Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is monitoring the increased crackdown on freedom of assembly and expression in Bahrain in response to pro-Palestine protests since October 2023; if he will raise concerns about the arrests of hundreds of individuals, including minors, clerics, and protesters since late September, who have expressed solidarity with Palestine and Lebanon across Bahrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44588/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the conditions in Bahrain’s Jau Prison, where political prisoners have been on strike since March 2024 following the death of a political prisoner (details supplied); if he will raise concerns about reports of recent escalatory measures taken against political prisoners held in Building 6, who have been held incommunicado after telephone calls were cut off three weeks ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44589/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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81. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raised the cases of award-winning human rights defenders (details supplied) in Bahrain who have been arbitrarily imprisoned since 2011; if he is concerned about their health deterioration due to the denial of medical care; if he will make representations with his counterparts to secure their immediate and unconditional release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44590/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 81, inclusive, together.

I am aware of the reports of concerns about the Bahraini prison system and the continued imprisonment of human rights defenders. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about reports of prison conditions and facilities, particularly in Jau prison.

Ireland continues to express concerns over the human rights issues of the prison facilities and the continued detention of human rights defenders in multilateral fora, and through the EU-Bahrain Human Rights dialogue. The next session of this dialogue is expected to be held in December, and will provide an opportunity to further pursue these issues. Ireland also conveys its concerns directly with Bahraini authorities through our Ambassador in Saudi Arabia who is accredited to Bahrain, and with the Bahraini Embassy in London, who have always been ready to discuss these matters.

Freedom of expression is an essential principle of human rights, which we state in all our discussions on human rights with countries in the region. I would note that Bahrain has permitted demonstrations in support of Palestine, both recently and historically. However, it has halted demonstrations that specifically supported Hezbollah, which Bahrain considers a terrorist group and a direct threat to its own security. Bahrain has faced direct threats from groups affiliated to the IRGC, as is Hezbollah.

I note that Bahrain released two large groups of prisoners under royal pardon in April and September this year, totalling over 2,000 persons. It is disappointing that the two persons mentioned have not yet been included in this process. Another EU partner has been leading on this case, and we are in touch with them on the matter.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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82. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the Government has taken to ensure that EU dialogue with the Gulf states and the Gulf Co-operation Council included respect for and accountability to international human rights law; the reason these matters were not reflected in the joint statement of the EU-GCC dialogue, and in particular, if the supply of weapons to warring parties in Sudan and the UN Security Council arms embargo on Darfur was raised during the dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44613/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The recent first EU-GCC Summit meeting was an important step in further developing the EU's relationship with an important group of countries in a volatile area in the EU's immediate neighbourhood. The joint statement was an agreed document between all participants, rather than a reflection of every view expressed.

A number of leaders, including the Taoiseach speaking on behalf of Ireland, underlined that human rights and respect for international law are fundamental values for the EU, and an essential feature of dialogue with the GCC countries. This has always been Ireland's position. These are issues which are usually discussed in bilateral dialogues with the individual states, since the GCC as an body has no competence in this area, and the issues differ from state to state. The EU has established formal regular human rights dialogues with a number of GCC partners, and hopes to further extend this practice.

Ireland is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Sudan. It was one of a number of regional conflicts and situations of concern addressed in interventions at the Summit.