Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was asked about the matter of sanctions. Again, this is not for the first time the issue was aired in this debate. Senators will be aware that, as a small trading nation, Ireland will only consider sanctions as part of UN or EU measures. While we would like to think otherwise, the reality is we are too small to affect matters on our own as far as the imposition of economic or social sanctions are concerned.