Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on any contact he or his Department has had with the Brazilian Government since the impeachment of that country's president; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19478/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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41. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received reports on the current political situation in the Federative Republic of Brazil; if he or his officials has had contact with the Brazilian Government or with opposition political leaders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19457/16]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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These questions are in respect of Brazil. I am sure the Minister is aware that the elected President Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached a couple of months ago in a process that has been described by many as a coup, has been replaced by the Vice President Michel Temer who, despite also being engulfed in corruption scandals, has become the acting president and has unleashed a very serious assault on women's rights and workers' rights. Has the Minister had any engagement with the new government of Brazil and does he support the calls of the protesters?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 41 together.

My Department is monitoring closely the current political situation in Brazil, including the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff. Our embassy in Brasilia provides regular reports on the latest developments and their possible repercussions. In addition, the events in the country are also the subject of ongoing discussion at European Union level in Brussels.

Along with our European Union partners, the Government of Ireland is of the view that the current political situation in Brazil, including the suspension of President Rousseff, is a matter for the legislative and judicial branches of that country. Consequently, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the constitutional process under way in Brazil, other than to assure the Deputies that we will continue to follow and monitor the situation closely.

In addition to the ongoing political reporting provided by our ambassador and embassy, a major priority for Irish officials in Brazil is to prepare for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro. Ireland will open a temporary consulate in the city for the duration of the games in order to provide assistance to Irish athletes, officials and spectators, as required. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the internal legal situation in Brazil and I do not intend to do so.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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What has happened in Brazil is fundamentally undemocratic. Its intent is to deny the democratic wish of people as expressed in the last election and to impose an extremely right-wing regressive reactionary government. The Minister should express a statement of opposition to the Government that has come to power via a coup impeachment process. Some of the numerous counter reforms include a tax being implemented by the government, the ending of compulsory state funding of health and education, cutting of universal access to health care, fire fighters and other public sector workers not being paid, the cancellation of a home building programme of 10,000 social houses, the abolition of the ministry for culture, attacks on abortion rights for women who have been raped, and a rowing back on other women's rights such as proposed changes to protect people against domestic violence. There has been a huge protest movement of women workers and ordinary people in response and the Government should simply deal with this government.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The constitutional process in Brazil involves both the legislature and the judicial branches of the federal government. President Temer has been appointed for a period of 180 days while the impeachment of President Rousseff is considered by the Brazilian Senate under the chairmanship of the current chief justice. Ireland will continue to monitor the situation via our embassy in Brasilia. We remain firmly of the opinion that the current beleaguered situation in Brazil including a number of investigations that are under way are a matter for the Brazilian authorities.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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The pretext for which this impeachment process has taken place has crumbled. A report by independent auditors on behalf of the Senate concluded that there was no indication of direct or indirect action by Dilma Rousseff to engage in the budgetary malfeasance which was alleged. Neither I nor the Socialist Party are political supporters of Dilma Rousseff. We would be supporters of PSOL and the LSR tendency within PSOL but this is a basic question of people's democratic rights and what is a major assault by the right via undemocratic means to try to impose a very right-wing government. They are now being met, rightly, by massive opposition on the streets and massive mobilisations by people who are calling for a free and fair general election to elect a government that will serve the interests of ordinary people.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of reports regarding gender-based violence in Brazil to which the Deputy has referred. A number of cases are being investigated by Brazilian authorities and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters that are in effect ongoing investigations. However, I wish to point to the Marie da Penha law which was enacted in Brazil in 2006 which is the principal legal instrument in respect of violence against women. The law incorporates a multifaceted approach in efforts to combat gender-based violence. This includes a dedicated court, police support solely focused on dealing with violence against women, urgent protective legal measures for victims of domestic violence and a reinforcement of public social services in the areas. The law also provides for educational measures such as the inclusion of gender equality in school curricula. I wish to acknowledge government campaigns to raise awareness of the problems of gender-based violence. A telephone service has been made available throughout Brazil giving women an opportunity to report crimes, provide information on victim's rights and legal procedures.

As I did at the outset of my earlier reply, I assure the Deputy and the House that our embassy in Brasilia will continue to monitor developments relating to this case on the wider issue of gender-based violence.