva. The current session began on 19 June and will continue until the end of this week. The next session will take place in September.

My colleague, Minister of State Noel Treacy T.D., addressed this new body on behalf of the Government on 20 June. He called for the new UN Human Rights Council to make itself fully relevant by confronting the very real and practical human rights challenges which the world faces today. He also presented Ireland's view that there should now be a decisive shift to effective implementation of the standards elaborated by the Council's predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights.

In addition, the Minister argued that some of the best aspects of the Commission must be preserved and, in particular, that the active engagement of the Commission with civil society on human rights issues should continue. He underlined Ireland's commitment to a positive and constructive environment within the Council, but emphasised that the Council must also be frank in addressing wilful neglect and violation of international human rights.

Two significant innovations may contribute to the effectiveness of the new body. It will meet more frequently during the year, thus potentially allowing a greater capacity to deal with human rights violations in real time. Secondly, it will develop a system of universal periodic review of States' human rights records, which may help address the argument of selectivity levelled against its predecessor. Ireland, together with our EU partners, will seek to shape the periodic review mechanism so that it provides a credible and effective oversight process.

In terms of its composition, States are elected to the 47 member Council by the General Assembly on the basis of regional allocation of seats. The first elections to the new UN Human Rights Council took place on 9 May 2006. A table showing those States elected is set out below.

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 they will be the first to be scrutinised under the new universal periodic review mechanism.

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. In this general regard, Ireland and our European Union partners have undertaken not to vote for any State that is subject to Security Council sanctions for human rights related reasons.

I am confident this new body can represent a fresh start and, in particular, that it has the potential to contribute significantly to the UN's active engagement on human rights issues.