Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 36: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent attack by the Bahraini security forces of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights who was hospitalised after a group of police beat him with truncheons while he was participating in a peaceful protest calling for the release of political prisoners; and his further views that those responsible for the violence should be held accountable immediately. [2345/12]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent deportation from Bahrain of Dr Richard Sollum, Deputy Director of Physicians for Human Rights, as he attempted to witness the trial of, among others, Irish trained surgeons Ali Al Ekri and Bassim Dahif; and the steps he is taking today to protect these doctors who were trained here. [2346/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 50 together. I have made clear my ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Bahrain, including in the cases of the medical professionals originally sentenced by a military court to heavy prison terms following last year's disturbances but whose cases are now being retried in a civilian court. I therefore welcome the publication of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the significant steps taken by the Bahraini authorities to implement the recommendations of the report, including the establishment of a follow-up commission. It is essential that the Bahraini authorities address the serious shortcomings identified in the report in a timely, transparent and thorough manner. I call on all sides to participate in the work of the follow-up commission as part of a process of national reconciliation founded on constructive dialogue.

I particularly urge the Bahraini authorities to hold accountable those who, according to the report, were responsible for violations of human rights. In that regard, I welcome the commencement of the trial in Manama of five police officers accused of involvement in the death of the Bahraini blogger Zakariya al-Ashiri in April last year. I also regard as a positive development the King of Bahrain's commitment to reform Bahrain's laws to meet international standards and to give greater legal protection to the right to freedom of expression and assembly. Ireland, and our EU partners, stand ready to support Bahrain through this reform process and experts from one EU member state have already initiated a training programme for the Bahraini police.

However, I remain concerned that more needs to be done to address the legitimate demands of those peacefully seeking reform and greater inter-communal dialogue in Bahrain. Large-scale demonstrations are still continuing and, in this regard, I am perturbed by the violence which took place at one such event last week, which resulted in a serious assault on human rights defender, Nabeel Rajab. I urge the Bahraini authorities to carry out a full investigation into the events surrounding the hospitalisation of Mr. Rajab and to take steps to ensure the police do not employ excessive force against peaceful protestors.

I have repeatedly called for independent observers to be allowed to monitor the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the re-trial of the medics. While I understand that representatives from EU embassies attended the most recent hearing on 9 January, which deferred consideration of the case to a hearing on 19 March, I urge the Bahraini authorities to permit all international observers from reputable NGOs such as Physicians for Human Rights to attend the trial to demonstrate the authorities' genuine commitment to improving human rights in the kingdom.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his forthright comments on Bahrain. Any time I have raised the issue, the Tánaiste has been strident in his condemnation of the human rights abuses that have taken place.

It is worrying that despite the efforts of the Tánaiste and of the international community the authorities in Bahrain continue to crack down on legitimate peaceful human rights protests.

It is of significant concern that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, has a commercial partnership with the Bahraini regime but has yet to condemn publicly the arrest, detention and shockingly cruel treatment of doctors acting in accordance with the Hippocratic oath and who were trained by the RCSI. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade wrote to RCSI but I have seen no public condemnation of the regime by the college. I cannot fault the Government. I can fault that body, which carries considerable international merit.

Will the Tánaiste call on RCSI to condemn publicly the actions of the Bahraini regime and urge it to cease its violent actions against peaceful human rights protesters?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for his kind remarks in respect of the action taken by the Government with regard to the situation in Bahrain. As I indicated in my reply, we will continue to monitor what is happening in Bahrain, particularly the retrial of the medics and the protests and abuses of human rights.

It is important to acknowledge any indications of progress and of a response from the Bahraini authorities to calls from the international community, including Ireland. I did that in my reply. It is important to encourage the progress and improvements being made.

The RCSI is a private institution. I respect that. I have met senior personnel from RCSI and I have discussed the situation in Bahrain with them.