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

I do not think that stands up to scrutiny.

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 my counterparts in other EU member states in acknowledging and supporting Mr. Guaidó, President of the democratically-elected National Assembly, as President ad interimof Venezuela, in order for him to call for free, fair and democratic presidential elections. We currently share this position with 24 other EU member states, the vast majority of Latin and South American states and as many as 60 other countries.

The only objective is to try to get free and fair presidential elections. If, as the Deputy suggests, President Maduro has popular support in his country, why would he oppose that? He does and to date has refused to allow for such elections. This is not a question of siding with the US per se.

See this speech in context