Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, on his forthcoming visit to Malawi, he will raise the human rights issue of people's right to peaceful protest, particularly in view of the death by shooting of 19 people at a reform meeting protest in July 2011. [10700/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I am visiting Malawi this week in order to see the impact of Ireland's development programme in the country, which is strongly focused on the areas of hunger and nutrition. I will also hold a number of meetings and consultations as part of the ongoing review of the White Paper on Irish Aid. During the visit I will meet with Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Malawi, as well as representatives of Non-Governmental and civil society groups. I will discuss a wide range of bilateral and international issues and I will of course raise our concerns on a number of human rights issues, including the matter referred to in the question. I fully share the Deputy's concerns in relations to the events of July 2011. At the time, with our EU colleagues, and through European Union High Representative, Catherine Ashton, we strongly condemned the use of excessive force against protesters by the Malawian authorities and the actions taken to prevent citizens from exercising their Constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully. The EU called on the people and the Government of Malawi to remain committed to the principles of democracy and to resolve disagreements through peaceful means. Since the violent incidents of last July, the Government of Malawi has entered into a dialogue with civil society representatives, which is ongoing.

The Government attaches the highest importance to human rights issues. Discussion of human rights issues is a key feature in our dialogue with other countries, including the priority countries for our aid programme, of which Malawi is one. Through our Embassy in Lilongwe, we are monitoring the situation in Malawi closely, and maintaining a strong dialogue with the Government and civil society locally, along with our EU partners. I look forward to engaging in dialogue on these issues during my visit and to assessing the situation first hand.