Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in asking the Leader to organise a discussion with the Tánaiste next week on the crisis in Ukraine. I compliment the Tánaiste and other EU Foreign Ministers on their quick actions in organising meetings to discuss the ongoing situation. This crisis will demand real skill and diplomacy to bring about a resolution. One thing we all wish to see is democracy preserved. We support democracy in Ukraine. I am pleased the Tánaiste will come before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon to update the committee on developments in recent days.

I welcome the fact that the EU Commission's innovation scorecard shows that Ireland has continued to improve its innovation performance, and has gone from tenth to ninth place among the 28 member states. Ireland is now at 110% of the EU average. Ireland is the overall leader in the economic effects of innovation, which captures the economic success of innovation in employment in knowledge intensive activities. I also welcome the fact that in the same report, Ireland's HR performance is third best in the EU, after Finland and Sweden, which augurs well for the successful manner in which Irish businesses are being run and are positioning themselves to benefit from the improving economic situation in Ireland and across Europe.