Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating human rights situation in Guatemala (details supplied); and if he will raise the issue with his Guatemalan counterpart. [26506/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the difficult situation which currently pertains for human rights defenders in Guatemala and elsewhere in Latin America. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remains committed to supporting the advancement of human rights in the region, and I condemn unreservedly any act of intimidation or violence perpetrated against those seeking to defend their rights.

Guatemala has made some strides in its political and social development over the past two decades since the gradual cessation of armed conflict from 1996 onwards. While overcoming the legacy of human rights crimes committed during the country’s civil war remains a challenge, it is essential to Guatemala’s future development and I urge the Government of Guatemala to address historical impunity at all levels.

Most recently, Ireland used the occasion of the 28th Session of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 8 November 2017 to express its concern in relation to attacks against human rights defenders in Guatemala. Ireland also noted that there have been worrying instances of harassment, intimidation and criminalisation of human rights defenders in the country.

Ireland’s statement recommended that Guatemala take all necessary steps to protect human rights defenders through the removal of legal and policy measures which inhibit the ability of human rights defenders to carry out their vital work in safety, without fear of interference, obstruction or harassment of any kind, including by finalising the Public Policy for the Protection of HRDs with strong participation by civil society and an adequate budgetary allocation.

Ireland’s statement on Guatemala at the Human Rights Council is available for review on the Department’s website:

Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade also meet regularly with human rights defenders and civil society organisations active in Latin America, including in Guatemala and including those working on land rights, an increasingly important issue in the region.

While Ireland does not have a resident embassy in Guatemala City, in keeping with our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and working with partners on the ground, we will continue to follow the situation in Guatemala closely, and to raise our concerns regarding threats against human rights defenders in discussions on Guatemala at EU and international level.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position of the Government on the recent refusal of the Italian Government to accept refugees (details supplied); the contact he has had with Italian or European authorities regarding the incident; if he will condemn the treatment of the refugees, who included many unaccompanied minors, pregnant women and injured persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26540/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rather than unilateral actions by any Member State, the migration crisis requires solutions at European level and, though recent discussions, particularly on the reform of the Dublin Regulation, have been very difficult, efforts to reach agreement on a revised common approach to refugees and asylum seekers must continue. This will be an important subject at the European Council next week.

In such a common approach, it is essential to find additional ways to demonstrate practical solidarity with front-line states, such as Italy. I acknowledge the generous response by the new Spanish Government. It is also imperative to respect the dignity and human rights of those who arrive on our shores.

The Irish Naval Service has saved the lives of many migrants, first as part of Operation Pontus and more recently as part of EUNAVFOR MED, also known as Operation Sophia.

I strongly believe that solving the migration crisis will ultimately require deeper political, economic and development relationships between the EU and neighbouring countries, including many in Africa, that is fit for purpose and capable of dealing with a variety of challenges on the basis of shared responsibility.