Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the issue of human rights abuses in Iran has been addressed by the international community with particular reference to academics imprisoned following lawful protests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27601/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The human rights situation in Iran is profoundly disturbing, and the period since the Presidential election of 2009 has been characterised by an intensification of human rights abuses on many fronts. I am greatly concerned about the targeting of the academic community and educators in Iran, amid a widespread and intentional erosion of political and civil freedoms in Iran. Within this context, I am also concerned about the ongoing trials of the Bahá'ís associated with the Bahá'í Institute for Higher Education in Iran. The ongoing persecution of academics in Iran is in breach of the international obligations that Iran has itself signed up to. The frequent accompanying lack of judicial transparency means that those detained are often unaware of why they are being detained. This has an insidious effect on the wider academic community, adding to the atmosphere of intimidation and harassment within which Iranian academics — and indeed students — increasingly operate.

I call upon the government of Iran to respect its obligations to the academic community under international human rights instruments and fully support the statements of EU High Representatives Catherine Ashton on human rights violations in Iran, most recently on 15 September. The EU has repeatedly raised human rights issues in Iran with the Iranian authorities this year. In a further effort to increase the EU's impact on human rights in Iran, the Foreign Affairs Council in April adopted a travel ban and asset freeze against a number of serious human rights offenders in Iran. This sends an important political signal to those in the judicial system and elsewhere in the Iranian regime who perpetrate human rights abuses. The EU has also introduced measures to enable it to respond in a more timely fashion to serious violations of human rights in Iran while also trying to keep some basic channels of communications open with the Iranian authorities. I welcome these steps which demonstrate the depth of our concern. Ireland will continue to be active at EU level in pressing for stronger EU action in relation to the human rights situation in Iran.

At UN level, Ireland was active in ensuring the successful adoption at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March of a decision providing for appointment of a Special Rapporteur to examine Iran's human rights situation. I welcome the appointment of Ahmed Shaheed as Special Rapporteur on 1 August and call upon the Government of Iran to extend the utmost cooperation, including facilitating immediate and unhindered access to Iran, to Mr Shaheed. I am disappointed that the Iranian government has still not yet — after two months — replied to Mr Shaheed's request to be permitted to visit Iran.

At a bilateral level, my Department engages in ongoing dialogue with the Iranian Ambassador and his Embassy on these issues. My officials have already held a number of meetings with the Ambassador since the start of this year to convey our grave concerns at the human rights situation in Iran. Ireland will continue to raise human rights in Iran, including the rights of academics and other detainees, bilaterally and at the EU and UN, at all appropriate occasions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the EU and or UN or other global organisations have examined the issues of human rights abuses including the abuse of prisoners throughout the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27602/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including official channels, reports of the United Nations human rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, reports of Independent Experts and Special Rapporteurs appointed by the United Nations and international and Irish non-governmental and civil society organisations.

Ireland supports the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses, including supporting the role of UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures and Mandate Holders and the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. At these UN bodies, the EU regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in a number of countries. Ireland is fully associated with these statements. The EU also introduces or supports resolutions dealing with specific countries, as circumstances require.

Ireland has engaged proactively with the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review mechanism since its creation in March 2006. Ireland will be examined on Thursday, 6 October 2011 under this mechanism.

The EU has adopted Common Positions on certain countries, which attach priority to promoting human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law. In addition, the EU conducts human rights dialogues with a number of countries and also raises human rights concerns as part of political dialogue meetings.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The Court's Prosecutor has opened investigations into a number of country situations and we will continue to monitor this work closely.

While the Arab Spring has given much hope to the Middle East region, Ireland is concerned about the abuse of prisoners during this volatile period, particularly in Syria where there are reports of thousands of arbitrary detentions and the widespread torture and abuse of those detainees. The UN Human Rights Council has formed an international Commission of Inquiry to examine and report on the human rights situation in Syria, including the rights of prisoners, and I await its findings with great interest. In Libya, Ireland and the international community welcome the efforts of the National Transitional Council to establish the rule of law, and urge the interim authorities to ensure that the rights of prisoners are respected.

Ireland is also concerned about the situation faced by detainees, and civilians facing charges in military courts, in Bahrain. Ireland is very concerned at the severity of the sentences handed down to medical professionals last week and urges that none of these individuals will be re-arrested, pending the outcome of their appeals. Ireland calls for the application of due process, respect for international human rights and the release of all political detainees in Bahrain.

The Government will continue to avail of all the above-mentioned mechanisms and instruments as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.