John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of Mexico's newly appointed President Felipe Calderón, he will take advantage of this opportunity to urge Mexico to begin incorporating international human rights standards into its domestic law; the steps he will take to promote the reform of the public security and the criminal justice system in Mexico and to promote the implementation of international human rights standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9842/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland, along with our European Union partners, monitors and regularly discusses with the Mexican authorities the human rights situation in Mexico and the fulfilment of their obligations under international law.

The European Union is committed to the respect of human rights, applying a positive and cooperative approach in relation to third countries in this regard. Since 2002, Mexico has been one of the focus countries for European Commission cooperation in the area of human rights through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). The 2006 EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit Declaration stressed that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and are basic principles of the strategic bi-regional partnership.

The issue of Human Rights is one of the pillars of the EU-Mexico Association Agreement and such issues are regularly addressed in the context of the EU-Mexico Joint Committee. Both Mexico and EU Member States, including Ireland, are fully aware of the fundamental importance of respecting human rights.

However, while Mexico has taken significant steps in promoting respect for human rights, considerable challenges remain to be addressed, in particular at state level. The Embassy of Ireland in Mexico City keeps the human rights situation under review and, with our EU partners, engages in dialogue with the authorities at both federal and state level.