Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of his engagements with the embassy and government of Bahrain with regard to a human rights defender in custody in that country (details supplied). [6756/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy.

The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy. 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.

We consistently discuss human rights with Bahrain and other partners through the most appropriate and effective channels, including at a bilateral and European Union level, and through the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.

In bilateral engagements with Bahrain, we regularly discuss human rights, including prison conditions. In relation to this specific case, I note that officials from my Department previously engaged with the family of the individual and raised the family's concerns directly with the Embassy of Bahrain in London. I have asked my officials to raise the matter again with the Bahraini authorities.

At EU level, we have supported the promotion of human rights through the EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue, the latest of which was held in Bahrain in December 2024. The dialogue covered a broad range of topics, such as freedom of expression and association, rule of law, the right to a fair trial, including certain individual cases, and the death penalty.

At Bahrain's most recent UPR in 2022, Ireland recommended that Bahrain create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society organizations and human rights defenders, including children human rights defenders. Ireland recommended that Bahrain immediately release all opposition activists, journalists, human rights defenders and other individuals arbitrarily arrested, including for exercising their right to freedom of expression or association.

Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and to engage with Bahrain on these matters.