John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken or can take to raise concern about the possible violation of the Iranian people's fundamental human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25005/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Inevitably, perhaps, international attention in relation to Iran has focused recently on the nuclear issue and on developments in neighbouring Iraq. The Government believes it is important that we do not lose sight of the human rights situation in Iran, on which we have very serious concerns.

After a period in which gradual progress was evident in the overall human rights situation, the past few years have witnessed a serious and sustained erosion of human rights protections in Iran. Moderate and reformist political voices have been suppressed, and freedom of expression has been severely curtailed by actions against media outlets and individual journalists.

Against this background of reassertion of State control, a wide range of other human rights issues has also shown a marked deterioration. These include the increased use of the death penalty, including executions of minors and in some isolated cases recourse to the particularly barbaric practice of execution by stoning. There has been a notable increase in intolerance of expression of identity by national minorities, and active harassment of minority communities, including the Baha'i community. Trade unions and women's groups have been suppressed and there has been a sustained campaign against NGOs and human rights defenders. Indeed groups and individuals in Iran are now being targeted by the authorities because they have been in contact with western Embassies.

I have been seriously concerned by these developments, and I raised them very directly in my meeting with Foreign Minister Mottaki in New York on 1 October. The Government and our EU partners make frequent representations to the Iranian authorities about specific cases and issues, and about the broader principles of human rights. In recent years we have co-sponsored a Resolution at the UN General Assembly on the human rights situation in Iran, along with Canada and others. We will do so again this year.

Regrettably, Iran has shown little interest in tackling these issues. A formal Human Rights Dialogue between the EU and Iran is now effectively in abeyance. The last meeting was held under the Irish EU Presidency in 2004, and it seems clear that Iran is not now willing to engage in the dialogue.

The Government and our EU partners will continue to use every opportunity to draw attention to, and where possible to uphold, the fundamental rights of the Iranian people.