Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the Cuban people by calling for an end to the blockade by the United States of America which has been estimated to cost the Cuban people $834 billion over the past five decades. [37696/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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On 27 October, Ireland joined with the rest of the EU Member States in voting in favour of Cuba’s resolution at the UN General Assembly in New York, which called for the ending of the US economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. In light of the welcome restoration of US-Cuba diplomatic relations earlier this year, the embargo serves no constructive purpose. Ireland, along with the other member states of the European Union, is firmly of the view that the lifting of the embargo would facilitate an opening of the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people. Our concerns about economic, commercial and financial measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade are long-standing and clear. We object to unilaterally imposed measures that impede the economic and commercial relations of EU member states with Cuba.

In supporting Cuba’s resolution calling for an end to the US embargo, the EU also highlighted recent progress in talks to finalise the EU-Cuba Partnership, Cooperation and Dialogue agreement. Through this future framework agreement, the EU is ready to accompany Cuba on its path of reform and modernisation. Human rights form a key part of the EU-Cuba dialogue, and I urge the Cuban Government to fully grant its citizens internationally recognized civil, political and economic rights and freedoms.

In last week’s UN General Assembly debate on the US embargo against Cuba, the EU recognised that the embargo contributes to Cuba’s economic problems, negatively affects the living standards of the Cuban people and has humanitarian consequences. However, the Union also encouraged Cuba to extend and implement the package of economic and social reforms that were adopted by the Cuban parliament in 2011, in a manner that would meet the concerns of the Cuban people.