Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 50 together. I have made clear my ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Bahrain, including in the cases of the medical professionals originally sentenced by a military court to heavy prison terms following last year's disturbances but whose cases are now being retried in a civilian court. I therefore welcome the publication of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the significant steps taken by the Bahraini authorities to implement the recommendations of the report, including the establishment of a follow-up commission. It is essential that the Bahraini authorities address the serious shortcomings identified in the report in a timely, transparent and thorough manner. I call on all sides to participate in the work of the follow-up commission as part of a process of national reconciliation founded on constructive dialogue.

I particularly urge the Bahraini authorities to hold accountable those who, according to the report, were responsible for violations of human rights. In that regard, I welcome the commencement of the trial in Manama of five police officers accused of involvement in the death of the Bahraini blogger Zakariya al-Ashiri in April last year. I also regard as a positive development the King of Bahrain's commitment to reform Bahrain's laws to meet international standards and to give greater legal protection to the right to freedom of expression and assembly. Ireland, and our EU partners, stand ready to support Bahrain through this reform process and experts from one EU member state have already initiated a training programme for the Bahraini police.

However, I remain concerned that more needs to be done to address the legitimate demands of those peacefully seeking reform and greater inter-communal dialogue in Bahrain. Large-scale demonstrations are still continuing and, in this regard, I am perturbed by the violence which took place at one such event last week, which resulted in a serious assault on human rights defender, Nabeel Rajab. I urge the Bahraini authorities to carry out a full investigation into the events surrounding the hospitalisation of Mr. Rajab and to take steps to ensure the police do not employ excessive force against peaceful protestors.

I have repeatedly called for independent observers to be allowed to monitor the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the re-trial of the medics. While I understand that representatives from EU embassies attended the most recent hearing on 9 January, which deferred consideration of the case to a hearing on 19 March, I urge the Bahraini authorities to permit all international observers from reputable NGOs such as Physicians for Human Rights to attend the trial to demonstrate the authorities' genuine commitment to improving human rights in the kingdom.

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