Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support a matter (details supplied). [36579/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In reply to Priority Question No 7 on 23 September 2009, Minister Roche on my behalf gave the Government's initial views on the Goldstone Report and the findings it contains. As stated in that reply:

The exhaustive findings and recommendations made by Judge Goldstone and his colleagues deserve the most serious consideration by all those concerned with the defence of human rights. It is appropriate that the report should receive full and urgent consideration at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

That consideration began at the Human Rights Council on 29 September, and Ireland, although not a member of the Council, intervened in support of the seriousness and credibility of the Report, and the need to respond to and act upon it. The letter received by the Deputy, which I myself also received, criticised the postponement of consideration of a draft Resolution on the Report to the next HRC session in March, and called instead for the matter to be returned to the HRC. A Special Session of the Human Rights Council has now been called to discuss the Goldstone Report, and this is taking place in Geneva today and tomorrow.

It is for the HRC, which commissioned the Report, to consider in the first instance how to take it forward. In view of the length and detail of the Report, and the wide-ranging nature of its recommendations, this process will undoubtedly continue beyond the Special Session, and indeed could well involve other international fora as well, in the event of the very serious allegations documented not being properly and independently investigated by Israel and the authorities in Gaza.