Thomas Pringle TD
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Cross-party Dail support for Deputy Pringle’s Motion on Cuba

Cross-party Dail support for Deputy Pringle’s Motion on Cuba

Thomas Pringle TD – July 8th 2019

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The Dáil has passed a motion proposed by Deputy Thomas Pringle (Convenor of the Irish-Cuba Parliamentary Group) alongside Maureen O’Sullivan TD calling out against President Trump’s enactment of the US Helms-Burton Act which Pringle says will “further solidify the US blockade against Cuba’.

Deputy Pringle explained “every single previous US President suspended the enactment of the 1996 Helms-Burton Act which is designed to reinforce the US economic embargo on Cuba; that is until now when in May President Trump became the first US President to do so.

“Now, persons with claims on property that was nationalised or expropriated in Cuba, including those who were not at time American citizens, will be protected under US law. Lawsuits can now be filed in US courts on those engaging in economic activity using such property. This means every single foreign person doing business in Cuba is at risk of being sued in US courts.

“This is a blatant act of US economic bullying against a small country which has endured needless severe economic hardship by its dominant neighbour. The US is once again acting in an extraterritorial manner which in fact goes against international law, WTO rights and the EU Blockage Statute.

“The European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom and other significant U.S. trading partners have issued statements expressing deep concern at the US decision to implement the Act which is why myself and Deputy Pringle felt it was time Ireland stood up against Trump’s latest antic.

“I worked closely with the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland and alongside Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan we all felt it was important that we get cross-party support on the motion so that we could send a message of solidarity to the Cuban people and I’m delighted that we were able to achieve that.”

Deputy Pringle added “the motion also called on Dáil Éireann to continue to support resolutions at the General Assembly of the United Nations condemning the US economic and financial economic blockade imposed on Cuba and comes at a critical moment in Irish-Cuban relations after the Dáil approved the terms of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba.

“There has been a lot of support and solidarity from people in Donegal and I know that they will be happy to hear that Ireland is stepping in behind other countries in going against Trump’s latest aggression towards Cuba. I hope that the Government will live up to its declaration of support by increasing its engagement with Cuba and its people.

“I understand that events will be held this October to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Cuba and I’m glad we are entering this new phase of Irish-Cuban relations with this motion as they face up to the injustice perpetrated by the US” concludes Pringle.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Below is the final Dáil motion as published in the Order Paper:

Cross-party Dail support for Deputy Pringle’s Motion on Cuba

Thomas Pringle TD – July 8th 2019

*

The Dáil has passed a motion proposed by Deputy Thomas Pringle (Convenor of the Irish-Cuba Parliamentary Group) alongside Maureen O’Sullivan TD calling out against President Trump’s enactment of the US Helms-Burton Act which Pringle says will “further solidify the US blockade against Cuba’.

Deputy Pringle explained “every single previous US President suspended the enactment of the 1996 Helms-Burton Act which is designed to reinforce the US economic embargo on Cuba; that is until now when in May President Trump became the first US President to do so.

“Now, persons with claims on property that was nationalised or expropriated in Cuba, including those who were not at time American citizens, will be protected under US law. Lawsuits can now be filed in US courts on those engaging in economic activity using such property. This means every single foreign person doing business in Cuba is at risk of being sued in US courts.

“This is a blatant act of US economic bullying against a small country which has endured needless severe economic hardship by its dominant neighbour. The US is once again acting in an extraterritorial manner which in fact goes against international law, WTO rights and the EU Blockage Statute.

“The European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom and other significant U.S. trading partners have issued statements expressing deep concern at the US decision to implement the Act which is why myself and Deputy Pringle felt it was time Ireland stood up against Trump’s latest antic.

“I worked closely with the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland and alongside Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan we all felt it was important that we get cross-party support on the motion so that we could send a message of solidarity to the Cuban people and I’m delighted that we were able to achieve that.”

Deputy Pringle added “the motion also called on Dáil Éireann to continue to support resolutions at the General Assembly of the United Nations condemning the US economic and financial economic blockade imposed on Cuba and comes at a critical moment in Irish-Cuban relations after the Dáil approved the terms of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba.

“There has been a lot of support and solidarity from people in Donegal and I know that they will be happy to hear that Ireland is stepping in behind other countries in going against Trump’s latest aggression towards Cuba. I hope that the Government will live up to its declaration of support by increasing its engagement with Cuba and its people.

“I understand that events will be held this October to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Cuba and I’m glad we are entering this new phase of Irish-Cuban relations with this motion as they face up to the injustice perpetrated by the US” concludes Pringle.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Below is the final Dáil motion as published in the Order Paper: