Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 149: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the arrest, torture, incarceration and killing of peaceful protestors in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30733/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have already made clear on a number of occasions, including in this House, my own deep concern and that of the Irish Government and people regarding the general human rights situation in Bahrain. The right of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are fundamental rights in a free society, and must be respected by all governments. The report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry issued last November documented harrowing accounts of excessive force employed against those engaged in pro-democracy demonstrations in Spring 2011 as well as accounts of mistreatment and torture in custody. The Commission made a number of recommendations that would ensure better protection for human rights in Bahrain, including a recommendation for independent investigations. It is clear that effective investigations by an independent and impartial body of all allegations of torture in detention are necessary to ensure accountability, and help re-build trust between the two communities in Bahrain as part of a process of national reconciliation.

Ireland has urged Bahrain at every opportunity to swiftly implement the Commission's recommendations, most recently at Bahrain's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last month. At the same time, Ireland recommended that Bahrain amend any articles of its penal code that can be used to prosecute individuals for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly or association, and bring its law in line with international standards established by the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights.

Officials in my Department have also regularly raised my concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain with the Bahraini Ambassador in London. In addition, the Ambassador in Riyadh has relayed my concerns directly to the Bahraini authorities. While I acknowledge the initial steps taken by the Bahraini authorities in response to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the legitimate demands of those peacefully seeking reform. The only viable path forward for Bahrain is reconciliation and dialogue. A way must be found to chart a new and inclusive future for Bahrain and I urge the Bahraini authorities and the opposition to engage genuinely and meaningfully in a national reconciliation process.