Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ireland enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Cuba and I look forward to Irish-Cuban relations developing further in the period ahead. I also welcome the recent agreement by the European Union and Cuba to open negotiations on a political dialogue and co-operation agreement which will provide a strong framework for the European Union’s relationship with Cuba. I am pleased to note that a first round of negotiations took place successfully in Havana from 30 April to 1 May. I am aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers of the three men serving prison sentences in the United States on charges relating to their activities as unregistered agents of a foreign government and related offences. As this is a bilateral consular issue between the United States and the Cuban authorities, the Government has no standing in the matter.

With regard to reports on US funding in the past for a mobile phone social networking project in Cuba, the Tánaiste and I have asked officials in the Department to keep us informed on the issue.

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