Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. He is obviously very well informed after his visit to the area and seeing at first hand what was happening on the streets of the Ukrainian capital. The mass demonstrations and protests began more than two months ago and directly resulted from the postponement by the President of an historic EU deal. Instead he opted for closer ties with Russia, creating huge instability and, unfortunately, violence and, sadly, the loss of life. What is the European Union doing to press for the release of the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko? If the Minister of State does not have up-to-date information on the matter, he can come back to me. Some time ago the European Union described her imprisonment as justice being applied selectively with political motivation. It is another issue in this country and region that we need to keep on the European Union's agenda and that of the international community.

See this speech in context