John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is taking to address the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38454/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I remain deeply concerned by the serious and deteriorating political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The different elements of this crisis are inextricably linked and continue to have a grave impact on the people of Venezuela. I am very concerned at recent reports to the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation there. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation in the country. The mass migration that has occurred as a result of the crisis is also impacting on neighbouring countries. By the end of 2020, it is estimated that 6.5 million people in total will have left Venezuela arising from the current crisis.

Ireland has been active in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. Since 2019, we have provided almost €2.5m in funding to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), as well as NGOs responding to the needs of migrants and refugees. My Department will be providing additional financial support in the coming weeks.

We work closely with our EU and international partners to seek to ensure a coordinated approach to the political crisis in Venezuela, based on our shared democratic, rule of law and human rights norms. EU efforts in recent months, which I fully support, have been focused on the upcoming Venezuelan legislative elections, scheduled for 6 December, and have sought to ensure that the minimum conditions for free, fair and democratic elections could be put in place. I am concerned that these conditions have not been met. My Department will be monitoring the situation closely in the election and post-election period.

There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to support international efforts to achieve a democratic solution to the Venezuelan crisis. I will continue to support efforts to overcome the crisis through a negotiated and peaceful process that fully involves and is owned by the people of Venezuela.