Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent presidential election in Honduras, the specific measures that will be taken by the EU and international community following the disputed vote, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53032/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Presidential and congressional elections took place in Honduras on 26 November 2017. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras has declared that, in the Presidential ballot, the incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernández of the Partido Nacional de Honduras obtained 42.98% of the vote, against 41.38% for Salvador Nasralla, the candidate for the Allianza de Oposición. The third placed candidate, of the Partido Liberal, received 14.73% of the vote. The narrow margin between the two leading candidates corresponds to approximately 50,000 votes, of a total of almost 3.5 million.

I am aware of complaints of irregularities arising following the vote, as well as reports of violence during protests in the aftermath of the elections. I condemn unreservedly any acts of intimidation or violence perpetrated against those seeking to peacefully demonstrate or defend their rights. In particular, I wish to condemn the loss of human life in recent days and to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

I echo calls made by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini last week for calm and restraint in Honduras in the aftermath of the election. It is imperative that all sides act responsibly and work together, using the legal mechanisms available to them to address any potential complaints of irregularity regarding the electoral process, and to avoid violence at all times.

The EU deployed an Election Observer Mission to Honduras in October which consists of 22 long-term observers and 40 short-term observers. Facilitated by my Department, Ireland has contributed one long-term observer and one short-term observer to this mission, the aim of which is to provide an independent public assessment of the election process. I am pleased that Ireland was in a position to contribute to this vital work.

The EU Election Observation Mission released a statement last Thursday, 7 December regarding the post electoral situation, calling for fundamental freedoms to be respected and for violence to be avoided at all costs. The statement welcomed the openness expressed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras to address any challenges made to the election result. Crucially, the EU Election Observation Mission delegation is committed to remaining in Honduras and continuing its vital work to closely observe the election until the electoral process is fully concluded.

While Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in Honduras, officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade raise issues relating to the protection and defence of human rights in Honduras both at EU and UN level, including through direct contact with the EU Delegation in Tegucigalpa

On my instruction, we will continue to do so in light of recent developments in the country.

Officials of my Department have also met with human rights defenders from Honduras, most recently in Dublin in October 2017, when the then upcoming elections were discussed in some detail. Irish Aid contributes funding to programmes in Honduras through civil society organisations, chiefly Trócaire, including in support of its important work on human rights.

I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to monitor the situation in Honduras closely as the post electoral process progresses into its next stages.