Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Chair for allowing me to attend this meeting. I also warmly welcome our guest. Following up on the questions regarding sanctions, it is the EU which is imposing these sanctions on 78 individuals, eight entities and seven Belarusian economic sectors. It seems that represents a substantial amount of sanctions. However, in her address Ms Tsikhanouskaya said that she felt stronger and more co-ordinated sanctions were needed. I would be interested to know more about what Ms Tsikhanouskaya means by that. If there is more that the EU can do in this regard, then Ireland would obviously bring pressure to bear in that regard. Turning to the EU generally, it has committed to providing substantial financial aid to Belarus if it succeeds in bringing about a democratic regime. I refer to the provision of support for such a new democratic regime. Lukashenko, however, is more inclined to look towards Russia, but does Ms Tsikhanouskaya see more scope for the EU to act? Does she welcome the commitment for substantial financial aid to support democracy in Belarus if it can be successfully achieved?