Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a very real risk of a conflict in Venezuela. US troops are gathering in neighbouring countries and the situation in Venezuela is becoming more and more difficult. Part of the difficulty is due to shortages. The Venezuelan Government has said the shortages are due to outside influences. The statements are simply facilitating extremists who are hell bent on forcing the legitimate president out of office for their own ideological reasons and they will stop at nothing to do that. The declaration on Guaidó undermines democratic norms. It is also a violation of international sovereignty and marks a dark day in Irish foreign affairs policy that will create a precedent for the future. I am concerned that we are out of step with democratic norms in taking that direction and supporting that approach. The Government has said it is reluctant to go down this road but it is a worrying development.

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