Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent trip to Saudi Arabia; if he will clarify the comments he made during the trip regarding Iran fuelling conflicts in the region, as reported by a media organisation (details supplied); that he said that Saudi Arabia might become the best strategic partner for Ireland in the region; and if he, at any stage, criticised the Saudi Arabian regime for its poor human rights record and its well documented support for jihadist and salafist militant groups involved in wars and attacks on civilians throughout the region. [36312/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I read in an English edition of a media organisation that, in his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, the Minister condemned Iran and stated that Saudi Arabia might become the best strategic partner for Ireland in the region. Did the Minister at any stage criticise the Saudi Arabian regime for its poor human rights record and its well documented support for jihadist and salafist militant groups involved in wars and attacks on civilians throughout the region?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 13 November. The programme of the trade mission also included a visit to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government's trade, tourism and investment strategy. I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are seeking to enter the Gulf markets for the first time and some of which are seeking to strengthen their position in those markets. I undertook a large number of engagements in support of these companies. In addition to the trade-specific events, I also held meetings at political level addressing a broader range of issues. In Saudi Arabia, I held meetings with the Minister for Commerce and Investment, Majid Al Qassabi, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nizar Madani, and the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Nasser Fawzan.

In the course of my visit, I gave an interview to a number of local media outlets in Riyadh. Among the issues raised in those interviews was the role of Iran across the region. It is clear to all observers that the increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran are an important factor in the complex challenges facing the region at the moment. Both countries have leadership roles within the region and with that leadership comes responsibility. I urge both Governments to use their influence to move towards diplomatic and political solutions in both Syria and in Yemen. This is the message that I gave in the interview referred to by the Deputy. Saudi Arabia is already an important regional partner for some Irish companies in areas such as food and ICT, and that was the context of the comments on partnership referred to in the article.

The detail of my meetings with the Ministers is confidential. However, I can confirm that I did raise human rights issues, including the use of the death penalty and the position of women in society, and issues related to terrorism in the broader region.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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It is visits like these which make people a bit nervous about some of our trade partners. The comments of the Minister may have been taken out of context but there is something rotten at the heart of the Saudi Government and in its policies in regard to the conflicts in the region. There is no doubt that it is funding, training and supporting many salafist and jihadist groups and Saudi coalition air strikes are responsible for the majority of the roughly 4,000 deaths in Yemen.

Hospital, schools, marketplaces, weddings and factories have been targeted and remain viable coalition airstrike targets. The coalition carried out an airstrike, on what was possibly the single biggest target in a conflict, on a funeral ceremony in Sana'a which killed more than 140 people and injured 500. I did not read any criticism of that during the Minister's visit. Perhaps it was not the right time to do so. Now the Minister is back in Ireland I would like to think he will clearly separate this visit, from an international view, in terms of what this country is doing in that region. I do not view the coalition to be an important regional supporter for Ireland in that region.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I want to make it clear that Ireland has close economic ties with Saudi Arabia. The country is a designated priority market for Ireland under our trade, tourism and investment strategy. Saudi Arabia represents a significant market for Ireland. Total bilateral trade in 2014 was worth over €1.4 billion, with €1.3 billion of this in Ireland's favour. The economic relationship therefore has considerable benefits for the Irish economy in terms of Irish jobs. Last week, I saw at first hand the interests which Irish companies have in the Saudi market but the economic partnership we have with Saudi Arabia does not prevent us from raising issues of human rights concern in the appropriate channels. We will continue to maintain relations with Saudi Arabia, economic relations for the benefit of our economy and trade and diplomatic relations to facilitate our continued engagement with the kingdom on human rights and also on other matters as they may arise from time to time.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Did the Minister raise the Saudi Arabian support for a repressive and sectarian regime in Bahrain? Last month Saudi Arabia was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the fourth time after another non-competitive election at the UN General Assembly. While serving its third term on the UN Human Rights Council Saudi Arabia blocked international inquiries into human rights abuses, punished Saudi citizens who worked in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Council and threatened to cut critical UN funding after being called out for violating children's rights. Did the Irish Government support Saudi Arabia's bid for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that we do not disclose our voting intentions or the actual votes in those elections. However, I would like to say for the record that Saudi Arabia ran for an election on a clean state. It was unopposed but I had the opportunity to raise a number of the issues mentioned by the Deputy, in particular the role of Saudi Arabia in Yemen. This is a matter of great concern. This conflict was raised by me at a number of meetings both in the Emirates and in Saudi Arabia. I wish to unreservedly condemn all the deliberate targeting of civilians, as I did in Saudi Arabia and in the Emirates. I urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law. As far as humanitarian issues are concerned, I am pleased that the Government has provided €2 million to the United Nations humanitarian pooled fund for Yemen and €100,000 for emergency items for vulnerable and conflict affected households. The total Irish humanitarian response since 2015 is almost €4 million.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will move on to Question No. 31. I understand that the Minister proposes to take Questions Nos. 31, 45, 51 and 53 together.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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If that is in order?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.