Written answers

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Policy

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if representations will be made to the UK Government urging it to respect the judgment of the International Court of Justice in respect of the Chagos Islands, specifically that the UK bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago and return it to Mauritius to allow the return home of exiled Chagossians as rapidly as possible. [10807/19]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The United Nations General Assembly on 22 June 2017 adopted a Resolution put forward by Mauritius to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, prior to Mauritian independence from the UK. 

On 25 February 2019 the Court delivered its Advisory Opinion. The Court found that the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius was contrary to the right to self-determination and that accordingly the decolonisation of Mauritius was not completed in conformity with international law. 

Advisory opinions are addressed to the UN organs or agencies requesting them; in this case the UN General Assembly. It is now a matter for the UN General Assembly to consider the consequences of the Advisory Opinion and to determine how it wishes to proceed on this matter. Ireland paid close attention to the discussions leading up to the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution put forward by Mauritius. As a member of the General Assembly we will continue to pay close attention to this matter in the period ahead.

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