Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the requests he has made with regard to the release of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3023/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am gravely concerned by the case of Ms. Jestina Mukoko and her two colleagues, who were abducted from their homes in early December, and whose whereabouts remained unknown for some weeks until they were located in police custody on Christmas Eve. Those abducted remain in custody, and I am very disturbed by allegations that they have been tortured. Furthermore, the refusal of prison authorities to allow Ms. Mukoko full access to medical treatment outside of prison — despite a Supreme Court order — is deeply troubling. The allegations made against Ms. Mukoko and her colleagues in an attempt to justify their detention — a plan to bomb Harare's central police station and a "plot" to violently topple Mr. Mugabe through the training of militants in Botswana — are not credible, and they should be released immediately.

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria, which is accredited to Zimbabwe, has formally communicated to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs the deep concern of the Government in relation to the disappearance of Ms. Mukoko, and urged the Zimbabwean Government to do everything possible to ensure her safety. As recently as last week, the Embassy contacted the Zimbabwean Foreign Ministry to note our continued concerns about this case.

Ireland has also worked with our European Union partners to press for the release of Ms. Mukoko and her colleagues. On 8 December last, EU Ambassadors in Harare conveyed their strong concern about Ms. Mukoko's case to the Zimbabwean authorities, who at that stage denied any state involvement in her disappearance. The European Council of 11 and 12 December issued a declaration demanding the immediate release of people held incommunicado in Zimbabwe, specifically including Ms. Mukoko. Building on this declaration, at the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council which I attended last week, EU Foreign Ministers expressly condemned the abduction and detention of those exercising a democratic right to express opposition to the regime and of those defending human rights in Zimbabwe.

Ireland will continue to work to ensure that this issue remains high on the EU agenda, and that the authorities in Zimbabwe are aware of our strong views on this matter.