Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his colleagues at EU and UN level continue to monitor events at various locations worldwide wherein a disregard for human rights has been identified; if he will indicate the top twenty such locations worldwide, the degree to which the international community has made or is likely to make positive intervention in such situations in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33889/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and the international community through the UN have identified the top ten locations worldwide wherein the most serious violations of human rights are deemed to be on-going, the action taken or likely to be taken through the EU or UN to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33891/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 46 together.

As far as I am aware, neither the European Union nor the United Nations produces a top ten or twenty list of countries in regard to the violations outlined by the Deputy.

Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. With its EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries, including post-conflict countries, throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the situation warrants, we make known our concerns about human rights violations to the Governments in question.

Ireland supports the use of the full UN human rights machinery in responding to human rights abuses, including 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 regularly makes statements on the human rights situations in a number of countries from all regions. Ireland is fully associated with these statements.

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 Government is committed to the active promotion of full observance of universal human rights standards. Active participation in multilateral organisations including 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 violation of human rights. Ireland will continue to use these mechanisms as a means of highlighting violations of human rights and furthering their protection.