Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to the historic visit of President Higgins to Cuba, his plans for further engagement with Cuba, in particular the way Ireland can contribute in resolving the issue of the banking difficulties. [8691/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The visit of President Michael D Higgins to Cuba last week, as part of his official three country visit to Latin America, marked a high point in bilateral relations between Ireland and Cuba. The visit was historic in that it was the first by a serving President of Ireland to Cuba.

During the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Cuba was signed by David Stanton TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration. I warmly welcome the signature of this agreement, the core aim of which is to open channels of dialogue and cooperation between Ireland and Cuba, particularly in trade and cultural engagement.

The Agreement commits Ireland and Cuba to promoting cooperation in many areas including economic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, academic, cultural, scientific and tourism relations. Together with the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, this Memorandum will place the Ireland-Cuba relationship on a more forward-looking footing, and will give Ireland the means to engage more positively with Cuba, and to respond promptly and positively to future developments in the country.

The President's visit was the first by an EU Head of State to Cuba since the signing in 2016 of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. I had the honour to sign this Agreement on behalf of Ireland, along with my EU colleagues and the Cuban Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 December 2016. As the Deputy will be aware, this is the first such agreement between the EU and Cuba. Its signature marks a further positive step forward in relations between Cuba and the EU, which have improved considerably in recent years. I believe that improvements in the EU-Cuba relationship will in turn have helpful consequences for the Ireland-Cuba relationship.

In addition to both the EU-Cuba PDCA and the Ireland-Cuba Memorandum, there has been an increased frequency of contacts between Ireland and Cuba at official level in recent times, both directly from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and via our Embassy in Mexico which is accredited to Cuba. Political consultations, led by the Secretary General of my Department, took place in 2015 and again en marge of the visit of the President last week.

In relation to banking issues, my officials have in the past raised the difficulties that emerged, insofar as the extraterritorial application of US legislation is relevant, with the US side. In response, the US have noted the concerns of banks everywhere to reduce risk in the face of heightened financial regulation and oversight. They have stated that the US government does not direct financial institutions to maintain particular financial relationships and have recommended contact by relevant parties with the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control for information regarding Cuba-related transactions. I am not aware of current difficulties being experienced by Irish citizens but would be glad to consider same if the Deputy wished to follow up with details.

The enhanced relationship between the EU and Cuba as supported by the EU-Cuba PDCA, and the signature of the Memorandum of Cooperation between Ireland and Cuba last week, together provide a solid framework and welcome opportunity to strengthen Ireland’s bilateral relations with Cuba. This strengthening of the bilateral relationship was cemented by the historic visit of President Higgins to Cuba. I look forward to continued positive developments in the period ahead.