Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

241. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on Chile's recent general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50374/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The general elections which took place in Chile on 19 November consisted of both Presidential and congressional elections. In the Presidential ballot, the candidate of the ‘Chile Vamos’ coalition, former President Sebastian Piñera, won 36.6% of the vote, with the candidate of the Nueva Mayoría coalition, Alejandro Guillier, in second position with 22.7%.

Under Chilean electoral law, a second round election between the two candidates who secured the highest number of votes will now take place on 17 December. In the congressional elections on 19 November, which were the first to take place under new arrangements which ended the former binomial electoral system, there were significant changes in representation in both the Senate and Congress, both of which have an enlarged number of seats.

As a result, whoever wins the second round of the Presidential elections may not command a congressional majority. It is noteworthy that female representation in the new Congress will increase from 16% to 23%.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to recall that Ireland enjoys excellent and warm bilateral relations with Chile. We look forward to developing that relationship in the months and years ahead, including through the opening of a resident embassy in Santiago, which I announced last month.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

242. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50375/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The situation in Venezuela continues to be a matter of serious concern to the Government. Gubernatorial elections took place on 15 October amidst numerous reported incidences of irregularity and the results were not recognised by a large part of the opposition. This has accentuated the political polarisation in the country. The EU has called for full transparency on the results of the elections through a comprehensive and independent audit and Ireland has been wholly supportive of that position.

The establishment of an all-powerful Constituent Assembly has further eroded the democratic and independent institutions. Ireland and its EU partners have said that we cannot recognise the Constituent Assembly or its acts because of serious concerns about its legitimacy and representativeness.

On 13 November last, at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, which I attended, it was agreed unanimously to adopt restrictive measures, underscoring our concerns at the situation in the country. These measures consist of an embargo on arms and on related material that might be used for internal repression, as well as a legal framework for a travel ban and assets freeze.

Ireland has supported calls on the Venezuelan Government to urgently restore democratic legitimacy, including through free and fair elections, and on the opposition to continue engaging in a united manner towards a negotiated solution to the current tensions, in the interest of the country. Ireland is also fully supportive of regional and international efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.