Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he has been in contact with the Pakistan authorities regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31839/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am gravely concerned about the case of Mrs. Asia Bibi. In November 2010 a Punjab court found Mrs. Bibi guilty of blasphemy, sentencing her to death by hanging. I understand that this is the first time a woman has been sentenced to death in Pakistan under its blasphemy law. My information is that Mrs. Bibi's case is to be the subject of an appeal to the High Court in Punjab. Her detention while awaiting appeal, and the conditions of that detention, are deeply troubling. When the case came to the attention of my Department, a senior official contacted the Embassy of Pakistan to express our concern at the conviction and sentence. He also expressed our disquiet at the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy law. Mrs. Bibi's case and Pakistan's blasphemy laws were discussed at length during bilateral political consultations in Dublin at the end of May with the Pakistani Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe, when our concerns about the conviction, sentence and the nature of Pakistan's blasphemy laws were again strongly expressed.

Senior officials in my Department remain active on the case, including in representations to the authorities of Pakistan. Representations have been made as recently as last week to the Embassy of Pakistan.

At European level High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, has also expressed her concerns at the Asia Bibi judgement and others like it, and called on Pakistan to respect human rights as guaranteed under international conventions to which it is a party. She also re-affirmed the European Union's position on the death penalty as a cruel and inhuman punishment.

Respect for human rights is a cornerstone of foreign policy for both Ireland and the European Union as whole. The Pakistani Government has made commitments to protect religious minorities and to promote religious tolerance. The establishment of a Ministry for Human Rights, a Ministry for Minorities and the proposed establishment of an independent national Human Rights Commission are initiatives in this regard. However real, tangible progress on the ground is what is required.

I take this opportunity to urge the Pakistani Government to resolve Mrs. Bibi's case as soon as possible and to initiate a thorough review of its blasphemy law, including the use of the death penalty. I would also ask them to respond to the concerns of Ireland, and the international community, by addressing the conditions of Mrs. Bibi's detention. Mrs. Bibi's case will continue to be followed closely by me and my officials will remain in contact with the Pakistani authorities on this matter.