Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators are as aware as I am that at this time in Europe 100 years ago a regional crisis spilled over into events that had consequences for an entire continent. Senators are aware of the role of momentum, incident and accident in leading Europe to a point 100 years ago where we faced consequences and events that were absolutely catastrophic and that resulted in the loss of life of so many people. As part of my work as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs I recently visited Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina and I saw the bridge at which the event took place that triggered so many events that had such a devastating effect on Europe. That is why the European Union in its response to date to what has happened has been very careful to put in place a framework of response. It has had three different stages and the leaders of the European Union at each stage have said what they want to achieve is a peaceful resolution to a very complicated crisis that has now been overlaid with the flouting and breaking of international law. In response to what has happened we have said that measures will be put in place, and have been put in place, to deal with individuals and if events were to further destabilise the situation other measures would then be considered. That is why, following the holding of the referendum in Crimea the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 March implemented the second phase of measures involving the imposition of travel restrictions against 21 Russian and Ukrainian officials. The European Council, later that same week, added a further 12 names to the list. If events were to destabilise further, other measures would be considered and the European Commission was tasked with developing what those options could be.

The Tánaiste has strongly condemned the recent developments in eastern Ukraine.

On Monday of this week, he participated in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where there was a detailed discussion of the crisis in Ukraine. Ministers decided to expand the list of those to whom visa bans and asset freezes will apply. Preparatory work continues on so-called phase 3 measures. The Council also adopted a decision on macro-financial assistance for Ukraine, which brings the total amount of funding being made available by the EU to €1.6 billion. The support is part of a broader package over the next two years of €27 billion.

Ireland and the EU have consistently stressed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication with the Russian Federation. We welcome, therefore, the quartet talks involving Russia, the US, Ukraine and the EU which are to take place in Geneva today. The EU will continue its engagement in international facilitation initiatives involving the UN, the OSCE and others. Ireland is participating fully in these efforts. We sent an officer to the initial interim OSCE mission and will be sending an officer to join the Polish-led second interim OSCE mission.

Ireland has made it consistently clear that external pressure on Ukraine is unacceptable. In March, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade personally expressed Ireland's condemnation of Russia's actions in Crimea to the Russian ambassador to Ireland and requested him to convey Ireland's deep concern to his Government. Earlier this month, I moved a cross-party Dáil motion condemning the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation and pledging solidarity with and support for Ukraine. Also, the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday expressed strong support for the holding of free and fair presidential elections on 25 May. Ireland is sending a team of observers to Ukraine to help achieve that objective, one which will allow the Ukrainian people to determine their own future and help build trust across the country. Instability does not respect national frontiers. It is in the interest of the entire region that a sovereign, prosperous, stable, democratic and inclusive Ukraine emerges from the current crisis. Ireland, together with its EU partners, will spare no effort in trying to bring this about.