Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in extending our good wishes to the great and wonderful Ronnie Delany, a gentleman and wonderful ambassador down through the decades for Irish sport. I compliment the Irish rugby team on its fantastic performance on Sunday. The great Pádraig Harrington showed a true return to form which, it is to be hoped, will see him win another major before the year is out.

I would like to mark the passing of the great Tony Reddin. Those with an interest in hurling would know of him. He was a great Galway man who was born in Mullagh outside Loughrea in County Galway. He won three all-Ireland medals with Tipperary in 1949, 1950 and 1951, and also featured in the team of the century. I would like to extend our sympathies to his family.

I am sure every Member of the House will join me in condemning in the strongest way possible the murder of the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. It was a most appalling and horrific murder. He was a much respected politician who made a major contribution to political life in Russia over the years. We would all call for a full and transparent investigation into his murder and hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice in the very near future.

All democrats throughout the world want to ensure that there is freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. We share the growing international concern at the direction that Russia is taking. The situation in Ukraine, where 6,000 people have lost their lives and 1 million people have fled their homes, is of grave concern. The current very fragile ceasefire must be worked upon and there must be full implementation of the agreement signed in Minsk.

I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and other European leaders to consider calling in the Russian ambassador for discussions on this appalling situation and to impress upon him the concerns of the Irish people and our desire to see a full, frank and transparent investigation into this appalling murder. All of us who respect democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of association must condemn, in the strongest way possible, this appalling and unwarranted act.