Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The Senator asked for feedback on the Bahrain trail. He will be aware I expressed the strong support of this side of the House, which was shared by everyone in the House, for the people of Bahrain and particularly for the doctors who are on trail and awaiting a verdict tomorrow. All of us were very impressed by Dr. Nada Dhaif who spoke on the news last night about the trial and the oppression being endured by the Bahraini people and Bahraini medics. I raised the matter directly with the Tánaiste's adviser yesterday. The Tánaiste is in Armenia. I was informed yesterday evening that the matter was raised directly with the Tánaiste. Therefore, the concerns expressed on the floor of the House went directly to the Tánaiste. I am confident the issue will be raised at international level. International pressure has been very important. The only reason any civilian trial process was engaged in was because of international pressures. The Senator is right to keep up the pressure, pending the verdicts tomorrow.

I call for a debate not just on the Bahrain situation but on the situation in Syria. Anybody who has seen footage in the past 24 hours of the UN peacekeepers being turned back and being unable to investigate the reports of further civilian massacre in Syria would be appalled. It brings back dreadful and horrific memories of Srebrenica and the atrocities that took place there. The United Nations will have to take further action on Syria. The difficulty with Russia supplying the Syrian Government with arms has been highlighted in recent days. We should have a debate on the matter. I will certainly raise the issue directly with the Tánaiste as I have raised the issue of Bahrain.

On a positive note, given the day that is in it, I congratulate my fellow Senator Susan O'Keeffe for initiating the inaugural Yeats Day which takes place in Sligo today on the birthday of William Butler Yeats. It is a dawn to dusk celebration which will feature music, poetry and theatre and will be launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. The Senator has asked me to acknowledge Senator David Norris in particular, who has given a great welcome for Yeats Day and has played such a pivotal role in the celebration of Bloomsday which takes place in Dublin on Saturday next.