Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

84. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the authorities in Iran are moving towards a more democratic process facilitating a recognition of international standards in respect of human rights; the degree to which such efforts continue to be encouraged, facilitated and incentivised by the worldwide community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37686/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In recent years the growing polarisation over the nuclear issue, and the isolationism of the Iranian authorities, made it very difficult to discuss or progress issues relating to human rights, civil society, or democratic principles with Iran.

Following President Rouhani’s election in August 2013, the new Government in Iran has made some welcome statements on improving the protection of human rights. Ireland and our EU partners strongly encourage any such moves in Iran. My Department has also provided the Iranian Foreign Ministry with information on human rights protection and mechanisms in this country. At parliamentary level, I am sure that visits to Iran this year by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and most recently by the Ceann Comhairle will have helped to underline these messages.

Ireland has repeatedly addressed the human rights situation in Iran in its bilateral contacts and in the relevant international fora. The issue was discussed during senior official level consultations between Ireland and Iran which took place in Tehran last July. At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in September, Ireland expressed concerns about the persecution of religious minorities in Iran and our hope that the stated intention of Iran to improve human rights protection will include these minority groups. The upcoming Universal Periodic Review of the human rights record of Iran at the UN in Geneva will be an important opportunity for states to engage in dialogue with Iran on its human rights record and to make recommendations on how to improve it. In addition, later this year, Ireland will once again actively engage in discussions on the annual resolution on the human rights situation in Iran at the current 69th session of the UN General Assembly.

While we welcome positive overtures by the Rouhani administration, we have yet to see significant improvement on the ground in human rights. It may be that the new leadership’s focus on trying to resolve the nuclear issue, and avoid negative domestic backlash particularly from conservative quarters, is limiting their ability to act concurrently in this sphere. But human rights is very much an area where positive words must be followed up with actions and changes on the ground, and this is an area we will continue to monitor closely, along with our EU partners.

I would hope also that if agreement can be reached on the nuclear issue, as seems possible, this may help to act as a confidence building measure for better relations in other areas as well.