Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of Ukraine’s accession and Irish support for it, how do we justify Ireland’s position in supporting European Union accession for Ukraine in circumstances where Northern Macedonia, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as it was called for some time, has been languishing for so long with such little support, or indeed Bosnia-Herzegovina or many parts of former Yugoslavia? They were deemed to have dangers around corruption, I understand, and needs for reforms. With regard to corruption indices, these countries were stellar performers when it came to Ukraine. Now, suddenly when it is politically expedient with regard to Ukraine, and that we sort of want to pick a fight with Russia, we want to bring in Ukraine.

Second, how can we bring in a state whose borders may not be disputed but they are certainly not real? Which borders will we bring in and are we going to defend or go to fight for Crimea again? Where are we at and what is the reality of it?

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