Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As a spokesperson on foreign affairs for an Opposition party, I take this opportunity strongly condemn the latest developments in Ukraine. President Yanukovych continues to abuse power against his people. The introduction of laws to prohibit any kind of demonstration against the government has directly deprived Ukrainians of their most basic civil rights. These provisions have resulted in the turmoil we are seeing on our television screens daily.

Yesterday, things took a darker turn and we witnessed the first fatalities in the on-going protests taking place in Ukraine, as tensions between the government and opposition parties heighten further. Up to five people are reported to have been killed in Kiev. Media reports state these protestors died from gunshot wounds. This is a deeply upsetting and a regrettable turn of events. Even in the days of the pro-democracy Orange Revolution in 2004, no fatal violence was seen on the streets of the Ukrainian capital. Today, barricades are still burning in the city while billowing black smoke rises from the piles of tyres that now mark the front line between the riot police and the protesters.

I understand that Ukrainian opposition leaders are due to meet President Yanukovych today to seek out a compromise on the way forward. Unfortunately, agreement seems a faraway prospect.

The opposition threat to go on the attack unless concessions are made by President Yanukovych is unlikely to yield an agreement. The claims by the government that the protests are being led by ultra-nationalists and terrorists show how wide the divide between the two sides in this crisis has become.

The increasingly authoritarian style of the Ukrainian Government should be of great concern to all democrats who support the concept of basic human rights. The European Union has a responsibility to exert pressure on President Yanukovych to stop the implementation of dramatic new laws banning almost all forms of protest activity and the violent enforcement of these laws. The reports this week that the body of opposition activist Yuri Verbitsky had been found in woods outside Kiev and had signs of torture are deeply troubling. It is a wake-up call for all of us in the European Union. This crisis is on its doorstep and the Union is a central actor in the political crisis which has arisen. The anti-government protests flared up almost three months ago in late November over the President's decision to pull out of a landmark treaty to enhance political and economic co-operation with the European Union which must use its voice to support those in the Ukraine who support human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It must stand with those who believe in a better future for all in Ukraine.

I am glad that the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs is here to respond. I request him, his colleagues in government and our officials in the European Union and other international organisations to use Ireland's voice and influence, particularly at the Foreign Affairs Council, to call for targeted sanctions against the Ukrainian authorities for the continuous abuse of human rights and the increasing violence being used against its citizens.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this hugely important matter. It is one in which I have a very strong interest because I had the opportunity to attend the partnership summit in Vilnius at which the agreement to which he Deputy referred did not materialise. A number of weeks afterwards I attended the OSCE ministerial Council in Kiev and saw at first hand the pressures in the country to which he referred. On the evening of the Council I spent a number of hours on Independence Square speaking to people who expressed their huge disappointment at the government's decision not to sign an association agreement with the European Union. Since I was there three very important developments have taken place and the Deputy touched on at least one of them. The European Union made it very clear after the partnership summit that the door was open to a future agreement and finding a way of working with Ukraine. That is still the case. In the immediate aftermath of the meeting Ukraine signed a number of agreements with Russia to tighten integration.

The second development to which the Deputy directly alluded was the enactment of new laws which went through Parliament on the status of groups in Ukraine. This also impacted on the right of assembly of groups and resulted in changes to the immunity granted to Members of the Ukrainian Parliament.

The third and most worrying development has occurred in recent days. It concerns the number of people who have lost their lives and the allegations of torture which have surfaced with regard to people who were protesting against the stance of the government.

I reiterate to the House Ireland's message on all of this: violence cannot be a solution to break the impasse. We send this message to everybody involved in the dispute in Ukraine. However, it is very clear that President Yanukovych and his government have a particular responsibility to ensure violence ends before we see a further escalation.

On the Deputy's point and question about Ireland's participation in this regard, the Tánaiste participated at the Foreign Affairs Council which took place on Monday, at which a very extensive discussion took place on the situation in Ukraine. The Council expressed its deep concern about the legislation which had been passed and called on the Ukrainian Government to reverse the measures taken and ensure they were brought into line with the country's European and international commitments. The Council also stated that the only way in which this crisis could be resolved was through a democratic solution and dialogue.

With regard to the actions of the Government today, members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade met the Ukrainian ambassador to reiterate the views I have just expressed. We must call for the utmost restraint; there has to be an immediate end to violence; and serious talks must begin between the government and the opposition to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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To respond directly to the point made on justice being applied selectively, the European Union, through the Foreign Affairs Council, has put a huge amount of effort into dealing with the issue. The Deputy may be aware that a number of mediators were appointed by the Union, including Mr. Pat Cox, who invested a huge amount of time in travelling to Ukraine to deal with figures in the political sphere to find a solution. This did not happen and the wider crisis has escalated significantly. As I mentioned, I was on Independence Square and one could not help but be struck by the tens of thousands of people who were there in sub-zero conditions. I got there very late at night and saw the huge array of people waving Ukrainian and EU flags, which was a very striking sight. They were waving them as an expression of their hope for better days and better government for their country. We reiterate the need for restraint. The Government communicated this directly today via the Ukrainian ambassador, emphasising the particular responsibility of the Ukrainian Government in this regard.

Earlier, the EU external action service, which is the common diplomatic representative arm of the Union, stated it would send a delegation to Kiev to see what further role we can play in resolving this crisis.