Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7, 26 and 27 together.

That givesme a bit of time to read a full response.As stated in reply to the previous question, Venezuela is currently experiencing the worst social, humanitarian, political and economic crisis in its history. This crisis is having a dire impact on the population, and has resulted in mass migration, affecting countries in the region and overall regional stability. An estimated 3 million migrants and refugees have left Venezuela in the past three years, with the majority going to neighbouring countries.

We are concerned about this unfolding humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where the needs of the population are acute. Ireland is strongly committed to the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence and supports the EU's international contact group which has been set up to ensure that it can bring about a peaceful and democratic intervention.

Ireland, along with its EU partners, has called on numerous occasions for the government of President Maduro to acknowledge the full scale of the humanitarian crisis. The refusal by the government of President Maduro to allow humanitarian aid into the country over the weekend resulted in violence and confrontation, particularly on the border with Colombia and Brazil.

We condemn this violence and I fully support the EU statement of 24 February which calls on Government authorities to show restraint, avoid the use of force and allow the entry of aid into the country. The statement also reiterates the EU's commitment to increase humanitarian assistance from its current levels of over €60 million for Venezuelans in need, in line with humanitarian principles.

As well as addressing the humanitarian situation in the country, the EU's international contact group aims to facilitate a peaceful, democratic solution to the crisis, by seeking to put in place conditions to allow for a political process to take place. The contact group had its first meeting on 7 February. A technical mission, co-chaired by the EU and Uruguay, travelled to Caracas last week in order to look at how the EU can assist with next steps and preparations for fresh presidential elections, and to assess how best to organise the delivery of aid.

I very much welcome and support the high priority which the EU is giving to this issue, and the co-ordinated action which it is undertaking. Likewise, I fully subscribe to the EU common position outlined in late January, when the EU made clear that if no announcement regarding fresh elections were to be made during a specified period by President Maduro, then the EU would take further actions, including regarding the issue of recognition of the country's leadership, and consideration of additional EU targeted sanctions.

On 3 February last, in the absence of an announcement by President Maduro to call fresh elections in Venezuela, a number of EU member states began issuing statements recognising Juan Guaidó as interim President of Venezuela.

On 6 February, I joined the vast majority of other EU member states in acknowledging and supporting Mr. Guaidó, President of the democratically-elected National Assembly, as President ad interim of Venezuela, in order for him to call for free, fair and democratic presidential elections.

We currently share this position with 24 other member states.

Ireland continues to call for a negotiated democratic, peaceful solution that can bring political stability and address the pressing needs of the people. I will continue to engage on this with our EU and regional partners at the highest levels. Ireland strongly rejects the suggestion of any possible military intervention in Venezuela. Any solution to this crisis must be both peaceful and democratic.

This has been an incremental position where an unfolding humanitarian crisis needs an international response. The response has been a collective one by the EU. The US has taken a somewhat different approach but the objective of all countries, be they in South America, North America or the EU, is to try to ensure there is a democratic solution to this humanitarian crisis and that it does not continue to deteriorate in a way that results in violence.

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