Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the sovereignty of Cuba is respected; and if he will actively support the United Nation General Assembly's vote for the sixteenth consecutive year against the inhuman and unjustifiable 47 years of US economic blockade of Cuba. [27633/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As I informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 95 of 1 November, 2007, Ireland and our European Union partners believe that the United States' foreign policy toward Cuba is fundamentally a bilateral issue. Nonetheless, the European Union has clearly expressed the opposition of its Member States to all unilateral measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade. Ireland, in common with our partners in the European Union, is of the view that the US economic embargo on Cuba seriously hampers the economic development of Cuba and negatively affects its entire people. On 30 October, 2007, Ireland and our EU partners therefore voted at the United Nations General Assembly in favour of the annual Cuban-tabled resolution calling for an end to this embargo.