Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 84 together.

The political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of the most serious concern. There is no indication that the Zimbabwean Government is willing to alter the malign policies which have destroyed the country's economy nor is there any sign of an intention to introduce real and necessary democratic reforms. On the contrary, we have seen increased repression, with large-scale arrests of peaceful demonstrators and, this month, incontrovertible evidence that opposition activists have been seriously ill-treated in police detention.

The actions of the Zimbabwean police at a peaceful church-sponsored rally organised by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign on 11 March resulted in one death and several injuries. Many of those who were arrested, including Morgan Tsvangarai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, suffered further serious injuries while they were in police custody.

Not only did the Zimbabwean Government fail to discharge its responsibility for the safety and well-being of those in custody, but the open and unapologetic attitude of President Mugabe and the Zimbabwean leadership in respect of this shocking incident has been frankly outrageous. The police action in the break-up of the protest contravenes the internationally recognised rights of freedom of speech and of assembly. The ill-treatment of those in custody also infringes international human rights standards, including the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, of which Zimbabwe is a signatory.

On 12 March, the EU Presidency issued a statement on behalf of the EU condemning the violent break-up of the protest on 11 March and the ongoing violent suppression of freedom of opinion and of assembly, as well as of many other fundamental rights in Zimbabwe.

EU heads of mission resident in Harare attempted to visit the opposition leaders in prison. However, they were denied access to those detained. On 17 March, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mr. Alpha Konare, expressed deep concern at recent developments in Zimbabwe and recalled the need for scrupulous respect for human rights and democratic principles there.

I also issued a statement on behalf of the Government condemning the disgraceful actions of the police and expressing my condolences to the family of the protester who was killed. I urged the Zimbabwean Government to cease suppressing the basic fundamental rights of its people. I noted that a new approach, which includes dialogue between all political forces, is needed to resolve Zimbabwe's serious political, social and economic problems. Now is the time for the international community, including the EU and the members of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, to work together to help bring about peaceful change in Zimbabwe.

In a further development, an opposition MP, Nelson Chamisa, was arrested and brutally treated while on his way to an EU meeting in Brussels on 18 March, while on 17 March two other opposition MPs were prevented from leaving Zimbabwe for medical treatment. The EU Presidency has issued a statement expressing its outrage at these acts and calling on the Zimbabwean Government to release all detained opposition politicians immediately to enable them to have access to legal assistance and medical care and to allow representatives of the EU Presidency to visit them.

As a mark of the EU's concern, EU presidencies in the SADC countries have taken the step of expressing to their host governments the concern of the EU and its member states about the recent developments in Zimbabwe. Senior EU officials are discussing in Brussels today the situation in Zimbabwe. The EU already has restrictive measures in place against the leadership of Zimbabwe and last month the Common Position on these restrictive measures was renewed until February 2008. I have also instructed our ambassador to South Africa, who is accredited to Zimbabwe, to travel to Harare to convey our concerns directly and forcefully to the Zimbabwean authorities.

I am acutely conscious of the suffering caused by the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe and of the need to provide support directly to the ordinary people there. Irish Aid is continuing to provide assistance for the people of Zimbabwe through non-governmental organisation partners and UN agencies. Total Irish Aid funding to the Zimbabwean people in 2006 amounted to almost €8 million. So far in 2007, Irish Aid has given €2.4 million in emergency and recovery assistance to Zimbabwe. A further €3 million has been allocated for local NGOs which are working on HIV-AIDS and €1.4 million will be allocated to Trócaire and Concern.

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