Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1210. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked 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]
View answerIn 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.
