A Programme for a Partnership Government gives a commitment to protect and promote human rights. In that regard and to keep that commitment, I ask whether the Government will condemn what is a clear and ongoing coup attempt in Venezuela? It is a coup which is clearly made in the USA, it is directed by President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, it is co-ordinated with various right-wing governments in Latin America, and it is reinforced by talk of the US sending 5,000 troops to neighbouring Colombia. Unfortunately, President Maduro's policies in seeking to compromise with the right, bureaucratisation and corruption have opened the way to the right and this coup. If the coup is successful, it will be a disaster for working class people in Venezuela. It will be another hard right regime like President Bolsonaro's in Brazil. It will trample on human rights.

The Deputy can go on the next trip over.

The transition plan of the National Assembly of Venezuela openly speaks about mass privatisation, mass dismissals from the public sector and the implementation of neoliberal policies. Will the Government condemn this coup attempt?

All I can say is that if ever there was proof that the kind of ideology the Deputy talks about delivering for working people does not work, it is in Venezuela. People are starving and selling their hair to try to feed their families-----

Look at the poverty in the US.

-----because of the policies of the person who the Deputy seems to be standing up for today. I am afraid that what we would like to see in Venezuela are free, fair and democratic elections that are monitored by the international community to ensure that the results are free and fair so that the people themselves can decide the kind of future that they want.

The Tánaiste supports the coup.