Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister says that opening up trade links with these people will change how they do things. How has Saudi Arabia changed how it does things in the past 20 years? As far as I can see nothing is changing. As long as it can do business with everybody it will be under no pressure to change anything. We approved of the EU sanctions on Iran because we wanted to force it to the negotiating table. Why does everybody turn a blind eye to Saudi Arabia? Is it because it has so much money? It would be ridiculous for me to ask if money rules the world - of course it does. There was a time when Ireland would have taken a more ethical stance on such matters. I do not suggest we should not trade with people, but, by God, at least we should not be afraid to raise these issues even if it is on a trade mission. I do not agree with the Minister's argument that we should leave it outside the door when on trade missions, as it would undermine our potential to increase jobs; that is not a good way forward.

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