Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: 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. [25667/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland and its European Union partners monitor closely the human rights situation in many countries throughout the world, including in the Middle East. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. We make known our concerns about particular violations of human rights to the Governments in question.

Ireland endorses the use of the full United Nations human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses. This includes supporting the role of UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, Special Procedures and Mandate Holders and the convening, where appropriate, of Special Sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. At the UN, the EU makes statements on the human rights situations in countries around the world; Ireland is fully associated with these statements.

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 regular dialogues with a number of countries and raises human rights concerns as part of political dialogue meetings.

At a bilateral level, officials in my Department engage in ongoing dialogue with Embassies here in Dublin and abroad to raise my concerns about specific cases, especially cases of persons who have been detained without due process or suffered mistreatment while in detention. Ireland also actively engages in the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review process in Geneva to address specific concerns and make recommendations to the country under review.

Ireland promotes full observance of universal human rights standards. Our active participation in multilateral organisations, including the EU and the UN, provides us with an opportunity to voice our concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these organisations, international pressure can be brought to bear on those responsible for violation of human rights. We will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering the protection of human rights.