Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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1208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be liaising with counterparts in the UN Human Rights Council to seek a referral of the conflict in Gaza to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for its investigation. [34285/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has recently confirmed that it does not, at present, have jurisdiction in relation to Gaza. Neither of the relevant parties has taken the necessary steps under the Rome Statute to allow the ICC to have jurisdiction in regard to this situation, nor has the UN Security Council chosen to refer this situation to the ICC. The UN Human Rights Council does not have a role under the Rome Statute in referring cases to the International Criminal Court. However, the HRC has established its own investigation into alleged human rights violations or abuses in the recent conflict in Gaza. The Government fully supports this investigation, and will extend to it any assistance required.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1210. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the current government in the Ukraine was duly elected by the people; if it is intended to press that international observers monitor the forthcoming elections in the Ukraine to ensure that they are open, fair and transparent and all citizens get their full rights to vote right across the whole country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34503/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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In February 2014, following the departure from office of President Yanukovych, the Ukrainian Parliament appointed an interim President. At the same time, the Parliament duly approved a new interim coalition Government, headed by Prime Minister Yatsenyuk. The government took office on 27 February 2014. On 25 May 2014, Petro Poroschenko was elected President of Ukraine with an absolute majority, having secured 54% of the vote. Ireland was represented at his inauguration on 7 June 2014 by then Minister Phil Hogan. Last month, President Poroschenko dissolved the Ukrainian Parliament and set 26 October 2014 as the date for fresh parliamentary elections. The move to call new elections had been expected and followed the decision in late July by a number of political parties, on which the Government depended to enact legislation, to withdraw Parliamentary support for the Government.

It is expected that a large number of international observers will monitor the upcoming election. The OSCE has confirmed that it will send an Election Observation Mission, comprising 80 long-term and 600 short-term observers, to oversee the election. The EU has agreed to cover the cost of 105 short-term observers, three from each of the 28 Member States as well as from EU candidate and potential candidate countries.

The question of Ireland’s participation in the OSCE mission is currently under consideration.