Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the answer he has given to the representations made to him regarding the continuing abuse by Government forces in Zimbabwe of political opponents and the widely reported arbitrary detentions and beatings. [24996/07]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives the Irish Government and the European Union proposes to take to address the human and institutional crisis that has arisen in Zimbabwe; the contact the Irish Government or the European Union has had with South Africa and other neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe; and the conclusions which have flown from such contacts. [24995/07]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he will take to highlight the violations of human rights in Zimbabwe and the suffering of its citizens as a result of the collapsing economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22326/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 100 and 110 together.

I continue to be gravely concerned at the deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe. Efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe to tackle hyper-inflation by imposing fixed prices by force have led to severe shortages in urban areas. In rural areas, millions are likely to need food aid as a result of crop failures, exacerbated by government policies. Opposition activists, including Morgan Tsvangarai, the leader of the largest faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), were seriously ill-treated in police detention in March 2007, and hundreds of lower-profile activists have been severely beaten in custody since then. Presidential and parliamentary elections are due to take place in March 2008, and the focus of international efforts must now be on pushing for a level playing field for these elections, so as to allow the people of Zimbabwe to decide who they think can best lead their country out of its current economic and political crisis.

Ireland and the EU strongly believe that African leadership is the key to improving the situation in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's neighbours are best placed to encourage progress towards economic and political stability, and adherence to those human rights standards on which Africa seeks to base its future development. We support the mandate given to President Mbeki by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to facilitate dialogue between the government and opposition in Zimbabwe. Talks between the two sides have been ongoing for several months, and the Government and both MDC factions have agreed to certain constitutional changes. However, international observers are concerned that these alone will not be enough to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe next year. Ireland and the European Union are awaiting the outcome of the SADC/Mbeki initiative, which is expected early next month, and of the review being undertaken by SADC Finance Ministers of Zimbabwe's economy. When EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Zimbabwe on 15 October, we agreed that we may need to engage further in follow-up to the SADC initiative once it is completed next month. We stand ready to respond substantively to any positive change in Zimbabwe.

The EU operates an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and a targeted visa ban against Zimbabwean leaders but does not have economic sanctions against the country, nor is there any intention to do so. The EU is a major provider of aid to the Zimbabwean people, and this commitment to their welfare will remain in spite of government actions. The EU consistently uses political contacts with countries in the region to highlight concerns about Zimbabwe. Representatives of the local EU Presidency in each of the SADC countries have this year expressed to their host governments the concern of the EU and its Member States over the developments in Zimbabwe. The Presidency Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs attended the SADC Summit in August 2007 and had talks with key figures. Zimbabwe was discussed at the EU-South Africa Troika which took place in South Africa on 10 October, and the EU expressed readiness to respond appropriately to tangible results from the SADC initiative and President Mbeki's mediation. No matter who represents Zimbabwe at the EU-Africa Summit in December, Ireland has made clear that we believe human rights and governance issues must be discussed, including as they affect Zimbabwe.

The situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of significant concern here in Ireland, and Ireland is among those EU Member States which have most strongly condemned human rights abuses and urged political and economic reform in Zimbabwe. The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria monitors allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe on an ongoing basis, and raises issues of concern with the Zimbabwean government at every available opportunity. The Irish Ambassador to South Africa most recently met Zimbabwean officials during a visit to Harare in September 2007. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs raised Ireland's concerns with Zimbabwean officials in Harare in June, and also had talks on Zimbabwe with South African officials in Pretoria. Ireland's Embassies in the region have highlighted our concerns about developments in Zimbabwe where possible. In particular, the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria regularly discusses the situation in Zimbabwe with South African officials and Ministers. Ireland has also supported EU action to raise Zimbabwe in the appropriate UN human rights bodies.

The Irish Government, through Irish Aid, provides assistance for Zimbabwe for humanitarian purposes and for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Irish Aid works in partnership with NGOs, missionaries and international organisations and does not provide funding to the Zimbabwean Government. Irish Aid funding for Zimbabwe amounted to €10.4 million in 2006 and €8 million so far this year. These programmes have a direct and positive effect on the lives of thousands of poor Zimbabwean people, and we are committed to continuing this assistance and expanding it when circumstances allow.