Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps his Department is taking, both directly and through European Union channels, to protest at the ongoing serious and unacceptable erosion of democracy in Zimbabwe, as highlighted by the recent assault on the leader of the opposition in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10616/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide his views on recent reports emanating from Zimbabwe regarding the imprisonment, and alleged torture, of the leader of the country's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change; the initiatives which Ireland can and will, within the context of the European Union, take in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10502/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Looking at the news excerpts on television recently, one could see that the attack on Mr. Tsvangarai was a shameful act by a shameless government. Mere words of condemnation, be they uttered by our Government, the EU or any other democratically elected government, are not good enough. It should go beyond that, and it has gone beyond that in Zimbabwe, which has been plunged into the abyss of economic destruction and the erosion of human rights.

Surely the African Union and Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour, South Africa, have some role to play in this. Surely South Africa, through its membership of the Security Council, has a major role to play. I was disappointed to read recently that South Africa has been instrumental in blocking any discussion of Zimbabwe at the Security Council on the grounds that it is an internal matter. The Minister must agree that it is not an internal matter when human and democratic rights are seriously eroded by a dictator who has outlived his usefulness. At this stage, surely Ireland and the EU can put pressure on South Africa and its neighbours to exert some pressure on this despot.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with what the Deputy has said. There is no doubt that the EU has a very important role to play, but the African nations surrounding Zimbabwe also have a role to play. It is necessary to gain more support. As the Deputy noted, some of the countries have not been forthcoming in that respect. Southern African states have a role to play in that respect.

The restrictions put in place by the EU are draconian from the point of view of a travel ban and a freezing of assets of certain individuals, members of Government and officials of the Government. At the end of the day, we do not want to reduce the humanitarian assistance that is provided for the Zimbabwean people.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not suggesting that.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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None of our aid goes directly to the Zimbabwean Government. It goes to the NGOs and other organisations. I agree with the Deputy that the international community needs to mobilise support to put as much pressure as possible on this regime, which, unfortunately, has been there for some time. However, there are signs, as instanced by some comments by the US ambassador, that there seems to be a much more open revolt against the Government than heretofore. The problem all along was that anyone who spoke out previously was very quickly put down, but there are now so many voices calling for human rights and fair play that the Zimbabwean Government will ultimately have to give in to pressure.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Arising from the Minister's reply, is he concerned about the approach taken by the South African Government, which is Zimbabwe's most important neighbour, not just in respect of this issue but even more recently in respect of a vote on Burma at the Security Council? Does this indicate an acceptance by South Africa that what is happening in Zimbabwe can be sheltered under the cloak of sovereignty? I can develop that into a more direct question. Does the concept of human rights protection not imply that sovereignty cannot be used as a veil to stand as an obstacle in the way of the vindication of human rights? What talks has the Minister had with the South African representatives? I note his reference to the recent statement by the US ambassador. I interpret that interview as the beginning of an horrific confrontation in Zimbabwe and not necessarily a beneficial one in so far as what is forthcoming from the Zimbabwean Government is further oppression. Will the Minister confirm whether the European Union has called for the release of all those detained, including the 50 persons detained following the rally? Has the EU explicitly asked for those who have been accused to have access to lawyers? Has it asked the Southern African Development Community, SADC, to take an initiative to ensure the rights of the people detained?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The answer to the last question is yes, we have. Again, it is important to stress it is not just the South African Government which has some influence in this difficult issue, even though there are substantial numbers of Zimbabweans resident in South Africa. The Southern African Development Community is an important aspect of how pressure can be put on this regime. The EU is working in tandem with that organisation and on a bilateral basis, as we are with South Africa and other countries, in order to insist the people who have been imprisoned are released immediately and given medical care and legal assistance. On the wider issue, the EU will be keeping a close eye on developments, in that we will have to mobilise other international support in this respect.

In the recent past there has been a change in the Government's attitude, particularly in regard to diplomats who have endeavoured to speak out or meet with some of those who have been in prison for some time. This shows clearly the Government there is on the run. We will do all we can in a targeted way against the regime, not against the people, in order to ensure as much international pressure as possible is put on it.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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He is less popular than Fidel.