P. J. Sheehan
Ceist:27 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is considering changes in Ireland's ambassadorial representation abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16483/98]
Vol. 493 No. 5
27 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is considering changes in Ireland's ambassadorial representation abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16483/98]
It is not practice to announce ambassadorial appointments until the agreement of the receiving State to the appointment is received. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly on the matter.
28 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, his Department has in hand to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, following the visit by Pope John Paul II to that country earlier in 1998 and in view of the fact that Ireland is the only EU member state which does not have direct diplomatic links with Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16375/98]
68 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will consider establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, particularly in the context of the decision of the United States authorities to ease some aspects of the blockade; if he will press the United States Government for a full lifting of the blockade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16353/98]
72 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has discussed with his United States counterpart, or with United States diplomatic representation here, the continuing economic, cultural and trade embargo of Cuba; whether he has called upon the United States Government to respect and comply with UN General Assembly Resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17 and 52/10; whether he has drawn the attention of the United States Government to the European Parliament Resolution of 16 September 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16374/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 68 and 72 together.
Because of the small size of our foreign service, Ireland is not in a position at the present time to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. However, the lack of formal diplomatic relations does not inhibit the maintenance and development of friendly contacts and relations with that country.
The Government wishes to see an end to the US economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba. We are working to that end in concert with our European Union partners. Ireland, along with all our European Union partners, has voted in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of calls for an end to the embargo. The US Administration has been made fully aware of Irelands concerns, and that of our EU partners, about the embargo and its extraterritorial effects.