Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether nurses must be allowed to deliver certain services to those in need, without differentiation as to their status, and allowed express the views of their colleagues in relation to the delivery of health services; and if he has raised the case with his Bahraini counterpart. [3363/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the case in question, and have had representations made on behalf of this person to my Department by members of the public.

I strongly support the right to freely and peacefully express opinion in all circumstances, regardless of a person’s status, profession or role in society. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. There have been worrying developments in Bahrain of late, with widespread reports of a crackdown on those who express dissent or criticism of the Bahraini Government. Bahrain has been vocal in stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, but developments over the last few months would suggest that this is not being implemented in practice.

My Department has made known Ireland’s position on these developments. In the Item 4 Statement (Human rights situations that require the Council's attention) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva last September, Ireland expressed concern about “restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association aimed at silencing the voice of civil society and human rights defenders in countries including Bahrain”. Further, Ireland’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who is accredited to Bahrain as we do not have an Embassy there, recently met with the Bahraini Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and they discussed human rights.

My Department will continue to advocate for freedom of expression to be respected, in Bahrain and elsewhere.