Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Officials in my Department have consulted widely with other Departments on this issue and also with the Central Bank. In so far as the issue of extraterritorial application of US law is appropriate, we raised the matter in political consultations with the United States and we restated our position. I recognise the limitations on what the US Federal Government can do in this matter, given the strict separation of powers between the executive and legislature in its system. However, I do not believe President Obama can be faulted. He has made a robust effort to tackle this long-standing issue, and the steps he has taken so far must be acknowledged fully.

The extraterritorial legislation in question is congressional legislation, in particular the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996. I welcome President Obama's willingness to engage with the US Congress in this matter and to the lifting of the legislation in question. The information provided by the US has been forwarded to the Minister, Deputy Noonan, in the Department of Finance and to the Central Bank for further consideration of how we might proceed further.

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