Tánaiste Michéal Martin has condemned the expulsion of Esther Lynch - the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation - from Tunisia.
"Ireland unreservedly supports the rights of trade unions to conduct their important work free from harassment, intimidation and fear," the Minister for Foreign Affairs said.
"Freedom of expression and association are fundamental human rights guaranteed to all and are an essential foundation of an open, democratic and inclusive society."
Ms Lynch was expelled after taking part in an anti-government protest organised by the country's UGTT union, one of Tunisia's leading political forces.
The UGTT said the expulsion was "shocking" and opened up a confrontation with labour unions around the world.
Tunisian President Kais Saied declared Ms Lynch "persona non grata" and said the Irish citizen must leave the country within 24 hours.
Ms Lynch's participation in the protests and remarks she made were a "blatant interference in Tunisian affairs", the government said.
Thousands of members of the UGTT took to the streets of eight Tunisian cities on Saturday to protest against Mr Saied's policies, accusing him of trying to stifle basic freedoms including union rights.
Ms Lynch arrived safely in Brussels yesterday afternoon.
"Far from silencing me, my treatment this weekend has strengthened my resolve to stand with trade unions in Tunisia and I will raise their treatment at the highest levels of the EU," Ms Lynch said.
"Internationalism and solidarity are at the core of the labour movement, so it's entirely normal that a trade union leader from Europe should go and stand with workers in Tunisia."
Ms Lynch is a former Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) official and was elected General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation in December.
