Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will allow time if anybody wants to ask final supplementary questions. We have covered a vast array of questions.

I have a question for Professor Ó Beacháin on Russia. I was in Moscow and I remember the immediate economic collapse. I saw the terrible poverty there. At the time I was there the rouble became valueless because nobody knew what value to put on it. The hotel where I stayed converted basically to US dollar. They called it unit of currency, but we knew what we were paying. Professor Ó Beacháin said that Russia is now economically less strong than, for example, Italy. It is quite a poor country in terms of the standing of its people. How strong is Putin's popularity given the economic weakness and the general poverty levels in Russia?

I note that Russia has issued passports to citizens in eastern Ukraine. Professor Ó Beacháin suggests there is no likelihood of an actual invasion but I would be interested to hear his take on annexation of what is already occupied and perhaps a pushing of the boundary there, leading to the "Russianisation" formally of eastern Ukraine.

Professor Tonra said that the voice of Iveagh House on Ukraine is weak. What should Ireland's voice on the current situation be?