Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
8. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a report on the newly formed Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council; and the expected economic benefits of this council; if he will be raising the issue of domestic human rights abuses with the Saudi Arabian Government. [44809/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to growing Ireland’s exports in all foreign markets, and expanding our trade footprint outside our main trading partners. As part of the Government’s trade promotion strategy, Saudi Arabia has been identified as a priority market with significant potential for Irish companies. Currently, Ireland’s trade with Saudi Arabia amounts to almost €900 million per annum. I very much welcome the establishment of the Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council, as a joint venture between it and the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry. I believe it will provide an avenue for practical and useful assistance to Irish companies seeking to break into the Saudi market. The council will also offer real potential to further develop trade links and enhance business opportunities for companies in both countries.
The Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council was formally launched at a ceremony in Riyadh in June attended by the Irish co-chair of the council, Mr. Joseph Lynch, and his Saudi counterpart, Mr. Abdullah Al-Mohty, president of the council of Saudi chambers of commerce and industry. I understand that preparations are continuing for holding the inaugural session of the council either later this year or in early 2013.
Ireland and our EU partners have an active discussion with Saudi Arabia within the framework of the EU-Gulf co-operation council on a wide range of issues, including human rights. The EU also regularly raises with Saudi Arabia its concerns about the use of the death penalty in the kingdom and encourages the Saudi authorities to further consider ways to reduce the application of the death penalty that could lead to a de facto moratorium on executions.
I am not familiar with the role of the Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council. Will Irish businesswomen be involved in the council? I accept it is important to open new markets and the Tánaiste mentioned the €900 million of trade but we must also take into account the human rights situation of citizens not just in Saudi Arabia but in Bahrain, where the Saudi Government is the power behind the throne. The sectarian nature of society in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is also worrying. How is that taken into account when opening up these accounts? When sectarianism was a factor in governing the North, many foreign Governments and companies took the McBride principles into account. Do we work to any set of principles when dealing with regimes in this part of the world?
In our relations with any country, be it Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, we look at the totality of the relationship; it is never based on one issue. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia encompasses a range of issues including both trade promotion and human rights. The total level of trade with Saudi Arabia stands at €900 million annually and that is very much tilted in Ireland's favour. Our merchandise exports amounted to €527 million and service exports amounted to €303 million in 2011. Imports from Saudi Arabia amounted to €51 million so the balance of trade is very much in Ireland's favour. There is significant growth for Irish exports to Saudi Arabia and our trade with Saudi Arabia grew by 18% last year. The Irish-Saudi Arabia Business Council is an independent body that receives no funding from the State and is the coming together of the chambers of commerce to promote trade and business activity between the two countries. The growth of that trade activity does not compromise or change our view of human rights issues, which are universal. The building of trade relations gives us an enhanced opportunity to engage on human rights with the countries concerned.
Are any Irish women on the council? How does it operate when there are restrictions in Saudi Arabia surrounding women's involvement? The Tánaiste says these are two chambers of commerce coming together so I presume Irish women are involved. Are they full members when they travel as part of any delegation?
The Tánaiste is probably aware the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was in China recently and she raised women's rights while she was there. She was right to do so. Sadly she has not done the same in Saudi Arabia and it would be a good lead on the part of the Irish Government to raise the issue because the role of women in Saudi Arabia leaves so much to be desired. It would be great if the Irish Government took a lead and challenged the Saudis on this.
The Minister's answer is disappointing. It is heavily loaded in favour of the money with very little adherence to the concerns raised about human rights and the systematic discrimination experienced by women in particular and the Shia minority, and the stifling of peaceful protest by the regime. Clearly the Saudi regime benefits enormously from its export and import relationship with Ireland, it is not paying us the money for nothing; the product we send over is good so we should use any links we have to highlight the disgraceful nature of the system there. I am not getting any impression from the Tánaiste's remarks that is happening but the money seems to be a lot more important than any human rights abuses.
Our trade with Saudi Arabia is important. It is worth €900 million at a time when we have a huge number of people out of work in this country. We have suffered an economic difficulty and must trade our way out of that. That means we must export and this is an important export market. It is overwhelmingly in our favour, running at €850 million in exports and €50 million in imports. Our commitment to human rights and the rights of women is among the best in the world and we do not equivocate on that or compromise on it. Those rights are universal and it is our view that expanding our trade relationship provides us with an opportunity to engage with countries on human rights issues.
