John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and wish her well in her political career. I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the Government's position on the important issue of the detention, torture, intimidation and trials of medical professionals in Bahrain.

The Government has taken a number of urgent steps in response to this worrying situation. First, we have repeatedly and robustly condemned all repressive actions by the Bahraini authorities during and after the recent protests, including those taken against medical staff following their professional obligations. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, made the Government's position clear in his reply to questions in the Dáil on 2 June when he also expressed serious concerns about the broader human rights situation in Bahrain, particularly the death penalty sentences recently handed down to four protestors. The Government has expressed its grave concern about the quasi-military nature of this trial of civilians, as well as reports that detainees in Bahrain had very limited visits or contact with their families or lawyers since detention; that there have been serious physical and sexual assaults in custody; and that the detainees have been forced to sign confessions and make statements confessing their involvement in crimes. The Bahraini authorities should respect detainees' fundamental rights, including their right to receive visits and have unimpeded access to their lawyers, in line with the country's own constitutional and international obligations.

The Government is taking steps though our ambassador in Riyadh who, by a recent Government decision, is to be accredited also to Bahrain to make our grave concerns known to the Bahraini authorities. We also strongly support action taken by the European Union in this matter. The human rights situation in Bahrain, including the repressive actions taken against medical staff there, was formally raised with the Bahraini authorities in Manama on 15 May. The EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted strong conclusions on 23 May, which I fully support, calling for fair and transparent administration of justice in Bahrain. A further discussion may take place at next Monday's Council in Luxembourg, which we would obviously welcome. Further urgent representations are also likely to be made locally by the European Union in the coming days to express our deep concern about the ongoing trials and to press for international and domestic observers to be allowed to follow the legal proceedings.

The Government has been active in raising this issue at the United Nations, including at the Human Rights Council last week in a national statement. The European Union has also made clear its grave concerns about the situation in Bahrain in the statements it has delivered at the current Human Rights Council session in Geneva. Such statements send a powerful signal of the international community's abhorrence at the repressive actions taken in Bahrain. It is a welcome and positive development that the United States has also joined the European Union and others in expressing deep concerns, about the situation in Bahrain and the case of the detained medics, at the Human Rights Council yesterday.

Bahrain, like other countries in the Middle East and north Africa, is experiencing problems arising from the clear demand of people throughout the region for greater freedom and a greater say in how they are governed. In this regard, it is important that the case of those on trial should not be seen in isolation; rather, it is integrally linked with the wider choices Bahrain faces at this juncture in its history. Genuine dialogue, tolerance and reform are crucial if it is to emerge from its current difficulties. We strongly support those within the Bahraini system who are trying to move towards dialogue and reform rather than repression and injustice. In this context, we welcome King Hamad's announcement that a national dialogue without preconditions will commence on 1 July. We hope this call will be fully supported and acted upon by all in Bahrain. We also welcome King Hamad's ending of the state of emergency on 1 June.

The Government urges the Bahraini authorities to choose the path of justice and reconciliation rather than violence and division in the case of the detained medics and also in Bahrain as a whole. Releasing the medical staff who simply tried to help the wounded, as their profession insists they do and which they did in an entirely peaceful manner, would be an important step in that direction. This is an important matter which I hope will be resolved.