Written answers

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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450. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42518/21]

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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467. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is prepared to take in order to protest at the imprisonment for human rights activism of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42842/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 467 together.

I note with concern the details in the cases referred to by the Deputies. 

Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. 

Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the specific case of Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace. 

Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. Ireland has raised the human rights issues in Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in the form of national statements and through support to EU Statements.

Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain as a member of the European Union. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in February 2021, issues of concern were raised by the EU including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation. 

The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has also made representations to the Bahraini authorities on human rights issues, including the detention of a number of individuals, including Mr. Hasan Mushaima. 

Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.

Photo of Francis Noel DuffyFrancis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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451. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a person (details supplied); if he has spoken to Chinese authorities on the person's case; his plans to ensure the person's safe return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42585/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This is a complex case involving an Irish citizen who has been prevented from leaving China since March 2019.  My Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the citizen since that time through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai, while he and his legal teams work on the legal, commercial and financial issues through the appropriate channels. Our Consul General has met and engaged very regularly with the citizen, and continues to provide all possible consular advice and support.

There has also been extensive and regular engagement at the most senior political and diplomatic level with the Chinese authorities in Beijing and Shanghai, and with the Embassy of China in Dublin, in relation to the humanitarian aspects of this case, and the importance of the citizen being allowed to return home as soon as possible. During my visit to China in May this year I discussed the case with a view to achieving a resolution of the matter.

As the Deputy will appreciate, as with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to comment on the specific details of the case.  However, I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the citizen until he is permitted to return to Ireland.

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