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Official Engagements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Questions (193)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

193. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of any bilateral engagement he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia in 2021 and to-date in 2022; if, in the course of this engagement, he has raised issues relating to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and in particular the recent mass execution of 81 persons on 12 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19726/22]

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Written answers

I visited Saudi Arabia from 12 – 15 November 2021 as part of an Enterprise Ireland-led trade mission to the Gulf region. The trade mission was organised by Enterprise Ireland and had the participation of 60 Irish companies and organisations. Irish business-to-business interests are growing in the Gulf region. Exports by Irish companies to the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2020, even against the backdrop of a global pandemic, increased by 12% and 6% respectively, signifying the interest by Irish companies and the continued strong opportunities that exist in this rapidly growing market.

The primary focus of all trade missions and associated meetings is to encourage business-to-business links, to maximise opportunities to help Irish companies to access new markets and to increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland which in turn creates employment opportunities.

While in Saudi Arabia, I held meetings with the President of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Governor and Board of the Saudi Central Bank, the Saudi Minister for Commerce, the Saudi Minister for Investment, and the Saudi Minister for Transport. These meetings were arranged as part of the trade mission to further our trade and investment promotion objectives in Saudi Arabia. I also had discussions on the social and economic transformation which is underway, as part of the Saudi government’s Vision 2030. This aims to diversify the Saudi economy, encourage greater personal freedoms, and deepen Saudi Arabia’s engagement with regional and international partners which include the European Union.

To be effective in raising human rights issues with other countries we must do it in an appropriate way and at the right opportunity, so that our concerns are taken seriously and acted upon. Ireland has always been at the forefront internationally in raising human rights issues through bilateral contacts and especially through the European Union and the United Nations.

I have not had any bilateral engagements with counterparts in Saudi Arabia in 2022.

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