Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 108: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet the families of the Miami Five in Cuba when visiting in February 2009. [2842/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban men, known as the Miami Five, who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. On 4 June 2008, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, issued its judgement on appeals lodged on behalf of the five.

The Circuit Court concluded that the appellants' arguments, which centred on the suppression of evidence, sovereign immunity, discovery, jury selection, and the trial itself, were without merit and that there was sufficient evidence to support each conviction. The sentences of two of the defendants were affirmed, while the remaining three men have been sent for re-sentencing. It is my understanding that the defendants' legal counsel intends to appeal to the US Supreme Court on 30 January. As I have previously stated, the Government has no standing in this matter, which is a bilateral consular question between the US and the Cuban authorities and, consequently, I do not intend to pursue this matter during my forthcoming visit to Cuba.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will develop dialogue with Cuba. [2843/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With a view to developing Ireland's relationship with Cuba at this time of transition, and to assist me in contributing to the development of policy at EU level, I am planning to visit Cuba next month. While there, I expect to meet with Foreign Minister Pérez Roque. I would see this as an important step in developing dialogue between Ireland and Cuba.

The European Union's 1996 Common Position on Cuba, adopted under the Irish Presidency, remains the basis of both the European Union's and Ireland's approach to relations with that country. The aims of the EU Common Position include encouraging a process of peaceful transition towards a pluralist democracy, promoting human rights and improving the living conditions of the Cuban people. In the Conclusions on Cuba adopted unanimously by the Council on 23 June 2008, the Council, noting the changes undertaken to date by the Cuban Government, re-iterated the Union's desire for a constructive dialogue with the Cuban authorities. The Conclusions re-stated the Union's human rights concerns, and urged the Cuban authorities to release all remaining political prisoners unconditionally and to facilitate access by international humanitarian organisations to Cuban prisons. The Council further decided formally to lift EU diplomatic measures, which had been suspended since 2005, in order to encourage and facilitate the political dialogue process and enable the full use of the instruments of the 1996 Common Position.

Following this move, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba Mr. Felipe Perez Roque travelled to Paris, where on 16 October 2008 the first EU-Cuba dialogue in troika format at Ministerial level took place. The EU was represented by Foreign Minister Kouchner of France, the Czech Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Karel Schwarzenberg and the Commissioner for Development, Mr. Louis Michel. Topics discussed included human rights, cooperation on preventing and responding to natural disasters, food security and the global financial crisis. Later that month, from 22-24 October 2008, Commissioner Michel visited Cuba, where he signed a joint declaration with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, providing a framework to guide the re-launching of cooperation between the European Commission and Cuba.