Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison camp, which was called for at a recent meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of his Department with regard to the continued use of Guantanamo Bay detention centre by the US administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25164/06]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had recent contact with his US counterpart with regard to the continued use of the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp by the US administration; if he has conveyed his concerns to the US administration with regard to the holding of detainees at the camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25456/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 82 and 147 together.

I have made it clear that I believe that the Guantánamo Bay camp should be closed as soon as possible. More generally, the Government has raised the issue of the detainees in Guantánamo Bay with the US Authorities on numerous occasions. This was done at the highest level when the Taoiseach, accompanied by myself, raised our concerns with President Bush in Washington on 17 March 2006.

We have always made it clear that we believe that they must be treated in accordance with the requirements of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. This position is shared by the EU as a whole and these views were expressed at the recent EU-US Summit which took place in Vienna on 21 June 2006. The EU side urged that the detainees be either charged or released and that Guantanamo be closed. President Bush stated his intention ultimately to close the facility, which I welcome. I would urge the US administration to move to do so rapidly.