Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the political situation in Ethiopia where recent elections have led to a situation whereby all but one parliamentary seat is held by the political party which has held power since 1991 [36110/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The development of Ethiopia as a stable and democratic State is of great importance to Ireland and to the European Union. Ethiopia is one of the priority countries within our official development cooperation programme and is an important and influential country in the Horn of Africa region. Elections to the House of Representatives and the State Councils took place in Ethiopia in May 2010. The EPRDF party, together with six political parties that are affiliated to it, won 545 of 547 seats in Parliament in a first past the post electoral system.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), which included a number of Irish Election Observers, noted the high turn-out, the peaceful, orderly nature of the polling as well as the generally competent organisation of the elections. However, while welcoming this positive feature of the elections, I am concerned to note the assessment by the EU Mission in its preliminary report that the process was marred by narrowing political space, an electoral playing field that was insufficiently balanced, and that overall the process failed to gain the confidence of opposition political parties. I look forward to receiving the final report on the full findings of the EU Election Observer Mission that is due to be published shortly.

When I visited Ethiopia in early July, I had the opportunity to discuss these issues with leading Ethiopian Government figures, including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, as well as with representatives of the main opposition parties. A further theme during all of these meetings was how best political dialogue and engagement with civil society can be developed in the post-electoral period and how the international community can support the process of democratisation. I urged that positive steps be taken to build confidence in the democratic institutions.

Another issue that I raised during my visit was that of the detention of opposition leader Ms Birtukan Mideksa. I have followed closely her case since her re-arrest and return to prison in December 2008. I very much welcome that she has been released in recent days.

We will continue to monitor closely developments in the political situation in Ethiopia and we will avail of every opportunity both bilaterally and with our EU partners to encourage further progress in its process of democratisation.