Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Please allow me to speak. This is a step that has been carefully considered. While I would prefer to dwell on the agreements with countries such as Georgia that have brought about positive reform, there are times when the EU activates the mechanisms within these agreements when there is a deterioration in the human rights situation. While it rarely happens, it sometimes occurs. I will give the two Deputies opposite an example of that. In 2016, the EU suspended its direct aid to Burundi’s government under the clause of the 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the bloc and the 77-country African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, group guaranteeing the respect of human and democratic rights.

Furthermore, the EU has twice chosen to suspend financial assistance to Moldova, most recently last June. Following the invalidation of elections by three courts in Chisinau, the EU suspended macro-financial assistance based on clear evidence of the violation of political conditionality criteria.

The agreement provides a framework for closer economic co-operation, which can bring about peace, as we have seen in the past. As part of such co-operation, we can continue to emphasise the need to protect human rights and encourage Kazakhstan on its reform path.

I emphasise again that by ratifying this agreement, we will be in a position to add our voice to the EU and the 27 other member states in encouraging Kazakhstan on its path to reform, rather than sitting on the sidelines as others engage. I hope Dáil Éireann will support the motion so that Ireland can proceed to ratify the agreement in the near future. Sitting on the sidelines is not a way forward. Engagement and dialogue are the most important way to improve human rights. We have seen that in the past.

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