Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The incident referred to by the Deputy involving the death of two journalists Sagar Sarwar and his wife Meherun Runi in Dhaka February 2012 is one of a number of attacks on journalists which have taken place in Bangladesh in recent months. Ireland's diplomatic relations with Bangladesh are maintained by secondary accreditation via our embassy in New Delhi. I have requested that officials at the embassy make contact with relevant EU colleagues in Dhaka in regard to this case.

On 2 July 2012 Ireland joined a statement on the safety of journalists which was delivered by Austria at the 21st session of the Human Rights Council. This statement strongly condemned all human rights violations against journalists. Human rights have been a priority for successive Irish Governments and form a central part of our foreign policy. In particular, Ireland attaches considerable importance to the vital work of human rights defenders and condemns all acts or threats of violence against organisations and individuals working to protect human rights. Ireland, together with our partners in the EU, is committed to promoting human rights and to eliminating torture and the mistreatment of prisoners. The EU makes detailed representations regularly in response to executions, extra-judicial killings, arrests of human rights activists and restrictions on freedom of expression.

Ireland will continue to support efforts to ensure that these rights are upheld and respected and that this case is investigated in keeping with the need to respect the rule of law.

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