Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the top ten locations about which he and his EU colleagues are most concerned in respect of human rights abuses; the action taken or intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4185/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As has been made clear on previous occasions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a 'league table' of countries deemed guilty of the worst human rights abuses.

Human rights remain central to our foreign policy. Active participation in the EU, UN and the Council of Europe provides an opportunity for Ireland to voice its concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for the violation of human rights.

Together with our EU partners, the Government monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official and non-governmental organisations. Where the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question, either bilaterally, through the EU, or through action at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council. At these bodies, the EU regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in a number of countries from all regions. Ireland is fully associated with these statements. The EU also introduces or supports resolutions dealing with specific countries.

The Government will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.