Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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793. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way that he plans to respond to calls from an organisation for the release of a person (details supplied) to Ireland on medical grounds, following allegations that they have been denied medical treatment in a prison in Bahrain. [21191/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy.

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. 

Ireland urges all States to safeguard the human rights of prisoners and detainees, including provision of healthcare services, as set out in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules. 

The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has made representations to the Bahraini authorities on the detention of a number of individuals, including Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. 

Mr Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a Bahraini-Danish national and officials from my Department have been in contact on an ongoing basis, including this month, with the relevant Danish authorities who are providing consular assistance. It would not be appropriate to comment further publicly on an ongoing consular case.