Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Chairman will thank me for finishing up soon. I wish to respond to the point. We have been trying to put in place inclusive political arrangements. This is why European Union Foreign Ministers, Prime Ministers and Heads of State have been trying to engage directly with Russia. They have tried to put in place arrangements and elections that reflect the complexity of the situation there. I emphasise that the European Union was dealing in good faith and did not try to coerce anyone to sign the association and stabilisation agreement.

I wish to respond to something Deputy Flanagan said. His description of Richard Haass as a warmonger is an absolutely obnoxious description to put on the record of the Dáil. He is a person who has invested a considerable amount of time to try to defuse and deal with difficult situations in the North. He sat down with all the political parties there and worked co-operatively with them and the Government to try to deal with issues which we all have a direct interest in seeing resolved. Seeing his voluntary commitment to peace in Northern Ireland merited or rewarded by Deputy 'Ming' Flanagan standing up and describing him as a warmonger does not take any account of the work he has done in the North or the leadership or commitment he has displayed. If Deputy Flanagan wants proof, he need only consider the willingness of all the political parties in the North as well as the two Governments to engage directly with him to try to ensure the difficulties and violence of the past are not repeated in future.

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