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Written Answers - Human Rights Abuses

Dáil Éireann - Volume 535

9 May 2001 - 83. Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's opinion on a submission made to his Department on behalf of the aboriginal people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12910/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen): I can confirm that Mr. Patrick Dodson, a highly respected and widely admired leader of Australia's Aboriginal community, raised a number of issues in a letter which he sent to me in early December of last year, following a visit to Ireland.

In his letter Mr. Dodson asked for the understanding and support of the Irish Government for a number of issues and concerns of the Aboriginal people, as well as for the reconciliation process within Australia. As the Deputy is aware, Australia is a country with which we have an exceptionally close relationship which is based on the special bonds of history and kinship which unite our two peoples. There is a higher proportion of people of Irish descent within the Australian population than in any other country in the world. Mr. Dodson is among those eminent Australians who has frequently referred to his Irish heritage. I can assure the Deputy, in view of these and other considerations, that we fully support the reconciliation process within Australia which I feel, in the light of our own experience as a people, can be most effectively achieved through dialogue and discussion as well as through mutual acceptance and genuine parity of esteem.

Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 54.

Question No. 85 answered with Question No. 80.

Question No. 86 answered with Question No. 57.

Source: Dáil Éireann

related links :

• Diplomatic bagging for Irish MP who provoked motion commotion
  April 28 2001 - When it comes to Australia and matters of international diplomacy, don't mention the 't' word - 'treaty'. Irish MP Michael Higgins did recently, but he didn't quite get away with it.
• Aboriginal leader at Bray seminar
  1 December 2000 - Bray People Newspaper (Ireland) - An Aboriginal leader was the keynote speaker at a conference which took place in Bray last weekend. Patrick Dodson, who has been a campaigner for the rights of Aboriginal people in his country for the last 30 years, addressed the conference, 'Exploring Identities'.

Further information: human rights issues page - includes news index and external links

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