Vol. 445 No. 9
117 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy on the continuing sanctions by the United States against Cuba; in view of the hardship being caused to the Cuban people, if he will urge the US Government to lift these sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1430/94]
The US embargo on all political, economic and commercial relations between the United States and Cuba, instituted in 1962, does not preclude other countries from developing trade and commercial links with Cuba, nor has it prevented the provision of humanitarian aid to Cuba. Ireland has therefore been of the view that in general the normalisation of relations between the United States and Cuba is essentially a bilateral matter best addressed between the two Governments concerned although we have opposed the extra-territorial dimension to the embargo introduced by the United States "Cuban Democracy Act" of 1992.
I regret, nevertheless, both the continuing poor relations between the United States and Cuba and the circumstances which underlie the situation. I have already said in relation to this issue that it is my hope that the changes which have occurred in international relations in recent years will create the conditions for an end to Cold War animosities everywhere.
I have been particularly concerned about the recent disimprovement of the situation in Cuba as evidenced by the exodus from that country during August and early September of large numbers of people on rafts and unseaworthy boats seeking refuge in the United States. Ireland has supported the provision of substantial humanitarian aid by the European Union to alleviate the plight of the Cuban people. I welcome the recent agreement between the United States and Cuba on the immigration issue which appears to have established a basis for resolving the refugee crises and hope that the progress made in this area will also contribute to an improvement in the climate for relations between the two countries.
