Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for coming here today, although I know he is very busy at the moment. I also thank him for his comprehensive report and I welcome his efforts. Everyone is concerned about Ukraine at the moment. There has been a lot of discussion about whether Tymoshenko or Yanukovych is the better democrat, but that is not really our business. To the extent that we are involved, our business is to ensure that the people of Ukraine can make a decision without external pressure.

Deputy Crowe touched on a point that has some validity - the fact that, to an extent, we are contributing to the polarisation of people there who must either look east or west. There is perhaps no consideration of the genuine tensions that exist within the country. People say that they now have no choice but to look east because of their huge debt. Ukraine's debt is approximately €34 billion but we paid that for one bank. In order to stop a war, it would not be beyond the possibility of the rest of the world to come up with that sum. The real inhibiting factor is the long-term supply of oil which informs the views of Russia, Ukraine and, let us face it, ourselves as well.

The Tánaiste said it was still open to the Ukrainians to sign the association agreement. Is it realistic at this stage, however, to expect them to make such a decision, given the hell-fire that rained down on them as a result of making a decision not to sign it?

Is it realistic for countries like Georgia to feel that it is in their interests to sign an agreement with Europe, which effectively means turning their back on Russia? Are we being provocative in currently pushing for that?