Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations at EU level for the imposition of an embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia in view of the letter sent by a group of MEPs representing 48% of the European Parliament urging such a ban. [48365/17]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Saudi Arabia has again placed an illegal and inhumane blockade on Yemen (details supplied); if he will condemn the imposition of this blockade; and if he will contact his Saudi Arabian counterpart and demand that it is lifted. [48399/17]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reconsider Ireland's current relationship with Saudi Arabia, due to its ongoing involvement in Yemen; his further plans to interact with the Saudi Arabian embassy regarding these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48402/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 22 and 33 together.

I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Yemen, the suffering of civilians there, and the humanitarian crisis which the war has triggered. EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Yemen last April, and called on the parties to start negotiating a peace agreement. Ireland will continue to support the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and his team in their work towards a peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties to the conflict.

The war in Yemen is having increasingly devastating consequences for civilians. I strongly condemn all attacks targeting civilians, in all circumstances, which are contrary to international humanitarian law. There have been numerous such attacks in the Yemen conflict, causing great suffering. I also condemn the recent missile attack on Riyadh on 4 November, which endangered the lives of ordinary people. Such acts are unacceptable.

Ireland takes the issue of humanitarian access extremely seriously. The closure of land, air and sea ports earlier this month, including for the transit of humanitarian aid, was an alarming development. When my officials last met with officials from the Saudi Embassy in Dublin last week, they stressed Ireland’s condemnation of the missile attack on Riyadh, and also made clear the priority Ireland attaches to unfettered humanitarian access. My officials relayed my request that all parties to the conflict do everything possible to facilitate the delivery of aid. There have also been EU contacts with Saudi Arabia on this issue.

I am encouraged by announcements by Saudi Arabia that it intends to allow the reopening of some ports and border crossings, which is an extremely necessary step. I will continue to monitor this closely, and I take this opportunity to reiterate my call on all parties to the conflict to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to those in need.

Ireland has close economic ties with Saudi Arabia, and this relationship has considerable benefits for the Irish economy. However, this partnership does not prevent us from raising our concerns in the appropriate channels. My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, raised concerns about the appalling humanitarian situation in Yemen, and about attacks which have directly impacted on civilians, with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani, in November 2016. Following this, he also raised these concerns with the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both in the UAE and more recently here in Dublin. More recently, when senior officials from my Department met with the Saudi Chargé d’Affaires last week, they reiterated these concerns, and re-stated Ireland’s view that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Yemen.

Ireland’s foreign policy is underpinned by a set of values which include the protection of human rights, support for development, and the promotion of disarmament – values which Ireland champions and promotes in its interactions with all of our international partners irrespective of any trading relationships.

All EU Member States have signed and ratified the 2014 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the first legally binding instrument to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons. States which sign up to the Treaty are prohibited from exporting arms to countries if they know those weapons will be used to commit gross violations of human rights.

I can assure the House that I will continue to take every appropriate opportunity to press for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Yemen and improved humanitarian access in the future.