John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Zurabashvili. Like Deputy Clarke, I had the honour of meeting him earlier in the year at the Georgian embassy at a time when restrictions were not as severe as they are now. It was my first meeting in my new position with any ambassador to Ireland, so it was an honour for me. I thank him for his courtesy and welcome him to our meeting.

I note the ambassador's concerns about the 2008 ceasefire agreement and the detail he outlined in regard to breaches to it. He is critical of the international and European communities and acknowledged the role Ireland has played with personnel on the ground. He outlined some of the measures that could be taken , but what additional ones does he suggest? Should a resolution be passed? We know from conflicts in other regions of the world that resolutions do not always have the desired impact and many countries completely ignore them. What are his views on that? What additional measures can be taken?

I note Mr. Zurabashvili's comments on bilateral relations. We have examined various agreements and I think bilateral relations can be developed. Are there any specific areas that he thinks can be strengthened and worked on?

The UN Security Council seat that Ireland will take in January is a position that we should use to the full. One of the pillars on which Ireland obtained the seat was human rights grounds. If Mr. Zurabashvili were to give the Government a message about how to use its seat on the council, what would it be?

Turning to sport, our countries have met on the playing fields of both soccer and, more recently, rugby. There have been mixed fortunes on the soccer pitch, in respect of qualifiers for both the World Cup and the European Football Championship. In the recent rugby game, Ireland convincingly beat Georgia, although Ireland did not play its best. On the field, relationships are developing well between the countries, and long may they last.