8 Aib 2014, 17:16
Former UN Resident Coordinator to the Ukraine, Francis M. O’Donnell comes before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade tomorrow to consider the current crisis in the Ukraine.
8 April 2014
In 2004, Mr O’Donnell was appointed by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to lead the UN Country Team of UN agencies and related bodies in the Ukraine. He served there until 2009.
The meeting follows wide-ranging debate on the issue in recent weeks with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore TD, the Ambassador of the Ukraine to Ireland Sergii Reva and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ireland Maxim Peshkov.
Chairman of the Committee Pat Breen TD says: “The Committee has been following the escalation of hostilities in the Ukraine with deep concern. Following detailed consideration of the issue in recent weeks with a range of voices, the Committee looks forward to an exchange with Francis M. O’Donnell, who was the Resident Co-ordinator of the UN system in the Ukraine from 2004 to 2009.
“In a distinguished career with the UN spanning 32 years, Mr O’Donnell has been at the vanguard of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in many trouble spots around the world. During his mission in Kiev, Mr O’Donnell gained a profound insight into the challenges facing Ukraine, and focussed his work particularly on tackling racism and xenophobia. The Committee looks forward to exploring where he sees how a pathway might be found to diffuse this alarming crisis for the Ukraine and the wider region.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 9 April at 2:30 pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000. It can be viewed live on Oireachtas UPC Channel 207 and online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Gerald Nash, Labour
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil