Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
11. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that many journalists, trade union leaders, judges, civil society activists and politicians, including the Speaker of the Tunisian parliament (details supplied) have been arrested in Tunisia in recent weeks in concerted acts of state repression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28774/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy question concerns the ongoing situation in Tunisia. The Tunisian Government has increasingly become authoritarian in relation to journalists and political and civil rights activists. I wish to hear the Tánaiste's views on the ongoing situation, particularly Ireland and the EU's relationships with Tunisia.
We are concerned by the deteriorating situation in Tunisia. In recent months, there has been a worrying increase in reports of repression against protesters, opposition leaders and civil society groups by the Tunisian authorities. I am aware of the arrest of the Tunisian opposition leader and of other prominent members of Tunisian civil society. Freedoms of expression and association are fundamental human rights guaranteed to all and are an essential foundation of an open, democratic and inclusive society. I call on the Tunisian Government to uphold these rights.
The situation in Tunisia has been discussed several times at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in recent months. In March, Ireland raised the issue of restrictions on freedom of expression and association in Tunisia, with particular reference to the then-recent expulsion of Esther Lynch, the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, ETUC. I made a public statement on this matter and voiced Ireland’s condemnation of this act. I underlined our support for the rights of trade unions to conduct their work free from harassment, intimidation and fear. I welcome the recent visit of EU Commission President von der Leyen, along with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Italy, to Tunis for talks with President Saied. The EU-Tunisia relationship will continue to focus on people-to-people contacts, economic co-operation and political dialogue, including ensuring respect for human rights.
I thank the Tánaiste. As I said from the outset, a number of prominent politicians, trade union leaders and lawmakers have been imprisoned in recent months. It is very ironic, in the birthplace of the Arab Spring 12 years ago, that one dictator took over from another in 2011. He is oppressing his people and has used horrible and really xenophobic language against people of colour that is completely divisive. It is important that Ireland uses its influence via the EU, which is one of the biggest trading partners with Tunisia. It is important that we reflect our solidarity with the people of Tunisia.
I share the Deputy's concern. The Belgian and Portuguese foreign ministers visited Tunisia recently and met with its Government on behalf of the EU foreign ministers to articulate these concerns and to undertake a fact-finding analysis and meet people on the ground. They provided useful insights in their subsequent presentation to the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting. We have been consistently using international forums to address this question. Ireland called on Tunisia to take all necessary steps to protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and association during Tunisia's universal period of review on human rights in November 2022. The EU, as a body, continues to prioritise human rights as part of its engagement with Tunisia. The statement recently released jointly by the EU and Tunisia, as part of the recent visit of President von der Leyen and Prime Ministers Rutte and Meloni, outlined key features in that regard and, in particular, respect for human rights-----
I thank the Tánaiste. I call Deputy Kenny.
I do not have much else to add, but the issue of the funding that emanates from the EU and goes to Tunisia is important. There must be some sort of consequences in respect of what the Tunisian Government is doing. I say this because if we look at what happened several decades ago during the Ben Ali dictatorship, we can see that this Tunisian Government is doing exactly the same as he was doing, not only to the people of the country but to the opposition there. As a beacon of democracy and solidarity with the Tunisian people, surely the EU will have to stand up to this kind of xenophobic and authoritarian regime.
I would like the Taoiseach to comment on the imprisonment of Mr. Rached Ghannouchi. He is the elected Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament. I met his son at a Palestinian solidarity conference in Oslo a few weeks ago. He is very worried about his father because he is 81 years old. Mr. Ghannouchi is a renowned human rights activist and writer and was a central figure in the Arab Spring. Along with all opposition parliamentarians, trade unionists, etc., he was locked up by the Tunisian dictatorship. I was told that, essentially, the new dictator of Tunisia is allying himself with el-Sisi, who has done exactly the same in Egypt. The two of them are working to crush the democratic revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Once again, we are just getting tea and sympathy from the EU rather than action. Will the Tánaiste call for Mr. Ghannouchi's release and that of the other parliamentarians and trade unionists and make serious representations to the Tunisian dictatorship in this regard?
We have. I spoke about this issue earlier in terms of the arrest of Mr. Rached Ghannouchi. I made this point in response to the original question from Deputy Kenny. This is not about tea and sympathy. That is not what we are doing. We must have a realistic assessment of these issues and how we can best have an impact and create pressure. It will either be through engagement or just complete isolation. We must work on the engagement front.
Respect for human rights and a frank discussion on all these issues form parts of the EU's regular contact with Tunisia. There is concern across the EU regarding the deteriorating situation in Tunisia, and this will be a core element of discussions at the EU-Tunisia association council meeting, which will take place before the end of this year. This will be one opportunity. In other areas, we have been active across all international forums on issues related, for example, to freedom of expression and press freedom. We are members of the UN Human Rights Council, the World Press Freedom Coalition and the Media Freedom Coalition, which advocate for the protection of journalists and so forth.
I thank the Tánaiste.
We are active, therefore, in many international forums to try to deal with unacceptable regimes such as this and behaviour on their part.
We are moving on, I am afraid, to the last question.
I am sorry.
I call Deputy Carthy.
I will waive it.
