Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2019
39. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the situation in Venezuela; the position of the EU and Ireland on same; the efforts made and ongoing to resolve this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21230/19]
View answerRecent events in Venezuela and the escalation of tensions between both sides underscore the urgency of finding a negotiated solution to the already grave humanitarian, social and political crisis in the country.
Actions by the Maduro administration and the Venezuelan security forces, including the detention of the Vice President of the National Assembly Edgar Zambrano, are further examples of the deterioration in the situation.
I fully support the statement issued by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on 30 April in which the European Union rejects any form of violence and calls for the utmost restraint to avoid the loss of lives and an escalation of tensions.
On 9 May the EU called for Mr Zambrano's immediate release, as well as calling for the civil rights, safety and parliamentary immunity of all members of the National Assembly, including its President, Juan Guaidó, to be fully respected.
EU Foreign Ministers discussed developments in Venezuela at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 13 May. I and EU colleagues reiterated our support for the EU's International Contact Group for Venezuela and its continuing efforts towards achieving a peaceful and democratic solution.
A Ministerial level meeting of the International Contact Group took place in Costa Rica on 6 and 7 May, and it has been working to create the conditions for the holding of free and fair presidential elections as soon as possible.
The ICG recognises that the priority now is to avoid further escalation of an already extremely tense situation, and that to achieve this it is imperative to reinstate democracy, rule of law and separation of powers. I fully support the ICG's statement that no actions of a repressive, judicial or political nature should be taken that would make this possibility more remote.
I welcome the Group's engagement with regional and international partners, including the Lima Group and CARICOM.
I also fully support the ICG's efforts to enable the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela in line with humanitarian principles, and welcome its recent announcement that it will establish a humanitarian working group in Caracas. Ireland is fully supportive of the €117 million in assistance that has been provided to Venezuela since 2018.
The United Nations continues to work to establish an effective humanitarian response system and to deliver assistance to those most in need. It is important and urgent that humanitarian organisations have unimpeded access and can effectively deliver and significantly scale up assistance swiftly, without constraints, free from any political interference. Needs are acute and the situation has been exacerbated by widespread interruptions to electricity and water supply.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, stands firmly with the Venezuelan people and their legitimate democratic aspirations. I continue to strongly believe that there can only be a political and democratic solution to the multiple crises facing the country. Officials in my Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and I will continue to engage with EU colleagues on this important issue.
