Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that Ireland has taken to address human rights violations in Bahrain at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva; the actions that he has taken to request the release of all the political prisoners in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56813/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 detention of political prisoners and conditions in prisons.

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 on 27 October 2022, issues of concern raised by the EU included freedom of expression, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, and the death penalty. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has made representations to the Bahraini authorities on the detention of a number of individuals.

At the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 7 November 2022, Ireland urged Bahrain to uphold freedom of religion and belief for all persons including members of the Shia community; we regretted the reintroduction of the death penalty in 2017 following a moratorium of several years; and we urged Bahrain to carry out independent and prompt investigations into all allegations of torture or other forms of ill-treatment and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

We also recommended the immediate release of all individuals who have been arbitrarily arrested, and for the creation of a safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations and human rights defenders.

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.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the issue of human rights’ abuses by the current and past governments of Pakistan against the people of Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56834/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. Ireland has consistently engaged with Pakistan on human rights issues both bilaterally and multilaterally. In the context of our bilateral relationship, Ireland’s Ambassador to Pakistan visited Pakistan last week and discussed human rights issues with a number of Pakistani governmental officials. Earlier in February 2021, she also met with Pakistan’s then Federal Minister for Human Rights, Ms. Shireen Mazari.

At an EU level, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Eamon Gilmore met with Minister Mazari in February 2022, as part of a visit to reaffirm the centrality of human rights in the EU-Pakistani relationship.

Most recently, at the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission in October 2022, both sides discussed civil and political rights, the rights of persons belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, freedom of religion or belief, the role of civil society organisations, and reforms related to the application of the death penalty. Ireland will continue to contribute actively to the development of EU policies towards Pakistan.