Ministers split on revealing if Ireland helped Saudi Arabia get on UN body protecting women

Minsters are at odds about revealing if Ireland helped Saudi Arabia get on a UN body protecting women, amid concerns the Government is turning a blind eye to human rights violations.

A blazing row has erupted over European countries that may have voted to elect the Middle East state to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

The Dáil heard warnings that if Ireland did a secret deal to give one of the 47 votes to elect Saudi Arabia, that it was supporting a country that beheads its own citizens.