Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Reilly for sharing time with me. I too welcome the Minister to the House and I acknowledge the work he has done in this area. We all want to see free and fair elections in Belarus. That is what we enjoy here, although we sometimes might not like the result. However, that is democracy. The great citizens of Belarus deserve that too. The 650 people who are political prisoners deserve to be released and to be able to participate in the political democratic process, such as we all enjoy and expect.

What went on with regard to Lukashenko and Ryanair was an attack on Ireland, outside of an attack on democracy, Europe, decency and fairness. This matter has not been dealt with adequately either by the Irish Government or by the European Union. To be honest, I do not know how much the Government can do, but we become frustrated in hoping we can do something. The European Union has not acted in the way it should have.

There is a deep connection between Ireland and Belarus. The Burren Chernobyl Project is headquartered in my home town of Ennistymon. The work done by Br. Liam O'Meara and all of the staff and volunteers in that project is heroic. The project regularly sends out articulated lorryloads of humanitarian aid, donated by the people of Clare and the surrounding counties. They have welcomed people from Belarus affected by the Chernobyl disaster to their homes. To a large extent, the people of Belarus are like family to the people of north County Clare and the surrounding counties. The connection and the beautiful relationship that exists between the people of Ireland and the people of Belarus is intrinsically linked and will not be broken. This is why we in Seanad Éireann are standing up to articulate our abhorrence and disgust at the regime stood over by Mr. Lukashenko since 1994. I do not know what we can do to rectify that situation. Clearly, the international sanctions are not working. All they are doing is hurting the most vulnerable. I do not know what we can do. I despair in wondering how we can deal with that situation.

To our friends and comrades in Taiwan, we are all celebrating Taiwanese National Day this evening. It is shocking that 56 fighter jets from China have been encroaching on Taiwanese airspace. We should not be afraid to call out what China is doing. It is not good enough. The Americans have called it out. We should call it out and Europe should call it out. To be frank, our country should open an embassy in Taipei. Every other country has an embassy there. Why does not Ireland have an embassy in Taipei? I do not know the answer, but I think we should have an embassy there.