Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has read the recent report by an organisation (details supplied) on the current situation in Yemen; if he will propose that the UN Human Rights Council carry out an investigation into possible war crimes on the part of Saudi Arabia in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39697/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the report referenced by the Deputy, and am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, in particular the humanitarian situation, which in recent months has reached crisis point. The war has entered into its third year, the country is on the brink of famine, the political process has stalled, and fighting is continuing, with increasingly devastating consequences for the civilian population. EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Yemen at the Foreign Affairs Council in April, where they adopted Council Conclusions expressing concern for the situation in Yemen and calling on the parties to start negotiating a peace agreement. Ireland will continue to support the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and his team in their work towards a peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties to the conflict. This conflict has been characterised by allegations of violations of human rights, including rights of the child, and infringements of international humanitarian law. Ireland has been consistent in calling for an impartial, international investigation into these reports. Unfortunately, consensus at an international level to launch such an investigation has not yet been possible.

Ireland is currently leading calls at the UN Human Rights Council to establish an Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged human rights violations by any party to the conflict in Yemen. In parallel, through the EU, Ireland will continue to call on all parties to this conflict to cooperate with the National Commission of Inquiry, as well as with the enhanced OHCHR Yemen Office, and to allow investigators full access to all parts of Yemen.