Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My point relates to the candidacy of Georgia for EU membership. To clarify, it is not a third of the country that is occupied, but 23%. However, even if it is only 1%, it is still being occupied by Russia and that should not be forgotten about. In 2008, when it was occupied, if the European Union and other countries had taken a different attitude, Ukraine might not be in the difficulty it is in now.

The Minister has met the Georgian Foreign Minister. I know from the Georgian ambassador, and as convener of the friendship group here, that the Georgians are working very hard to fulfil the obligations that have been put upon them by the European Union for candidacy. I ask the Minister to raise that with his colleagues. I think they should be given time to fulfil the request of them, but it should not take away from the fact that 23% of the country is occupied by Russia. The three countries referred to today by Senator O'Reilly and I should be given equal treatment, and I do not believe Georgia is getting that at the moment.