Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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903. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he has had discussions with international leaders in the context of an international response to human rights abuses globally and now a matter of serious concern; if he will continue to pursue these issues through the EU and UN and if necessary using Ireland’s position on the UN Security Council to do same; if a particular action can be taken against the perpetrators of such abuse in the European Criminal Courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20851/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is a strong contributor to European Union and United Nations efforts to eliminate human rights violations.

This includes our work on the broad range of country situations on the Security Council’s agenda, many of which involve serious human rights issues, as well as through our work on the Security Council’s subsidiary bodies, including the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, which Ireland is co-chairing, and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

We are keenly aware of the essential role played by UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions in protecting civilians and promoting respect for human rights, and, in our role on the Council, Ireland is supporting their crucial work in this area.

Ireland also continues to engage actively at the UN Human Rights Council. At the recently concluded 46th session of the Council, Ireland delivered over 20 National Statements on country-specific human rights situations.

At EU level, Ireland is an active participant and contributor to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which works globally to support the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security.

Ireland regards the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system. The ICC’s jurisdiction is limited to the territory or nationals of States Parties to the Rome Statute or States that have accepted the Court’s jurisdiction on an ad hoc basis and to situations referred to it by the Security Council of the United Nations.

While the ICC is central to the overall framework for international criminal justice, it is a court of last resort. The ICC does not substitute for national judicial systems. States bear the primary responsibility to investigate the most serious international crimes.

Ireland, together with its EU partners has been, and continues to be, a consistent and strong supporter of the ICC. We will continue to support and defend the Court throughout our term on the UN Security Council.