Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has to date, made any steps in pressuring the Sri Lankan authorities on the lack of progress on investigations into the attack on the editor of the Uthayan newspaper. [33719/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand from reports that Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, the editor of the Tamil language daily "Uthayan" newspaper in Sri Lanka, was attacked and brutally beaten in July of this year. I understand that no progress has been made to date on prosecuting the perpetrators of this attack. As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not have a resident mission in Sri Lanka. Our Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Sri Lanka. The Ambassador is due to travel to Sri Lanka later this month. I have asked him make enquiries on this case, in addition to the other issues he will be pursuing during his stay in Sri Lanka.

I am aware that there have been four murders of journalists in Sri Lanka since 2008. In addition, a well-known cartoonist, Prageeth Eknaligoda, has been missing since January 2010.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ireland strongly condemns any efforts to intimidate, censor or silence the media and we fully support the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Free, independent media will always be a cornerstone of democracy and respect for human rights and conditions for independent and pluralist journalism can only aid social and economic development.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating situation in Zambia in which Chinese-run copper mines are dangerously unsafe and owners routinely flout the rights of workers, when miners routinely work 12 to 18 hour shifts often in fume-filled tunnels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33712/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am aware of recent reports, produced by international organisations such as Human Rights Watch, that allege mines in Zambia, in particular those operated by Chinese firms, are dangerously unsafe, with poor health and safety conditions in contravention of labour laws and regulations. China is a very significant investor in the Zambian economy particularly in the critically important mining industry which accounts for over seventy percent of Zambia's foreign earnings. I am concerned about the nature of the allegations made in these reports and I will closely follow the response of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

The recently elected President of Zambia, Michael Sata, has been very strong in his commitment to improving workers' rights and labour conditions. The new Government has announced its intention to review the minimum wage in Zambia and also its labour laws and regulations to ensure stiffer penalties are in place for those employers found guilty of exploitation of workers. I understand that tripartite discussions have already commenced in this respect involving representatives of Government, employers and workers.

Ireland has the opportunity to regularly raise issues of concern with the Government of Zambia, through our Embassy in Lusaka and together with the European Union.

Ireland has also supported improved labour conditions in Zambia through our support to the International Labour Organisation. One element of that support has been to address the issue of forced labour. With Irish Aid support, the International Labour Organisation has worked with the Ministry of Labour in Zambia to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors to detect and act on possible cases of forced labour and severe exploitation.