Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
34. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on proposing that there would be a referendum in Ukraine, including Crimea, on the same day as the European Parliament and Presidential Elections to resolve the current political impasse [18910/14]
View answerThe precise arrangements for elections, as well as a decision to hold any referendum, are a matter for the government and parliament of Ukraine. I am aware that the acting President of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, has spoken earlier this month of a possible nation-wide referendum on the same day as the presidential elections on 25 May if the Ukrainian parliament adopted the corresponding decision. We have seen no reports, however, that the parliament has been ready to take any action on the matter. It is clear that the authorities in Kiev are currently devoting their energies to preparing the presidential elections on 25 May and creating the conditions to enable them to take place. At its meeting on 14 April, the EU Foreign Affairs Council expressed strong support for the holding of free and fair presidential elections. Ireland is sending a team of observers to Ukraine to help achieve that objective, one which, I hope, will allow the Ukrainian people to determine their own future and help build trust across the country.
