Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I welcome the Minister of State to the House, as always. I am trying to recover from the radicalism of Senator Norris's suggestion that Russia should join the European Union. However, it is great to have men of vision in this House and I commend him on his suggestion.

In the immediate term, I agree with the Minister of State regarding the elections on 26 May and the fact that we need to ensure, through the Geneva talks and elsewhere, that the elections take place. It is then that we will find out the answer to Senator Norris's question about how many people in the Ukraine feel more attracted to Russia than to the West.

The Minister of State has rightly drawn our attention to what happened in 1914 and Senator Mooney drew our attention to what happened in 1939. We do not want the law of unintended consequences to apply. Let us remember that in our case one of the consequences of 1914 was that Home Rule legislation was put on hold. Hence, the completely unintended consequence of anybody in Sarajevo at the time was the partition of Ireland and the falling apart of the two main traditions in this country. We were on our way to Home Rule because it had been passed by Parliament in the United Kingdom. Therefore, we know more than most about the unintended consequences of disputes that start in a completely different part of the world.

The elections are most important and necessitate restraint. I hope that the Minister and his colleagues will have many advisers accompanying him because we need the Ukrainians to determine their own future. There seems also to be a need to involve President Putin with the EU at the highest level. We do need his co-operation and support in this matter so we must not demonise him. I know that the Minister would not do so but it is important that we do not do it either. In my remaining quarter of a minute I wish the Minister and his colleagues success in these talks. We need a peaceful resolution and he has the support of the House in that regard.