Written answers
Thursday, 2 April 2015
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Human Rights Issues
Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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213. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports the recent comments of his counterpart, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Margot Wallström, on the appalling treatment of women and abuse of human rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and if he has or will indicate his support to Ms Wallström and the Swedish Government at a meeting of European Union Foreign Affairs Ministers. [13817/15]
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues.We raise any concerns with the Saudi authorities primarily through relevant international mechanisms, such the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia in the UN Human Rights Council, and have also done so bilaterally. We normally raise human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, including specific cases, in conjunction with our other EU partners, including Sweden, as we do in many other locations. It is quite clear that we have the greatest impact on matters of foreign policy, including human rights, when all EU Member States speak with one voice. Ireland made two recommendations to Saudi Arabia during its most recent review under the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review process in October 2013. These recommendations focused on the right to freedom of association and on the improvement of women’s rights.
I am not in a position to comment on the bilateral exchanges between Sweden and Saudi Arabia.
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