Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Cuban government; his efforts to bring an end to the illegal blockade of Cuba; the efforts to have Cuba removed from the list of state sponsors of terror; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40512/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland uses various platforms to raise issues in respect of Cuba. These include through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and through our EU partners, whenever appropriate. Ireland also engages with the Embassy of Cuba in Dublin, through our Embassy in Mexico, to which Ireland is accredited to Cuba, and through the various dialogue mechanisms that are provided under the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) in place between the EU and Cuba. In November last year, former EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, visited Cuba to hold the regular Human Rights Dialogue with the Cuban authorities, and discussed issues around human rights including the US embargo.

Ireland’s position on the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba is very clear. We, alongside our EU colleagues, have long considered that it serves no constructive purpose, that it has resulted in significant negative impacts for the Cuban people, and that it has ultimately failed to bring about any reforms in Cuba’s political system. We believe that a lifting of the embargo would be beneficial for the Cuban economy and people.

Ireland’s view in this regard has been consistently expressed in multilateral fora. Ireland, alongside our EU colleagues, voted in favour of a UN resolution calling for the ending of the embargo before the United Nations General Assembly in November 2023. The comprehensive EU statement delivered at the General Assembly again highlighted the fact that the embargo has a damaging impact on the economic situation of the country and negatively effects the living standards of the Cuban people.

I note that the United States has recently removed Cuba from its list of countries that are “not cooperating fully” with counter-terrorism efforts. However, it is regrettable that Cuba remains designated by the US as a state sponsor of international terrorism. The EU has firmly voiced its opposition to this designation and its associated measures, which it has stated clearly are in violation of commonly accepted rules of international trade.