86 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will be communicating his views and those of the Irish Government to the Saudi authorities on their recent handing down of a sentence including 500 lashes to an EU citizen. [14733/97]

I have seen certain press reports regarding the sentences announced by a court in Saudi Arabia in the case involving two UK citizens to which the Deputy refers.

It would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on a matter which is primarily one between two other states. In addition it is not the practice to comment on the workings of the judicial system of another state. However, I would point out that there is a requirement on states to ensure that all such actions are in conformity with international human rights norms. In particular, I would refer in this context to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by consensus at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993.