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

I agree with some of what the Deputy has said but strongly disagree with other elements of it. Ireland's relationship with Ethiopia goes back many years. Our development assistance programme and partnerships with Ethiopia are stronger than with any other African country and have been for many years. In fact, we had workers in the Tigray region when the violence started. It is a country we know well and with which we have had a long and strong relationship. That is one of the reasons Ireland is credible in its criticism and its insistence on shining a spotlight on what is happening in the Tigray region. We will continue to do that.

I do not think it is in anybody's interests to see a collapse of the Ethiopian Government. It is a very large country that is broken into many different, quite powerful regions and, therefore, maintaining a government within Ethiopia is important. However, we must ensure that we hold people to account in the context of what has happened in the Tigray region.

Ireland has been very outspoken in that regard.

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