Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I support the call made by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade last night in Washington for the reinstatement of an OSCE presence in Belarus where there is a continuing erosion of human rights. Belarus closed the OSCE office in Minsk after OSCE observers called the country's December 2010 presidential elections badly flawed. Since then, there have been many popular protests against the election but the Belarus Government has cracked down on anyone publicly criticising or protesting against these election results. Numerous human rights activists, political figures and media workers have been intimidated, beaten, arrested and imprisoned. All fair-minded people condemned the harassment of opposition and human rights organisations in Belarus. I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade's initiative yesterday.

All of us have an association with Belarus. In east Galway and elsewhere, many families host children from orphanages from the country. This is an issue in which we should support the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I urge the Leader to convey the House's support for his words in Washington last night.