Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

After the second paragraph to insert the following new paragraph:

believes however that, given the deep unhappiness of the Irish people, and human rights organisations, at the human rights record of the government of Robert Mugabe, and the failure of President Mugabe to respond positively to attempts by Ireland and others to urge a greater commitment to human rights, it would be inappropriate for the Taoiseach and any member of the Cabinet to attend the EU-Africa summit should President Mugabe also attend;

Fine Gael welcomes the motion and the opportunity to speak on the issue in Government time, and we thank those who organised it. As we want to make the motion stronger, I wish to insert the amendment, after the second paragraph, because actions speak louder than words and, to date, words have achieved very little. I also wish to include it because, as a nation, we have no agenda other than to see an end to human rights violations in Zimbabwe and a real move to an open and fair democracy.

When we call for suppression to be replaced by tolerance, and tyranny to be replaced by freedom, we do so in the knowledge that we are not a hostage to a colonial past. We have no covert economic agenda and our motivation is based purely on respect for a people that has seen economic sabotage result in dispossession, fear and hunger. Zimbabwe, once proudly known as the bread basket of Africa, a country that represented many of the hopes and aspirations of fellow African states, today has the highest inflation rate in the world at 1,700%. Unemployment is close to 80%, many survive on grain handouts, some 700,000 have lost their homes since the so-called "slum demolition drive" in 2005 and the land redistribution campaign which began in 2000 has resulted in the emigration of much-needed professionals.

Street protests organised by NGOs, trade unions and other pressure groups are violently dispersed and political opponents are beaten and arrested. Mr Mugabe divides and conquers, and divisions in the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, only strengthen his position. There are growing tensions within the ruling ZANU-PF party, however, and this, aligned to the presence of some moderates, gives some small sign of hope. Will a global vision of Mr. Mugabe arriving at the Lisbon summit this weekend and being greeted by European Heads of State assist change in his home country? I do not believe so.

The last EU-Africa summit took place in Cairo in 2000. The EU accounts for approximately 75% of sub-Saharan Africa's trade. Europe is also the biggest aid donor to Africa. However, European imports and exports to Africa are decreasing. Since the last EU-Africa summit, China and Africa have held three such events. Two-way trade was just $40 billion in 2005 and is expected to be worth $100 billion by 2010. While some will argue that the summit should deal solely with economic matters, and others desire a token salute to the wrongdoing in countries like Zimbabwe and Sudan, we believe these issues should be at the heart of the matter.

Mr. Mugabe is a master at manipulating the international audience. This autumn he was greeted with loud applause by delegates as he arrived at a meeting of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community. The impact of his attendance at the forthcoming summit in Lisbon will only be gauged in the years ahead. History to date tells me it will strengthen his position, not weaken it.

Since 2002, Europe has placed travel sanctions on President Mugabe and many of his officials. France banned Mugabe from coming to a meeting of French and African leaders earlier this year in Cannes. Now, all appears to be okay. China trades with a clear conscience and Europe gets uneasy as economic activity with Africa comes under threat. EU member states have their own motivations and commercial interests can supersede a requirement to do the right thing. Europe must decide how it deals with leaders such as Mugabe. I believe we can express our view best by having the Taoiseach and Ministers not attend the summit. When asked why, they should have the courage to outline the reasons. I hope others can join us in support of this amendment.

In his wrap-up, I would like the Minister to outline what measures the Government explored for other Zimbabwean representation at the summit. The Minister stated that 23 of the 27 EU member states will be represented at the summit at Head of State or Head of Government level. What four countries will not attend?

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