Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If that does not represent hypocrisy and double standards, then I do not know what does. The situation in Ukraine will be discussed tomorrow. The attempt by some to lift sanctions and basically allow Russia to bear no responsibility for its actions must be opposed by Ireland. What clearer signal to a return to the 1930s could there be than to allow a large and aggressive country to get away with annexing territory. At a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, some Deputies made it clear to the Russian ambassador that we are not willing to sit quietly as these actions continue. The chairman, Deputy Brendan Smith, ensured that this was a forum where the lies and disinformation would be challenged. I note the contributions of Deputy Seán Barrett and Senator Ivana Bacik. In contrast, once again, Sinn Féin has shown that it will not defend a country that has been invaded and partitioned by a neighbour. Deputy Crowe said that the European Union and the United States were equally to blame for Russia's actions, something Deputy Adams did not feel the need to repeat on his recent fundraising trip to America. The closest Deputy Crowe could come to challenging Russia was to say that the travesty of a so-called referendum in Crimea was not in line with good democratic norms. It seems that Sinn Féin is now trying to present the situation in Crimea as an act of self-determination rather than the invasion and partition which is was in reality.

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