Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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681. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify the sanctions that will be imposed on the Belarusian Government given recent events. [32025/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following the coercive forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Belarus and the subsequent arbitrary detention of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, the Taoiseach conveyed Ireland's view that a strong EU response was needed during the Special European Council meeting on 24 May. EU leaders agreed to a set of concrete measures in reaction to the flagrant disregard for international law shown by the Lukashenko regime and the work of operationalising those measures has begun.

Belarusian aircraft have been banned from EU airspace and EU aircraft are now forbidden from overflying Belarusian airspace. The EU has also announced a €3 billion comprehensive plan of economic support for a future democratic Belarus. This plan reflects the EU's commitment to the Belarusian people who have been protesting since the fraudulent August 2020 Presidential election, which was neither free nor fair.

The EU has already imposed targeted sanctions against 88 individuals responsible for the fraudulent election and the systematic repression of the Belarusian people and civil society. Those sanctioned include Alexander Lukashenko and his son Viktor. Sanctions have also been imposed on 7 business entities supporting the regime.

EU leaders have agreed to impose further targeted sanctions to make those responsible for the ongoing repression of the Belarusian people, and the incident involving a Ryanair aircraft, accountable for their unacceptable actions. A further package of sanctions, including ones specifically linked to those responsible for the Ryanair incident, is expected in the coming weeks. Consideration is being given to the adoption of broader economic sanctions and Ireland is actively engaged with our EU partners in that regard.

Ireland is committed to a peaceful and democratic resolution of the crisis in Belarus. Our focus remains on ensuring that the human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic will of the Belarusian people are fully respected. We maintain our call on the Belarusian authorities to end the repression and engage in a meaningful and inclusive national dialogue that leads to elections that are free and fair.