Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36854/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Venezuela is currently experiencing the worst political, social, economic, and humanitarian crisis in its history. I am deeply concerned about the serious, volatile, and rapidly deteriorating situation which is increasingly affecting neighbouring countries, and countries in the region. I continue to urge the Government of Venezuela to engage in dialogue with the opposition, to respect the electoral calendar and to fully restore the country’s democratic institutions. This is essential to achieving a resolution to the crisis.

Reports of human rights violations are a cause of real concern. Freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly are fundamental rights that are the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and I call on the Government of Venezuela to respect these rights. All parties must refrain from violence and work towards peaceful and democratic solutions.

The humanitarian crisis is acute, and Ireland is supportive of the EU’s funding for essential humanitarian aid in Venezuela and countries hosting Venezuelan refugees.

We are also supportive of EU sanctions on Venezuela introduced in June of this year. These sanctions are aimed at materials that can be used by the Government for internal repression, and create a legal framework for a travel ban and asset freeze against those who have shown blatant disregard for the rule of law and disrespect for democratic principles, including a number of Government officials.

While Ireland does not have a resident embassy in Caracas, the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico is responsible for our diplomatic relations with Venezuela and is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with the EU Missions in Caracas. Officials from the Embassy, along with my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, regularly engage with partner organisations on the ground, and at EU and international level.

I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue this engagement and that I am committed to working towards a peaceful and democratic resolution to this crisis.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on detention centres for migrants and refugees in Libya and supported by the EU; his views on whether such centres are fully compliant in terms of upholding the human rights of refugees and migrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36855/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply troubled by the persistent human rights abuses that have been perpetrated against migrants in Libyan detention centres, as reported by the UN Human Rights Office and others. I have raised these concerns at the Foreign Affairs Council, as did the Taoiseach at the European Council in October 2017. I have repeatedly condemned these abuses, and will continue to raise my concerns at every appropriate opportunity.

I continue to be alarmed by the conditions in Libyan detention centres, which are, at the very least, often overcrowded, fail to provide for basic living standards, and, given the lawless situation in Libya, lack appropriate oversight. There are still 8,000 migrants and refugees detained in Libya, and I am concerned about reports that the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is struggling to keep up with the large number of migrants arriving in these detention centres.

While there is Libyan Government oversight in some detention centres, this needs to be vastly expanded and improved. In this regard, I reiterate my call on the Libyan Government, and all parties, including those with de facto control of territory, to take steps to eliminate ill-treatment of migrants, and to facilitate access to detention centres by UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations

It should be acknowledged that over the last year, some progress has been made in alleviating the plight of migrants in Libya, and this must be built on. While there were over 50 detention centres in operation in Libya a year ago, only 17 of these remain open today. More importantly, the effort to provide alternatives to detention seems to be bearing some fruit. For instance, I welcome the announcement by the IOM in July that the Libyan Government has agreed “in principle” that IOM would take responsibility for the care of people rescued at sea, rather than continuing use of detention centres. I call on the Libyan Government to make good on this promise as soon as possible.

Another alternative to detention which the EU has been supporting is voluntary repatriation, voluntary return, and humanitarian return of migrants from Libya. This can be a difficult process, but we have seen marked progress here too, with the IOM reporting that it has now safely returned nearly 11,000 migrants from Libya as of the first half of 2018.

Ultimately, bringing real improvements to the lives of Libyans and migrants, and ensuring an end to human rights abuses, will require restoration of political stability and an end to lawlessness in Libya. This requires the formation of a fully functioning and unified government, and a return to order throughout the country. I call on all parties to cooperate fully with UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé, whose efforts Ireland and the EU fully support. The EU will continue to work with the UN and others to support and reinforce Libya's sovereign institutions.

In this context, the escalating violence in Tripoli in recent weeks is deeply troubling, as it has the potential to further destabilise the political crisis in Libya. I welcome the ceasefire agreed earlier this week, and call on all parties involved to respect its terms. Clashes such as these must not be allowed to distract from the political process aimed at reaching a sustainable solution to the crisis, which is ultimately the only way to bring an end to the suffering of the Libyan people, and the migrants and refugees present in the country.