Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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521. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 5 November 2020, the progress made regarding a person (details supplied) in India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22230/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This person is one of a number of human rights defenders in India currently being detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. I have expressed my concern on a number of occasions about this individual, who is elderly and has a health condition.  My concern for his health is heightened by the rapid deterioration in the COVID situation in India. I was disappointed to learn that the courts have refused bail in this case but I understand that certain essential items of personal care have been provided after judicial intervention. 

The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi has monitored this case since the detention of the human rights defender last October. The Embassy joined other EU Member States in raising the case with the National Human Rights Commission of India, expressing concern about the conditions of his detention, given the age and health profile of the human rights defender, and raising the possibility of his release on humanitarian grounds. However, the National Human Rights Commission having reviewed the circumstances of the arrest and detention, found that no protection applies on the grounds of infringement of human rights.

The case has been raised bilaterally with the Indian side by the Ambassador of Ireland at senior levels in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and jointly with EU partners, most recently during the EU-India Human Rights Dialogue which took place earlier this month in New Delhi.

The promotion of human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, is a priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland expects the Indian authorities to have due regard for the wellbeing of the human rights defender in this case during his detention and to have full respect for the rule of law including presumption of innocence.

Our Embassy in New Delhi will continue to monitor developments in this case.