asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the flagrant breaches of human rights including torture practised by the Government of the Philippines and the steps, if any, being taken to indicate our condemnation of such practices.

I am aware that various sources including international non-governmental organisations have reported on extensive violation of human rights in the Philippines.

In the joint statement issued on 6 March by the Foreign Ministers of the EC countries, including Ireland, and of the association of South-East Asian Nations, which comprises Thailand, Singapore Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to world peace, international co-operation and understanding, economic development, social justice and human rights.

As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with the Philippines. It is accordingly not feasible for the Government to convey their concern at these reports direct to the Government of the Philippines. The position of the Government in regard to human rights violations, and particularly in regard to torture of persons in custody, has been made known in a variety of international fora, particularly at the United Nations General Assembly.

I have two questions. Does the Minister accept that the reports of torture and massacre on a genocidal scale in the Philippines are probably accurate?

These matters are alleged.

Secondly, in view of the very strong evidence to support these allegations, does the Minister feel that, despite the fact that we do not have diplomatic relations, there are other ways, such as international fora, through which our attitudes in this matter could be highlighted and pressure brought to bear by us?

Our attitude will be always made quite well known with regard to any violation of human rights or any aspect of torture of people in custody. We have always taken a very strong stance on any matters of that kind in no matter what country. That has been the consistent Irish attitude.

Has the Minister received any representations from trade unions whose members have been involved in the ESB consultancy contract in the Philippines about these matters? What response has he made, if any, to the trade unions concerned?

Correspondence is taking place in that matter.

I suggest that the correspondence is finished.

No, there are exchanges taking place.

Would the Minister say how many Irish citizens are there in the Philippines, in view of the fact that there are many Irish missionaries, many employees of the ESB and some other Irish people there?

That is a separate question.

I have not got that information here but I will get it for the Deputy.

What steps are the Government taking to protect Irish citizens in the Philippines against possible brutality and genocide?

No allegations or complaints have been made by Irish citizens as such in regard to behaviour towards them per se by the State authorities in the Philippines.

With regard to the Minister's ongoing correspondence with the unions involved in the ESB consultancy in the Philippines, what line is he taking in reply to the trade union allegations? Has he merely sent them an acknowledgment of their representations or is he taking a stronger line in relation to them?

We can scarcely go into that detail now.

I propose to investigate the allegations and to write to the Deputy to furnish him with full details. It is better to do it that way.

How would the Minister propose to investigate the allegations of the trade unions?

I propose to do it through ways and means at my disposal. Although we do not have diplomatic relations in Manila I can do it through other means at my disposal.

They are expecting a reply.

The unions will always get their reply from me and any member of the public or any organisation of the State will always get a reply from me.

The fishermen got their answer, too.

Indeed.

Taking into consideration the view that the Minister has stated the Government take of well-founded allegations of torture in the Philippines, does he consider that a State body should be engaged commercially in the Philippines?

I will answer that question very briefly. The Irish State, for the benefit of Ireland, does business with all sorts and shapes of regimes throughout the world ranging from the USSR to the Philippines.

Is the Minister saying that the Government have absolutely no principles in this regard?

If the Deputy will put down a similar question with regard to our trade negotiations and trade business with the USSR I will answer that as well.

If the Minister or his Government have any reservations about the commercial transactions in or with the USSR let them take action on it. I am asking about the Philippines.

Question No. 20. There is nothing in this question about trade relations.