Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the United States of America is still interfering in the affairs of Cuba, despite claims that there are normalised relations; if he will raise this concern with the United Nations and with the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26789/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I warmly welcome the historic decision by President Obama and by President Castro in December on the restoration of bilateral diplomatic relations, and subsequent developments including the removal of Cuba from the US State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Talks are ongoing between the US and Cuba with a view to the normalisation of relations between the countries, and I believe that these are advancing in a promising manner. On 1 July the reopening of bilateral embassies was announced by the US and by Cuba. The US embargo against Cuba is codified in legislation passed by the US Congress and President Obama has indicated his willingness to engage with Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo, which we welcome.

Ireland’s concerns regarding the US embargo are long-standing and clear and were set out in the United Nations on 28 October last year in our support for the relevant resolution at the UN General Assembly. We are firmly of the view that the lifting of the embargo would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. The recent UN debate also recorded continued concerns and criticisms regarding governance and human rights in Cuba. It was noted that while the US embargo has a damaging effect on the Cuban economy, domestic Cuban economic policy seriously hampers its own economic development. Together with our EU partners we have urged that the package of economic and social reforms adopted by the Cuban Congress in August 2011 be extended and implemented in a manner that will address the key concerns of the Cuban population. I urge the Cuban authorities to bring about real improvements in all areas mentioned, and to grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms.

At the April Foreign Affairs Council, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to continue to support the ongoing reforms in Cuba and are working on the negotiation of a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba. Ministers also welcomed the restoration of relations between the US and Cuba, and I made it clear in my intervention that Ireland sees the removal of Cuba from the US government’s state sponsors of terrorism list and the lifting of the embargo as vital steps to facilitate an opening of the island’s economy to the benefit of its people.

The historic developments of recent months have seen considerable progress in US-Cuba relations. We look forward to the ending of the embargo with the removal of all remaining inhibitions to trade and contact with Cuba.