Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

We must be very careful not to be quick to side with the United States, as happened in respect of Libya. Our role in the European Union will be important. It is ironic that the United States and the European Union talk about illegal invasions. Deputy Dowds referred to Russia's unacceptable aggression but it seems that Russia has learned only too well from the United States about such aggression towards other countries. It probably picked up its message. The reality here is that the tragic circumstances in Ukraine have been triggered in part by the drive of the European Union and NATO to expand into the east. This is a fact. The European Union's offer to Ukraine was not a fair one. It was inherently divisive and, in some ways, it drove Mr. Viktor Yanukovych to become more dependent on Russia.

As the Minister of State is aware, large parts of Ukraine were previously Russian territories and are not part of historic Ukraine. Therefore, there was a very vulnerable set of circumstances in any case. Recently, the decision to scrap the law allowing the Russian language to be official caused much concern and further destabilisation. This is really serious. The Russian-speaking majority in part of the region is as angry with the elite about corruption and as concerned about unemployment and economic stability as those in western Ukraine. However, a clumsy intervention will not sort that out.

There is no doubt that Mr. Viktor Yanukovych was corrupt, but he was elected. Noting the billionaires and millionaires in the new government, one can take it that corruption will not be ended by the new administration. Many of the organisers of the protests that ousted Mr. Viktor Yanukovych are clearly linked to far-right elements with, for example, anti-Semitic agendas. If Ireland is to play a credible role as a neutral country, it must examine the record of neoliberal shock therapy and privatisation that is taking place behind the scenes and destabilising Ukraine. There will not be a solution by way of clumsy EU intervention in this case.

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