asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the many reports of abuses of civil rights in El Salvador, he will appeal without delay to his ministerial equivalent of that country on behalf of the general secretary of the FSR Trade Union Federation who was arrested on 12 January 1985, two days before the congress of his federation was to meet; if he will seek his immediate release; and if he will publicly condemn the ongoing abuses of human rights and intimidation of opposition groups in El Salvador.

Together with our partners in the European Community, we have expressed concern on many occasions about breaches of human rights and democratic freedoms in El Salvador, most recently at the UN General Assembly. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland does not have formal diplomatic relations with El Salvador. If the Deputy would let me have any details in his possession about the case I shall consider the matter further.