Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be shocking and deeply disturbing. At least 50 people have been killed since March and targeted violence has resulted in thousands being displaced, rendering it impossible for them to vote. Opposition Movement for Democratic Change activists, including MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, have repeatedly been arrested and detained. Political meetings have been banned and the opposition has no access to state controlled media. Suspected MDC supporters are losing their jobs and in many cases have been beaten and tortured. Most recently and very worryingly, the decision to suspend NGO activities, including the delivery of humanitarian aid and provision of health services, will threaten lives.

I welcome the wide consensus on Zimbabwe in the Dáil when we debated the issue on 15 May. The House agreed on the urgent need to end violence and create an environment conducive to a fair election. We agreed on the importance of election monitoring and on continued Irish Aid support for the Zimbabwean people. We also agreed on the pivotal role which Zimbabwe's neighbours have to play in resolving this crisis.

In keeping with the wish expressed by many Deputies that Ireland's views be conveyed at European Union level, at the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations meeting in Brussels on 26 May Ireland urged that strong political pressure on the Mugabe regime be maintained until the crisis is resolved. Following that discussion, EU Foreign Ministers again called on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure a level playing field and secure environment. They specifically underlined the importance of the publication of results outside polling stations, as stipulated by Zimbabwean law. EU Foreign Ministers again discussed the situation in Zimbabwe on Monday, 16 June.

The Government would have strongly supported election monitoring by Irish observers through the European Union or the United Nations. However, Zimbabwean Government representatives have explicitly made clear their refusal to accept monitors from the EU or any EU member state. The consent of the host country is a practical necessity as without permission to visit polling stations and count centres, it is not possible to make a credible assessment of the election.

The European Union, including Ireland, has strongly supported monitoring of the Zimbabwean election by the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. I welcome the fact that there will be an increased number of monitors from both organisations on the ground for the second round, many of whom are already in place. Local observers, however, have been told their invitations are no longer valid for the second round. The Ambassador of Ireland to Zimbabwe, who is resident in South Africa, travelled to Zimbabwe to witness the election on 29 March and will do so again for the 27 June round. Due to a change in the law in March, police will be allowed to enter polling stations, as they were for the first round.

Many Deputies have made helpful proposals about how Ireland should react to positive change in Zimbabwe. I assure them the Government will respond, including by examining how Irish Aid can make a strong and significant contribution to the new democratic dispensation that hopefully will be in place.

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