Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste did. He said she had no interest in humanitarian aid.

My specific question was on the statement made by the UN rapporteur who was appointed, who said in January:

Coercion, whether military or economic, must never be used to seek a change in government in a sovereign state. The use of sanctions by outside powers to overthrow an elected government is in violation of all norms of international law.

The statement is long. The Tánaiste said he is happy there is a collective EU voice, but I am not happy. We are a neutral country with a proud record up to recently and people listened to us. As has been said, if the Tánaiste was seriously interested, he would be talking to the people on the ground in Venezuela. We are picking and choosing our countries depending on what Mr. Trump wants - it is difficult to call him president, but he is – and what the EU wants. Oil is top of the agenda here.

It is appalling to come into the House and tell us about the EU's collective voice. We are standing over sanctions that will cause a lot more damage. We know from the experience with Iraq that sanctions cause more distress, more upset and more human suffering on the ground than anything else.

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