Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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I raise the democratic crisis in Belarus, of which the Minister of State will be aware. I do so in the full knowledge that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has a very deep personal connection with Belarus and met Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Brussels on 21 September. She is the opposition leader in Belarus who has been displaced by the recent presidential election and has had to flee the country, in essence. The Minister described her as an extraordinary and brave woman.

The Minister of State will be aware that, since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been President of Belarus. He was the first president elected after the constitution was established. Belarus has been independent since 1990 so it is a relatively young country. During his term as President, Mr. Lukashenko's attitude to the people of Belarus has been characterised by what he has described as his authoritarian ruling style. That is evidenced in the manner he has behaved. He has treated the democratic institutions of Belarus with contempt. In the original constitution, there were term limits on the presidency in terms of the number of years and terms a president could serve. In 1996, Mr. Lukashenko, in a referendum, extended the number of years of a presidency from five to seven. As a result of that referendum, he has been barred from membership of the Council of Europe. In 2004, he held a referendum to remove the constitutional term limits, which was described by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, as unfree. There is no doubt about his attitude. In 2006, when he ran in the presidential election, his opponent, Alyaksandr Kazulin, was arrested and beaten by police in Belarus and this is exactly the kind of thing we saw recently in the run-up to the 2020 election. Mr. Lukashenko seems to get 80% of the vote every time. Nobody believes that, but that is what is recorded officially. The OSCE has described these presidential elections as unfair, whereas Russia has described them as open and fair.An axis is emerging here and that is highly undesirable from the point of view of international relations. Again, in 2010 opposition presidential candidates were imprisoned and beaten. Independent observers described that election as fraudulent and it has been criticised by the European Union, as was the most recent election in 2020. Perhaps it is the highest profile because of the massive public outcry at the result of opposition leader, Ms Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Her vote clearly was not reflected in the huge public outcry that came as a result of that election.

The European Commission High Representative said very clearly the election was neither free nor fair and described last week's secret inauguration by Mr. Lukashenko as lacking any democratic legitimacy. There is clearly a consensus internationally that this man is a dictator and this is an authoritarian dictatorship. It is the last one in Europe. It is right on our borders in Europe. I want to know what Ireland is doing about that. The European Union has failed to put sanctions in place and I am aware of the position of Cyprus in that regard. However, what is Ireland doing to put pressure on them? Mr. Emmanuel Macron in France said that Mr. Lukashenko must go. The UK and Canada have put in place sanctions against Belarus. The UK is not a country we should be following here. We should be ahead of the curve on this issue. I would like to see the Taoiseach make Ireland's position clear that we are opposed to this type of regime, we are opposed to the lack of democracy and that Mr. Lukashenko must step down as President of Belarus.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge what the Minister of State said regarding his commitment to dealing with this issue. I also acknowledge what he, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Taoiseach have done and the solidarity with the Belarusian people they have expressed. I am very heartened by what he said on the opportunities that may arise this week to advance matters and I am very encouraged by the fact that Ireland clearly supports sanctions against Belarus. This is an important step. I regret, as the Minister of State said, that there are difficulties beyond Ireland's capacity that are preventing this from happening. Europe has to act, however. It must not be seen to sit idly by as an authoritarian dictator continues to act apparently with impunity on the border of the EU.

What I hope will happen is that the Taoiseach will take the ultimate step of saying publicly that Mr. Lukashenko should step down. I acknowledge there is broad consensus politically in Ireland on this, and I understand the difficulties that arise from such a statement but given that other European leaders have made this clear view known, for example on behalf of France and the UK, I hope the Taoiseach will also take the step of calling for Mr. Lukashenko's resignation.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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We will maintain our call for the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue. To be clear, the Government led by the Taoiseach does not accept the results of the election. I want to be absolutely clear. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, of which Belarus is a member, has offered to visit Minsk and help facilitate talks. We will continue to encourage the authorities to grasp the offer with both hands. I am hopeful targeted EU sanctions will be imposed shortly, and the Taoiseach will be very strong when discussing the importance of this step at the European Council later this week.

The European Council operates by consensus. Two member states have difficulties with this, not because they have difficulties in imposing a sanction on Belarus but because of other issues that are important to them, and I acknowledge they are very important to them. I hope we can, through dialogue, encourage this step to take place. We cannot do anything at the European Council without consensus. That is what the Taoiseach and other leaders are working towards this week. I hope we will see a positive outcome. I will be there with the Taoiseach and I will speak to my colleagues on this issue.

Sanctions alone are not the answer. The repression faced by ordinary people in Belarus, including members of civil society, members of the co-ordination council, environmental activists, journalists, human rights defenders and lawyers and almost everybody, except his family and close colleagues it seems, is totally unacceptable and we must support the people in defending their rights. I assure the House that Ireland, led by the Taoiseach and the Government, will remain steadfast in its support for the Belarusian people.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Naughten, Butler and Byrne, for coming to the House this morning and giving of their time in such a friendly manner. It is nice to see that happening in the Seanad. I congratulate all of the Senators for how they have put their case and their co-operation with the Chair.