Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland can take in engaging with the US to cease its blockade of Cuba, which is having an extremely serious impact on the people of Cuba with the possibility of a humanitarian crisis emerging in the near future, particularly in view of the UN resolution on the necessity of ending the blockade. [30283/16]
View answerIreland's concerns about economic, commercial and financial measures against Cuba are long-standing and clear. Our opinion is that the embargo serves no constructive purpose. We maintain our view that it is the right of Cuban citizens to decide independently on their future and the Government has been clear on this point in our international contacts.
At the same time we have also consistently called on the Cuban Government to fully grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms.
The past two years have seen immense progress in US-Cuba relations, including President Obama's historic visit to Havana in March 2016. In addition to the full restoration of diplomatic relations there have been significant agreements between the two sides in relation to communications and travel between the US and Cuba. Recent US Government decisions have relaxed restrictions in relation to certain telecommunications, internet and financial services as well as building materials and the first commercial flight between the US and Cuba in more than 50 years took place on 31 August, 2016. Discussions are ongoing between the two parties on a range of bilateral issues.
Despite these positive developments, fundamental restrictive measures remain in place. The US embargo on Cuba is codified in legislation, and therefore requires the approval of the US Congress in order to rescind it. President Obama has repeatedly called on Congress to end the embargo, not least during his visit to Havana this year.
On 27 October 2015, Ireland joined all other European Union member states in voting in favour of a Cuban resolution at the UN General Assembly in New York, calling for an end to the US embargo on Cuba. Consistent with our policy on this issue, it is the Government's intention to vote for a further resolution on ending the embargo in the UN in the coming days.
I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss these issues as well as positive developments in Ireland-Cuba relations with the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, en marge of the UN General Assembly in September.
