We have received an updated briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and it has been circulated to members. Deputy Mac Lochlainn requested that this be discussed at today's meeting. We have also received a recent update from the independent commission that reported on the situation in Bahrain. The report indicates that the Bahraini authorities used excessive force during the crackdown on protests earlier this year. Responding to the criticism, King Hamad vowed to do everything possible so that the painful events will not be repeated and that they will learn from their mistakes. They hope to make Bahrain's law compatible with international standards, to protect freedom of speech and other basic rights.
Medical Personnel in Bahrain: Discussion
I commend a number of people from the medical fraternity in Ireland who have spoken out about this issue. They have challenged the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, RCPI, particularly the latter given its commercial partnership with the Bahraini Government, in the context of the crackdown on legitimate protests in Bahrain and the horrific treatment endured by a number of doctors trained in Ireland. I have circulated the testimony of Dr. Ali al-Ekri and Dr. Ghassan Dhaif to the committee. Their experience was horrendous. They were imprisoned but I am glad the Bahraini Government has recalled many of the trials of those convicted in military courts to a civilian setting.
Events often overtake the members of these committees and the finding of the commission today, which I thank the Chairman for circulating, is very welcome. The commitment from King Hamad that they will learn the lessons is welcome. It is critical that the Bahraini people see that their grievances addressed, particularly if there is to be stability in Bahrain. At present, the majority Shia community feels it is being subjugated and repressed by the minority Sunni Muslim community, including the royal family which controls Bahrain.
In regard to my specific concern, I was disappointed that the RCSI, which has a significant relationship with the Bahraini state and which, by extension of the relationship, lends credibility to the Bahraini state, did not speak out publicly about the outrageous arrest of doctors who were undertaking a responsibility under the hippocratic oath to save lives. The organisation did not speak out about the detention, imprisonment and clear human rights abuses suffered, vindicated by the finding of the commission today. I hope the organisation will reflect on this. I am advised the RCSI made private representations and strong representations through its contacts with the Bahraini Government in respect of the damage done to the reputation of Bahrain. This was a poor episode for the RCSI and it reflects badly on the organisation that it could not speak out about the fact that doctors doing their job were treated in such an outrageous fashion. It is remarkable that it took one or two doctors in Ireland and a professor to speak out on behalf of the entire medical profession. The representative bodies, whether the RCSI, the IMO or the RCPI, were not forthcoming in their condemnation. There can be no room for tolerance of this behaviour, particularly by the medical profession whose job it is to save lives. However, it did not speak out. We should seek an explanation from the RCSI.
I thank the committee, particularly the Chairman, for giving me an opportunity to make this case today.
I support what Deputy Mac Lochlainn has said. He has covered the matter comprehensively. There are tensions in Bahrain. The manner in which this issue has been handled is regrettable, as are the exaggerated sentences incurred by the medical people. We should, therefore, maintain our campaign. Like Deputy Mac Lochlainn, I was surprised that the RCSI and the other medical representative bodies were not at the forefront of the campaign and did not voice their concerns in this regard. Members of the Oireachtas and outside interests have pursued this matter by travelling to Bahrain. We should pursue the bodies for an explanation.
I would like to raise a different matter.
We will stick with this one for the time being. Although the RCSI was not at the forefront in this regard, the Tánaiste and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintained regular contact with it regarding the situation in Bahrain. It was very concerned about it. It stated it had sought to use its influence in a positive way at all times by encouraging the Bahraini authorities to embark on a process of reconciliation and by pointing out the damage that would be done to Bahrain's international reputation if the situation continued. We need to note this also. I am glad Deputy Mac Lochlainn has raised the issue, which we will monitor.
I welcome the international report which is a good one. It was good to hear the King of Bahrain acknowledge that mistakes had been made by Bahrain in dealing with the issue. It is not often that one hears the leaders of these countries acknowledging that excessive force has been used. I hope the Bahraini authorities will learn. I also hope the doctors in jail will receive fair trials with successful conclusions and that they will ultimately be freed.
I have proposed that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade write to the RCSI to ask it to outline its views on the testimonies of Dr. Ali al-Ekri and Dr. Ghassan Dhaif, both of whom studied in Ireland; to state whether it believes it is appropriate to maintain a substantial commercial relationship with the Bahraini regime in these circumstances; and to set out the efforts it has made to secure the release of all medical staff incarcerated for performing their duties. I have further proposed that the joint committee write to the Irish Medical Organisation to seek its views on these testimonies.
We will do that for the Deputy. It will present no problem. We will continue to monitor the position. It is important that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The joint committee went into private session at 4.55 p.m. and adjourned at 5.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 13 December 2011.