Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

865. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to political developments in Brazil, including how the former President, Ms Dilma Rousseff, was controversially impeached in a process which many view as a coup; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that growing protests against the new government have been carried out throughout the country and that some have been harshly repressed by the police; his views on the developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26306/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is monitoring closely the current political situation in Brazil, including the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff and of the former Speaker of the Brazilian House of Representatives, Mr Eduardo Cunha. Our Embassy in Brasília reports regularly on the latest political developments in the country. In addition, events in Brazil are the subject of ongoing discussion at EU level in Brussels.

Michael Temer, the country’s former vice-president, was sworn in as President of Brazil on 31 August in accordance with the procedures established by the constitution of Brazil in cases of presidential impeachment. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in 2018, when former President Rousseff’s mandate would have expired.

The Government of Ireland is of the view that the political situation in Brazil, including the removal from office of President Rousseff, is a matter for the legislative and judicial branches of that country. This view is shared by our partners in the European Union. I can assure the Deputy, however, that we will continue to follow closely developments in Brazil.