Dáil debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

1:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he last had contact with the South African ambassador to Ireland; the recent contacts the Irish Ambassador to South Africa has had with the authorities there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23887/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I met the South African ambassador this morning in Dublin at the unveiling of a plaque in Henry Street commemorating the stand taken by Dunnes Stores workers against apartheid more than 20 years ago. In the near future, I also intend to have a more formal meeting with all seven African ambassadors resident in Ireland. This will provide us with an opportunity to discuss key current African political issues. The agenda is under discussion but I am sure that Irish priorities, such as the situations in Sudan, Chad and Zimbabwe, will be among the topics to be discussed. The situation in Zimbabwe was among the topics discussed during the meeting which the former Taoiseach had with the Deputy President of South Africa here in Dublin on 9 April.

The Irish ambassador to South Africa is in regular contact with Ministers and senior officials in the South African Government across the full range of issues that concern the Irish Government. He has had a number of recent meetings with the South African authorities, particularly regarding the situation in Zimbabwe.

On 29 April 2008, on the basis of an instruction from my Department, the ambassador formally called on a senior official in the South African Department of Foreign Affairs to present a démarche on the situation in Zimbabwe. On 6 May, the ambassador again had a meeting at the South African Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. Most recently, on 2 June, the ambassador formally called on the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sue Van der Merwe, to discuss a number of issues, including the domestic situation in South Africa, and events in Zimbabwe, about which he raised the Government's continuing serious concern.

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has fallen on his feet since he went into his new job, notwithstanding the result of the Lisbon treaty referendum. Did the Minister say in his reply that he will be meeting with the seven resident African ambassadors shortly?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did.

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On what date will that meeting take place? I do not know if the Minister got the chance to have much of a discussion with the South African ambassador this morning. It is imperative that he contact her as soon as possible because the events unfolding in Zimbabwe are a disgrace.

Is the Minister aware that Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change wrote to South African President Thabo Mbeki outlining his concern, condemning President Mbeki's chairmanship of the regional mediation attempts between the two sides in respect of the running of the election campaign and accusing him of being biased towards Mr. Mugabe? The position is unacceptable.

While I do not want to encroach on the next question in the name of Deputy Michael D. Higgins, the Dáil's long-standing condemnation of Mr. Mugabe is falling on deaf ears. The regional powers have a responsibility in this regard. In light of Ireland's close ties with South Africa, it is imperative that the Minister inform the South African ambassador of the strong views of Irish people, as represented in the House.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that the South African Government and authorities are under no illusion about the strong views in Ireland, as recently articulated in special statements in the House. After that debate, in which the Deputy participated, we again contacted the Irish ambassador in South Africa to convey directly to the South African authorities our strong views on this matter. The countries with the greatest influence on Zimbabwe are regional states, notably South Africa. They bear the greatest responsibility to influence events in Zimbabwe to the good.

While the Government accepts that much more remains to be done, some progress has been evidenced, not least in respect of having observers present for the recent election and the posting of results outside election polling booths. These improvements helped to deter some elements of intimidation, although matters have since deteriorated and the position is unacceptable. I accept the prospect of free and fair elections is seriously undermined by developments in Zimbabwe.

The key point is that the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy has, to a certain extent, reduced the leverage that western European countries can exact on the Zimbabwean leader and authorities. We must work, through our partners in SADC and the African Union, to pursue the genuine issues the Deputy has raised and the Government's genuine concern that we move on.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The question relates to contacts with the South African ambassador. While the issues being discussed are relevant, I do not want to pre-empt the next question.

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am conscious of that. Will the Minister outline the contents of his most recent communication with the South African ambassador?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I had a brief discussion with the ambassador this morning.

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Ireland's ambassador to South Africa.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The import of the communication to which I referred was to press the South African authorities to influence the Zimbabwean Government to facilitate fair and free elections and to have a stronger influence on the events unfolding in that country. I am conscious this is the subject matter of the following question.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to implement the wishes of Dáil Éireann as expressed in the all-party motion on Zimbabwe on 15 May 2008; if he has sought assurances regarding the issues relating to voting conditions in the second round of presidential elections set for 27 June 2008; if election results will again be posted outside polling stations; if licences have been granted to domestic election observers; if there will be sufficient numbers of domestic and international election observers in all constituencies; and if the police and the army will be banned from entering polling stations. [23503/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

3:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I am grateful for the Minister's reply. We will shortly arrive at the point at which we must discuss a response from the United Nations. The decision at the UN summit meeting of 2005 to regard human rights protection as a core principle was a defining moment in the history of the organisation. With the election in Zimbabwe having taken place in imperfect conditions which cannot be scrutinised, one is left with a discussion about human rights violations and human rights protection. The question of the role of South Africa also arises in this context.

The UN Secretary General and his predecessor spoke of the delegation of competences to regional authorities, including the African Union. I agree with this proposition and it may well be the case that Ireland will, perhaps through the European Union, raise at the United Nations the question of whether the African Union proposes to exercise a competence which may be given to it under the 2005 United Nations declaration on the protection of human rights. This issue is underlined by the blockage placed in the way of non-governmental organisations which could have been partially allowed to return and the incarceration of members of the opposition in Zimbabwe.

In the all-party motion the House discussed on 15 May Members were ad idem on the conditions which would have a positive effect, including the posting of results and the presence of observers as well as the right of the police or the army to enter polling stations. We need a description of events as they unfold. The African Union cannot resile from its obligations as a regional authority, possibly with delegated functions under a universal declaration on human rights protection made at a UN summit in 2005.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am in broad agreement with the Deputy. The Government would welcome further initiatives to address this issue in the United Nations framework. I was taken by an article written by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, which appeared in today's edition of the Financial Times. In it, Mr. Annan stated that the victor of an unfair vote must be under no illusions and will not have the legitimacy to govern or receive the support of the international community. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, recently publicly expressed his concerns. Ultimately, we will have to move beyond the election result in the sense that reconciliation is what is really required. It is not just about mere victory in an election. There needs to be a national reconciliation and——

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Minister may find himself facing a Chapter 7 resolution.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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——that is where we must head.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I would probably be among the most reluctant in this House to invoke a Chapter 7 resolution of the United Nations, but I cannot see how the 2005 declaration at the summit on human rights protection can mean anything unless it can also accommodate a motion which may ask the regional authority with the delegated function to intervene to ensure human rights protection. I know what I am saying carefully here, that sovereignty cannot be tolerated after 2005 as a shield for the abuse of human rights.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy's point. It is a fundamental issue——

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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It is.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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——that demands careful consideration. Our strategy to date has been to work with our southern African region partners as the people who ultimately have the strongest influence and access. We believe that has yielded some results. We would accept that it has not done enough and that the progress has not been of a degree or nature that we would find acceptable here.

Our judgment call at this stage is to continue — both directly with the South African authorities and in the context of the EU — putting pressure on and liaising with the African Union and SADC to have that necessary influence to move matters in the right direction. It is something that will be kept under constant and active review. We are very conscious of the strong views in this House and in the country on this issue.