Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am extremely concerned about the situation in Bahrain following a violent clampdown against protestors demanding political reforms in February and March and continued repression against those advocating reform. Security forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council, have been deployed in Bahrain at the request of the Bahrain Government since 14 March. A three month state of emergency was declared on 15 March.

I am particularly worried about the unprovoked and disproportionate use of violence, including close-range lethal shootings of peaceful protestors and the detention of unarmed protestors. I am also alarmed by reports of repression and attacks by the Bahraini armed forces against medical staff and institutions, such as Salmaniya Hospital, the main public hospital in Manama, during and after the recent protests.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council which I attended on 12 April, discussed the situation in Bahrain and adopted strong conclusions, which I fully support, reiterating our serious concern at the current situation and at the arrest of persons exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression. Ireland and its EU partners are urging an immediate investigation into recent events and the release of detained peaceful protestors. We further call on the authorities and protestors in Bahrain to act with restraint and to begin an inclusive dialogue aimed at agreeing necessary political and economic reforms. Such dialogue and reform is crucial if Bahrain is to emerge from its current difficulties.

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