Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); the actions he is taking to raise it at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50423/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The prevention and eradication of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s approach to human rights for decades. The absolute prohibition of torture is one of the cornerstones of the international human rights framework.

Ireland has consistently condemned the mistreatment and torture of prisoners by the Russian Federation. I thank the Deputy for providing details of the specific individual whose case you have raised. The horrific treatment of such prisoners detained by Russia in Ukraine is highlighted by Ireland across international fora, including at the EU.

As part of the EU’s response to the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia and the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia, on 27 May 2024, the EU adopted a specific sanctions regime relating to the human rights situation in Russia. This regime allows for restrictive measures to be imposed on those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

More broadly, Ireland co-sponsored the 2022 resolution of the UN Human Rights Council establishing an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Most recently, Ireland joined with EU Member States at the Human Rights Council last week (on 19 September 2025) in jointly condemning the arbitrary detentions, unlawful deportations, forcible transfers, extrajudicial executions, sexual and gender based violence, summary executions of POWs and civilian detainees held in Russian captivity in Ukraine.