Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the Eastern Partnership, Ukraine and Russia, the Lithuanian Presidency did an excellent job preparing the Vilnius Summit. The signing of the association agreement with Georgia and Moldova was very significant. It is a pity that it was not possible to sign the association agreement with Ukraine, which is strategically important. It is very important that the EU-Ukraine relationship develop. There are conditions for the signing of association agreements. While the European Union understands the strategic importance of Ukraine, it is important that we do not dilute the standards and conditions which the European Union expects of prospective member states. The EU is based on certain very fundamental principles of rule of law, democracy and human rights, which must be respected. I believed that it was possible to reach a conclusion on the outstanding issues with Ukraine in advance of the Vilnius Summit and that we were heading in that direction when I left the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. I expected that by the time of the meeting in Vilnius we would be in a position to sign the association agreement. I believed it was heading in that direction. They were all taken by surprise at the turn of events when Ukraine decided not to sign.

Deputies Byrne, Grealish and others raised the role of Russia in all of this. Deputy Byrne reminded us of the problem in Armenia, which had occurred sometime prior to that. We do not consider that the relationship between the European Union and the countries east of it is a zero sum game. This is not and should not be a question of Russia or the European Union because the countries concerned are important to Russia and the European Union, and the Russia-European Union relationship is important. Therefore, the meeting that we will have with Foreign Minister Lavrov at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting will be very important because we need to have a frank discussion about where Russia sees this relationship going.

It is not a question of a competition between Russia and the European Union for the hearts and minds, love and affection of the Eastern Partnership countries. There is also a critical issue here about the relationship between the European Union and Russia and how that will be worked through in the long term. This is an issue of wide public debate in Ukraine. I hope that what we are seeing in Ukraine can be worked through and that we will get to a point where the association agreement can be signed.

In the Middle East the continuing blockade of Gaza and the continuing expansion of settlements, and the problem for the Bedouin communities - I visited some Bedouin communities when I was in the Middle East last year - undermine the peace discussions and threaten the prospects for a two-state solution. It is in the interest of the Palestinian people, Israel and the wider region to have this issue resolved. There is an opportunity to do this. There is engagement. The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and President Obama have taken a very keen interest in this issue and committed themselves to it. For some time the European Union has sought a robust Middle East peace process through which peace negotiations would proceed. The European Union has a particularly strong role to play in the economic relationship that Europe has with Israel and Palestine, and the potential for that economic relationship. That will be an important dimension. The fact that discussions are under way does not mean that we do not continue to put pressure on Israel in respect of the blockade on Gaza and the continuing settlements. We must continue to do that.

Mention was made of what were described as competing crises. I did not have the opportunity to inform the committee about our work in the Philippines. I am very proud that despite the constraints on the country's budget, Ireland was among the first to respond to the typhoon Hayian disaster. Our contribution to date stands at over €3.6 million. This week there was a fourth airlift of vital supplies from Ireland which arrived in the Philippines on Monday morning bringing what we have delivered to a total of 166 tonnes, valued at almost €1 million. Last week, I authorised the deployment of a technical mission which landed in the Philippines last Thursday and has now reached the worst affected area.

We are continuing to work closely with the various UN agencies.

The humanitarian situation in Syria and the fate of the children in particular is our priority for our engagement on Syria. I will revert to Senator Norris separately on the Sri Lanka case because I do not have the information with me.

Senator Daly asked about the EU Common Security and Defence Policy. The European Union Common Security and Defence Policy set out in the Lisbon treaty is an integral part of the common foreign and security policy. It provides the Union with an operational capacity to undertake missions outside the EU for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations charter. Accordingly, the CSDP is entirely consistent with Ireland's values and interests, including the primacy of the United Nations in the maintenance of global peace and security. While the CSDP is an evolving process directed towards the achievement of ever greater effectiveness, successive treaties since the Maastrict treaty have stipulated that Union policy in this area shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states. Ireland's neutrality is not in any way affected by the discussions taking place on CSDP and in any event, Ireland's participation in European common defence is prohibited by Article 29.4.9o of the Constitution. Any change in that position may only take place with the approval of the people.

The question was raised about a review of the policy on Bosnia. The policy is being reviewed because of the lack of progress. I expect it to be the subject of discussion at the next meeting.