Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, on his recent trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, he raised the country's role in the Saudi led bombing of Yemen earlier in 2016 with his counterparts there; if human rights concerns will have a future impact on Ireland's close ties with the UAE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36231/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the United Arab Emirates on 14 and 15 November. The programme for this trade mission also included a visit to Riyadh on 13 November. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are priority markets under the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy.

I was accompanied by a diverse range of Irish companies, some of which are seeking to enter the Gulf markets for the first time and some of which are seeking to strengthen their position in those markets. I undertook a large number of engagements in support of these companies.

In addition to the trade-specific meetings, I also held meetings addressing a wider range of issues.

In Saudi Arabia, I met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nizar Madani. In the UAE, I met with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE.

These discussions covered a range of issues, including the Middle East Peace Process and the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

While the detail of these conversations is confidential, in relation to Yemen, I can confirm that I expressed my concern about the appalling humanitarian situation resulting from the conflict and about attacks which have directly impacted on civilians.

Ireland’s relationship with the UAE is a strong and broad-based one, including engagement on political matters and strong trade and people to people links. Precisely because it is a strong relationship, we can raise difficult issues. For example, we have previously raised concerns with the UAE around the issues of freedom of expression and the protection of migrant workers.