John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 3: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will contact the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and raise with him the issue of an independent and credible investigation into the murder of journalists (details supplied) in February 2012; the steps he has taken and is taking in addressing anti press violence in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I chair an international fact-finding commission, comprising people from America, Canada, Bangladesh and England, into the murder of both these journalists in front of their five-year old son last February in Bangladesh. Their deaths are just one part of a continuous series of physical attacks and murders perpetrated against journalists in Bangladesh, which amounts to a serious blow against freedom of expression. When journalists in Bangladesh protested following these deaths they were met by a murderous response both by the army and police there. Even the high court in Bangladesh has said it is dissatisfied with the poor progress of the investigation.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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A question please, Deputy.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Bangladesh is among the worst nations in the world in combating deadly anti-press violence. The highly respected New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, has tracked the murders of 12 journalists in Bangladesh that have not even been investigated.

An independent and credible investigation into the torture, murder and disappearance not only of journalists but a growing number of opposition leaders, labour activists and student leaders is badly needed. I ask the Tánaiste to call for the arrest of the killers of these journalists who apparently are well known in Bangladesh. This matter should be reinvestigated because the original investigation into the murder of these particular journalists has stopped. The Tánaiste should also call for an end to the assault and harassment of journalists in Bangladesh while performing their professional duties.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The case raised by Deputy Halligan is indeed serious. The safety and protection of journalists are matters to which we attach a very high importance. Journalists should be able to go about their work without being at risk. The responsibility for investigating the crime lies with the authorities in Bangladesh and they must be allowed to carry out that investigation. Ireland, along with our EU partners, is encouraging the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that there is a full and fair investigation into this and similar cases.

I am aware that there have been a number of incidents involving journalists over the past number of months. There have been reports to that effect from the Bangladeshi NGO, Odhikar. Some of the cases have involved attacks and-or intimidation. There are other unresolved incidents, including the unsolved murders of a Saudi diplomat and a labour rights activist, and the disappearance and abduction of a former MP. These cases, along with those referred to by Deputy Halligan, are being monitored by EU representatives in Dhaka. Along with its EU partners, Ireland would encourage the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure that there is a full and fair investigation of these incidents.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I acknowledge the Tánaiste's fine record in human rights. I thank him for having made contact with the Bangladeshi authorities but I would urge him to continue those contacts in the coming months. When other countries made contact with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister during the week, he made a curt remark, stating, "We can't guard every journalist's bedroom". That is the extent of the investigation that is currently taking place into the murder of these two young journalists. I urge the Tánaiste to continue to protest against the Bangladeshi Government's harassment of journalists and like-minded people there. The brutal murder of those two journalists in front of their five-year old child should be reinvestigated.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As I said, we do not have resident representation in Bangladesh; our embassy accreditation is through New Delhi. We will continue to work with the representations of EU colleagues in Bangladesh and will continue to seek a full and fair investigation of the cases that Deputy Halligan has raised.