Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

-----which will resolve this issue and avert a tragedy. The case has also been discussed at EU level with the Moroccan Government, and the EU Presidency issued a statement concerning her situation on 10 December.

The position of the Moroccan authorities is that Ms Haidar is free to enter Morocco and that the immigration formalities required of her were the same as for other arriving passengers, and have been complied with by Ms Haidar on many previous occasions. The Government has also been in direct contact with the Moroccan ambassador in Dublin on this issue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has written to the ambassador regarding the concern which exists about Ms Haidar's health and well-being and to encourage the Moroccan Government to take speedy steps to alleviate and resolve the situation.

Turning to the broader issue which lies behind this case, we remain very concerned about the plight of the people of Western Sahara as a whole. Ireland continues to support the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as well as the continuing engagement of the United Nations in the search for a political solution in Western Sahara based on the principle of self-determination. It is hoped that UN sponsored talks between the two sides can be continued, although it would have to be admitted that talks to date have made no progress, the last such discussions being held in March 2008. An exploratory meeting to discuss the prospects for resuming direct negotiations took place last August, but no date for a further round of direct negotiations has been set.

The Government regularly communicates its views on the situation in Western Sahara to the Moroccan authorities, including through the Moroccan ambassador here in Dublin. We also raise issues related to human rights and to the importance of safeguarding freedom of movement and of expression for human rights defenders in both Morocco and Western Sahara. These issues are also raised at EU level within the framework of the EU-Morocco dialogue. The most recent Association Council with Morocco took place last week, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The EU used this occasion to convey its concerns over the situation of Western Sahara, as well as the need to safeguard the rights of both Moroccan and Saharawi human rights defenders.

On behalf of the Government, I repeat the call by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Moroccan authorities to take all possible steps to avert a tragedy in this case. I also call on Ms Haidar, who has successfully brought world attention to the cause for which she struggles, to end her hunger strike before her health is permanently damaged.

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