Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

364. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken in response to the withdrawal of Poland from the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23300/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of reports that Poland’s Minister of Justice has filed a formal request to the Polish Family Ministry to launch the procedure to facilitate Poland’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Should this become the official policy of the Polish Government, I would be concerned by such a policy. It is my understanding that the Polish Prime Minister has decided to submit a motion to Poland's Constitutional Tribunal to examine the compliance of the Istanbul Convention with the Polish Constitution. 

Ireland has joined with other EU Member States in highlighting our concerns, emphasising that the Convention is the key international treaty to combat violence against women and domestic violence and that this is its sole objective.

Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. The Convention is a significant international legal instrument which requires criminalising or legally sanctioning different forms of violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual harassment and psychological violence.

Domestic and sexual violence can have devastating consequences for victims as well as society as a whole. When we ratified the Convention, it sent an important message that Ireland does not tolerate such violence. To date, all EU Member States have signed the treaty, and 21 EU Member States, including Poland, have ratified it. Poland is an EU Member State with which we share many values and interests, and its withdrawal from the Convention would be regrettable.

Once we develop a clearer understanding of the Polish Government’s position on this, we will seek to discuss the issue further with Polish counterparts in the appropriate fora at ministerial and official level.

We will continue to work both bilaterally and at the EU level to promote and protect the rights of women across the EU and beyond.