John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the arrests in Gambia of opposition supporters including a former Minister; his views regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13257/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of and concerned by the recent arrest of opposition supporters, including one of their leaders Halifa Sallah, as well as that of the former Minister of Fisheries, Antouman Saho.

The broader context to these incidents is a series of dismissals in the past two months of senior officials in the police and defence forces and members of the Cabinet. This was accompanied by a wave of arrests of former officials and opposition supporters and the trial on charges of treason of seven former defence personnel and three businessmen.

I understand Mr Sallah has since been released from custody and charged with sedition. The charges against him reportedly relate to a number of articles he wrote for the main opposition newspaper Foroyya criticising the Gambian security forces.

The reason for the arrest and detention of Mr Saho, who is still in custody, is unclear.

The treason trial of former defence personnel, including the former Chief of Defence, remains ongoing.

These events raise questions regarding the standard of human rights and governance adhered to by the Gambian Government. Unfortunately, these questions are not new. Ireland and the EU view with great concern the human rights situation in the Gambia, in particular with regard to freedom of expression.

The EU is a major development and trade partner of the Gambia. This presents some opportunities for leverage in relation to our concerns over human rights in the Gambia. Most recently, the EU and the Gambia discussed these issues at a political dialogue provided for under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement that was held in Banjul on 8 December 2009. The EU side warned that there could be adverse consequences for EU funding for the Gambia. The EU side also cited a series of specific human rights cases of concern. While the Gambian side challenged the EU presentation, it did accept that there was an international perception that standards of human rights and governance were decreasing and that this needed to be addressed.

In February of this year the Gambia underwent its first Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council. The EU raised many issues there regarding the enforcement of rights and freedoms provided for by the Gambian Constitution and made several recommendations for improvement.

Ireland is accredited to the Gambia through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. We will continue to monitor the situation, and in conjunction with our EU colleagues, to urge the Government to adhere to its own constitution and commitments to international standards of human rights and good governance.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the increase in pro-democracy movements in Cuba; the efforts that are being made at EU level to demonstrate solidarity with these movements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13258/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a country in transition, Cuba is faced with far reaching choices regarding its future. The EU's position is that it is the right of Cuban citizens to decide independently about their future.

The EU's longstanding Common Position on Cuba is reviewed on an annual basis at the June Foreign Affairs Council. In the most recent Council conclusions on Cuba in June 2009, the Council reaffirmed its determination to pursue a result-oriented comprehensive dialogue with the Cuban authorities as well as with representatives of civil society and the peaceful pro-democracy opposition.

The EU follows developments in Cuba closely and engages with Cuba on a number of levels, including a structured political dialogue. Human rights form a detailed part of this dialogue. The next meeting of this dialogue will take place at Ministerial level on 6 April in Brussels.