John Gormley

33. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps Ireland will take to ensure Israel’s compliance with international law, in view of the fact that the Israeli Government has chosen calls by the Quartet to freeze settlement expansion and the construction of the separation barrier; the role the Irish Government is playing in mobilising the Quartet to give meaning to the vision of two viable States of Israel and Palestine, recognising that actions on both sides have contributed to the situation of insecurity and poverty and that without international impartiality peace will be elusive; if the Irish Government will commit to providing the aid that had been ear-marked to the Palestinian Authority and call for a full resumption of EU assistance in view of the deepening poverty levels among the Palestinian population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23286/06] (more…)

Mr. Gormley: Last Monday at a debate in Ranelagh about the nature of republicanism my constituency colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, told the audience that a republic was based on the rule of law. 
  

Mr. Durkan: He would know.
  

Mr. Gormley: If that is so then the United States which is also a republic has abandoned the rule of law and it has dispensed with the niceties of international treaties and tramped rough-shod over human rights legislation.  At the meeting the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform assured the audience that if there was any evidence at all that the United States was acting in bad faith the Irish Government would not be found wanting.  The evidence does exist despite what the previous speaker has said.  The evidence has been outlined by Amnesty International and we did have to wait on the Marty report.

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 23. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the comments contained in Amnesty International’s Report 2006, warning that further flashpoints similar to the recent hunger strike by Afghani men will continue to occur under our current asylum system; the plans he has to review the asylum process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/06] (more…)

Mr. Gormley: Yesterday evening, Dr. Maurice Manning, chairman of the Human Rights Commission, called for an urgent investigation into Ireland’s role in assisting the United States in extraordinary renditions at Shannon Airport.  Does the Minister for Finance accept such an investigation is now necessary—– (more…)

Statement by Green Party Chairman, John Gormley TD.

The Council of Europe Report on Extraordinary Renditions vindicates the stance taken by the Green Party and shows that the Government have been misleading the public on the role of Shannon airport in this process. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs need to explain why they have denied that Ireland was involved in any way in extraordinary renditions. By facilitating these flights – by allowing them to refuel – Ireland is in breach of International Law. It is a further indication – if any were needed – that the Fianna Fáil/PD government could not care less about Ireland’s so-called neutrality.

The Taoiseach must now state unequivocally that Ireland will cease any co-operation with the United States in relation to extraordinary renditions.

Related link: Council of Europe report on alleged secret detentions (PDF format, 266K)

113. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the need to establish a convention for the future of Europe to draw up a new EU Constitution following the rejection by France and the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19737/06] (more…)

103. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Israeli war planes recently landed in Shannon Airport; if this action is compatible with Irish foreign policy in relation to the occupation of Palestine; if permission was sought for this landing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19736/06] (more…)

Trevor Sargent and John Gormley today sent the letter below to John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, on the occasion of his address to Dáil Éireann. (more…)

 310. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government has taken to address the concerns regarding escalating human rights abuses in Iran, including the execution of a PMOI political prisoner (details supplied) and the threat by the regime in Iran to execute more political prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19667/06] (more…)