Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an update on the situation in Honduras. [46856/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 29 November, Presidential elections took place in Honduras. The centre-right National Party candidate, Porfirio Lobo, was declared the winner with approximately 55% of the vote and will take office on 17 January. These elections took place against the backdrop of the ongoing military coup, which saw President Manuel Zelaya forcibly transported to Costa Rica on 28 June and Roberto Micheletti declared interim President. Efforts to resolve the situation were led by the Organisation of American States (OAS). Since the beginning of this crisis, the EU has firmly and publicly supported these mediation efforts and has called repeatedly for a peaceful negotiated solution.

A settlement was finally reached when, on 30 October 2009, the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord was signed. Regrettably, this Accord has not been fully implemented. In addition, the elections took place under abnormal circumstances given that President Zelaya was unable to leave the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he has been seeking refuge since 21 September and given that there were restrictions on freedom of expression, including in the media and freedom of assembly.

However, it must be noted that the elections were a significant step forward in solving the crisis in Honduras. It has been reported that President-elect Lobo has called for national reconciliation and has started work on the formation of a Government of National Unity and the formation of a Verification Commission, as set out in the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord. It has also been reported that the Dominican Republic is seeking to bring President Zelaya and President-elect Lobo together for discussions on how to resolve the crisis. I would welcome any action which seeks to re-establish constitutional and democratic order in Honduras. Ireland and the EU remain firmly committed to a solution brokered by Honduras' neighbouring states and which fully respects the rule of law, good governance and human rights.