Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an fháilte a chuir sé romham inniu. Nuair a tháinig mé isteach mar Aire Stáit níor cheap mé go mbeinn, ar mo chéad lá sa Seanad, díreach ar ais i Seomra na Dála. Tá taithí agam anseo ach bhí mé i mo Sheanadóir ar feadh cúig bliana freisin. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht an t-ábhar seo a roghnú don Seanadóir Ward.

The human rights situation in Belarus following the presidential election is appalling and has been on an ongoing basis but, particularly, since then and it is certainly worthy of discussion here. I repeat that election was not free or fair. Let us be honest, Mr. Lukashenko is an absolute outrage to European values and the democracies we hold dear.

There have been many messages from Irish citizens concerned for the welfare of the Belarusian people. Many of those who have written have opened their homes and their hearts to Belarusian children since the Chernobyl disaster so there is a good link over recent decades between Belarus and Ireland. Both I and the Taoiseach share those concerns.

Prior to the election in August, Ireland along with the EU highlighted the worrying situation during the 44th session of the Human Rights Council in July. However, after the election the situation deteriorated further. We have seen indiscriminate mass detentions, including of children, credible reports of torture and ill-treatment of those detained, forced exiles and disappearances and curtailments of media freedoms, including Internet shutdowns.

Ireland has acted quickly and clearly to those events. Along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, I have made statements expressing our deep concern following the use of state violence against peaceful protestors and we have called for the immediate and unconditional release of those unjustly detained, for an end to violence and for a sustainable and peaceful resolution through dialogue. That was also the message conveyed by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, during the UN Security Council meeting on 4 September and at the Human Rights Council where Ireland also supported a joint statement expressing concerning at Internet shutdowns.

We have condemned the actions of the Belarusian authorities and Ireland has continued to work with other EU member states to ensure a firm EU response. Senator Ward has outlined some of the difficulties at EU level he is obviously aware of that do not involve us. I am hopeful there will be opportunities this week for further dialogue among our EU partners that have difficulties with this, not regarding Belarus, as the Senator will understand, but other difficulties they have relating to it. I am hopeful that the European Council may do something on this issue but that depends on every member state agreeing with the strong position the Taoiseach will take.

We support the imposition of targeted sanctions against those responsible for the falsification of the election result and the use of state violence against the Belarusian people and we will continue to seek their quick imposition. This is what the Taoiseach will be looking for at the European Council. However, sanctions are, of course, just one element of the broader response and we are working constructively with our EU partners on a review of EU-Belarus relations. We must support the Belarusian people in their simple and clear demand to have free and fair elections and to have their basic human rights respected.The Taoiseach has spoken to the opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has a well-known connection to Ireland, having spent many summers here in her youth. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, met her with other foreign Ministers last Monday in Brussels. The future of Belarus is for the Belarusian people and for them alone to decide in fresh democratic elections. Their resilience in the face of very real threats to their lives and their liberties is an inspiration to all of us who cherish democratic principles and the rule of law, and we stand by them. We have full solidarity with them and the Taoiseach will do everything he can at the European Council to ensure real action is taken by the EU on the difficulties there.