Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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251. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No 521 of 28 April 2021, the discussions he has had with European and international partners in relation to the detention of a person (details supplied) by the National Investigation Agency of India for alleged Maoist links; his plans to call on the Indian Government to safeguard the health and well-being of the person and to call for the release of same; the discussions he has had with the Indian Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27130/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the authorities in India the detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27434/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 258 together.

My Department has been monitoring the case of this individual since October of last year. His case has been raised by Ireland at senior level both bilaterally and jointly with EU partners. Our Ambassador in India has raised the issue at senior level in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Ireland also joined with EU partners in raising this case. The EU recently held a High-Level Dialogue on Human Rights with India in which both sides exchanged views on strengthening human rights in various areas.

Our Embassy in New Delhi joined other EU Member States in raising this 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.

As you will appreciate, the promotion of human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, is a priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. In light of his advanced years and the spread of COVID-19 in the vicinity of the prison, Ireland expects the Indian authorities to have special regard for the health and wellbeing of Fr. Swamy during his detention. In its international human rights commitments, India has undertaken to have full respect for the rule of law, including the presumption of innocence.

Our Embassy will continue to monitor developments in this case, notably the bail proceedings currently before the courts.