Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which current Irish-Ukrainian diplomatic relations can be enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13875/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had direct discussions with Ukrainian authorities with a view to ascertaining the way in which support and encouragement can best be offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13876/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has encouraged initiatives through the EU to establish stronger links with the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13877/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 to 148, inclusive, together.

Since the inauguration of President Yuschenko on 23 January at which the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, represented Ireland, I have ensured that Ireland took a consistent position of strong support for Ukraine in discussions in the relevant Council bodies. The EU had played a positive role during the unfolding of the political crisis in Ukraine. It was essential, in my view, that it should continue to respond appropriately to the aspirations of the people of Ukraine for the consolidation of democracy and economic reform as the new administration took on the great challenges it faces.

Ministers discussed Ukraine at the General Affairs and External Relations Councils of 31 January and 21 February. Our discussions, along with significant diplomatic effort by the Presidency, Commission and a number of Ukraine's neighbours in the EU, cleared the way for the EU-Ukraine Co-operation Council to adopt a three year joint action plan for Ukraine under the European neighbourhood policy. The Council on 21 February also approved a series of concrete measures, proposed initially by High Representative Solana and Commissioner Ferrero Waldner, to strengthen co-operation with Ukraine, making full use of the ENP action plan.

Early implementation of measures intended to underpin reform in Ukraine is key. A joint identification by the EU and Ukraine of concrete steps deliverable this year is under way. Both sides expect that there will be some achievements to record when the Co-operation Council next meets on 13 June and particularly at the EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for October. Further support to prepare Ukraine for accession to WTO, the granting of market economy status to Ukraine as soon as outstanding issues are resolved and the early launch of negotiations on visa facilitation and access to EIB financing are among the areas to which Ukraine attaches most importance in the near term. In addition to progressing economic integration, the action plan includes provision for closer political co-operation between the EU and Ukraine. It is hoped that the Union and Ukraine will be able to work together for progress in Moldova, for example.

While much of the content of the action plan relates to matters of Community competence which the Commission will take forward, Ukraine seeks also to interest individual member states or small groups of member states in co-operating with Ukraine on one or other specific aspect in which a member state is well placed to assist. Ukraine is keenly interested in co-operating with Ireland in a wide range of areas.

In consultation with the embassy of Ukraine, my Department has begun to co-ordinate preparations for assisting the development of administrative capacity in Ukraine. The Irish public service, and specifically the Institute of Public Administration, has rich experience of working with the new EU member states over many years to build up their administrative capacity before they joined the EU. I believe that this experience is very relevant for Ukraine at this juncture and I am determined that our lack of familiarity with conditions on the ground in Ukraine will not prevent us identifying a suitable partner in co-operation and making a start on a concrete project fairly soon.

Education is another area in which consideration of ways in which Ireland might co-operate with and support Ukraine is advancing. I am committed to making a start on practical co-operation and hopeful that a successful first experience will lay the groundwork for the development of stronger bilateral links across a range of areas — economic, cultural and political — between our two countries in the period ahead.

I intend to pursue the agenda of co-operation between Ireland and Ukraine during my planned visit to Kiev which I hope will take place shortly. This will be the first visit to Ukraine by an Irish Foreign Minister.