Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. I thank the Leader of the House for allowing time for a discussion of this serious issue.

I am encouraged by the talks in Geneva today and the press conference given by Vladimir Putin this morning on his intentions or desires in regard to Ukraine. There is a de-escalation of the situation to some extent because the two countries are in talks. I listened to the contributions of Senator David Norris and others who discussed the background to the situation and also to the contribution of Senator Jim D'Arcy who is very experienced, as a member of the Council of Europe. I note that he has learned a good deal from our debates last week in the Assembly in Strasbourg.

The action of the European Union was quite provocative. It was not very well versed in history in seeking to attract Ukraine within western control as opposed to it being linked with Russia. It was not very observant of Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She will have left that position at the end of May, about which I am delighted. I hope the next person who represents the European Union will have vast experience of international affairs and be aware that Ukraine is served by Russia in terms of its energy supplies of oil and gas. It depends on Russia for its very existence. Forcing an agreement on it - putting it to it that it was either them or us - was ill-advised, as I said at the meeting of the monetary committee in Strasbourg last week. Our delegation, led by Deputy Joe O' Reilly, supported the withdrawal of voting rights at the Council of Europe, but we did not support the withdrawal of membership of the Council of Europe That would be a step too far because it is important to have engagement in dialogue at the Council of Europe, whereas if its credentials were not accepted and withdrawn, it would have been a step too far.

It was very provocative of Russia to annex Crimea, which was a step too far. When we were in trouble here in 1970s and there was pressure exerted to force developments, we did not receive that much support throughout the world for our stand. We should never forget that Ireland is a neutral country. In the period 1939 to 1945 we did not participate in the so-call Great War. We stood alone on a neutral basis. Anything that would endanger our €600 million worth of exports to Russia would be a step too far. We did not start this conflict and will not finish it. This is a small country on the edge of Europe and we are taking the right diplomatic approach in condemning the activities of Russia which has not done itself any favour internationally, given that it had built up tremendous respect throughout the world.

Having been the first Minister from any country to go to the Russian Federation in 1990s and having worked on trade issues and taking account of the efforts made by Aer Rianta in the development of a duty free shop at Moscow airport, our beef exports to Russia and exports generally to it have been hard fought for. I will totally oppose any ban on Irish exports to Russia in response to its activities in Ukraine. It is not our fight. We can do what we like, but we have to bear in mind that nobody is that concerned about Ireland as far as our future prospects are concerned. Employment in this country would be under serious threat if we were to jeopardise our exports to Russia on the basis of this issue. I believe the Minister of State and most other European countries would be reluctant to impose an overall trade ban on the Russian Federation. I certainly would not support such a ban because I believe the activities of the European Union and the United States of the America were highly provocative in this regard. Senator Jim D'Arcy put it very well when he referred to a sleeping bear. They caused a reaction which would not have been caused if they had left well enough alone and they would have had good positive relations with Ukraine and Russia.

The activities in Geneva this morning and the fact that the two countries are in discussions is very positive and I think there will be a positive outcome. The activities yesterday in the seizure of tanks were inept as far as the Ukrainian Government is concerned. It is not a very strong government. The election on 25 May to elect a President will be very important. I was not impressed by the previous President who was questionable in terms of her activities and background. When she appeared in Dublin at a meeting of the European People's Party, EPP, she was given a standing ovation, even though her position was very dubious. Catherine Ashton should not have embraced her in Kiev or endorsed her as the candidate of the West, seeing her as the shining light of fidelity, honesty and trustworthiness. She was on trial, although I accept that she should not have been jailed.