57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she supports further restrictive measures against those responsible in the Iranian regime for the violence and repression against the Iranian people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50095/26]

The Government condemned the horrific violence perpetrated by the Iranian government in January to suppress widespread legitimate public protests. We have in addition over many years expressed our deep concerns at ongoing violations of human rights in Iran.

The EU has for some years maintained sanctions against persons or entities in Iran engaged in these violations. Following the violent repression in January, additional persons or entities were named and added to those sanctions. This included the designation of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. Ireland supported these measures.

The EU sanctions lists are frequently reviewed, as evidence becomes available, to include or in some cases remove specific persons or entities from those lists. Ireland has been and will continue to be ready to support such additional designations, where sufficient evidence exists. It would be for the EU Council as a whole to adopt such measures.