Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline Ireland's participation and contribution to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe during the Ukrainian Chairperson-in-office, the immediate successor to the Irish Chairmanship in 2012; the work he and his officials engaged in with their counterparts in the Ukraine during the hand-over period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30656/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As outgoing Chair-in-Office of the OSCE, Ireland is a member of the OSCE Troika this year, with current Chair-in-Office Ukraine, and Switzerland, which will assume the Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014. Ireland has shared its experience of chairing the Organisation extensively with both Ukraine and Switzerland at official level and remains in close contact with the Missions of both countries in Vienna, the headquarters of the OSCE.As a member of the Troika, Ireland has participated in a number of meetings this year, including most recently the High Level Conference on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which took place in Kiev from 10-11 June. Ireland’s Ambassador to the OSCE, Eoin O’Leary also participated in the EU-OSCE Ministerial Troika which took place in Vienna on 5 June. Ireland attends and actively participates in the weekly Troika meetings at Ambassador-level in Vienna.

In addition to participating in the Troika, Ireland also chairs the Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, consisting of five countries in the Asia Pacific region, with a special relationship with the OSCE. The chairmanship facilitates ongoing dialogue and joint activities with the Asian Partners for Co-operation and participates in the annual conference of the Partners.

Ireland will also participate in a two-week long OSCE Youth Summit, which is being organised by the Ukrainian Chairmanship in Office in the Crimea in July.