Matt Shanahan Urges Ireland's Neutrality Role in Ukraine Talks
Matt Shanahan pressed the minister on Ireland's role in the Ukrainian crisis, asking whether the government has done enough and suggesting the state offer emissaries and former ambassadors to mediate. He argued that Ireland's neutrality, UN and OSCE relationships and reputation for integrity could be used to create political space for milder dialogue.
Question on Ireland's role in the Ukrainian crisis
Matt Shanahan asked if Ireland might deploy emissaries or past ambassadors to help mediate, noting the country's geographic position on Europe's western flank and its long record as a perceived intermediary. He suggested using neutrality and integrity to ensure the middle-ground argument is heard and to provide a less bellicose channel for discussion.
Minister's summary of diplomatic engagement
The minister replied that Ireland is involved in various efforts, particularly through membership of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and is supporting a proper OSCE budget to allow the organisation to do its job. The minister also noted that Normandy format talks between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are underway and said Ireland wants those talks to succeed.
Support for EU and international formats
The minister expressed support for President Macron's efforts while France holds the EU Council presidency and referenced an upcoming phone call with President Putin, saying Ireland supports peaceful solutions pursued by the EU. Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality was emphasised alongside the availability of other forums - the European Council, the OSCE and the UN Security Council - for discussion.
State services and practical availability
The minister confirmed that the services of the State are at the disposal of parties involved in discussions and that Ireland is available to do whatever is required to help bring resolution. He stressed that neutrality does not mean acceptance of invasions and reiterated the desire for talks that lead to peace and stability under formats such as the Minsk-related Normandy process.
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Minister, could I just return to the issue of the Ukrainian crisis and I suppose we are in a unique position geographically, we are on the western flank of Europe, we are also neutral and I just wonder are we all getting caught up in a bit of a sound bite that's you know we see the problems in the UK at the moment with the Prime Minister and having something else maybe to point to is a good deflection possibly the same in France with elections soon to come along and essentially we know absolutely that Vladimir Putin is pushing back against NATO expansion but Ireland has had a long record I would say of being seen as a quality intermediary of somebody of high integrity and the question I'd ask I know you said there's been major diplomatic missions and meetings and what have you but has our government done enough at this moment in time we have and maybe past ambassadors who could potentially take up some kind of a role here to try and make sure that you know the middle ground argument is being heard there's always you know there's always the left and the right and then there's the middle ground and you know the Russians I'm sure I don't know what's being said in Russian media at the moment but I'm sure it's probably particularly bellicose and anti-western at the moment and we're not far behind on the other side so I suppose the question is you know have we looked at trying to put some emissaries on the ground have we looked at trying to offer some people into the mix that could be seen use our neutrality use the integrity use our relationship with the UN and to try and lever some political space and some opportunity for people to talk in a kind of more mild-mannered way Thank you very much Shannon and indeed we are involved in various efforts to bring resolution to this particularly in terms of our membership of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the OSCE is there are a number of formats under the OSCE to try to bring resolution to this issue kind of a kind of a I suppose a space for discussion between East and West effectively between Europe and Asia it's a very important format and we've been to the fore and trying to make sure the OSCE has a proper budget to do its job but also today as well and I don't have an update on what the situation is but the Normandy format talks are underway that's between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine and we certainly want those to succeed we do not want war and we are the middle ground but the middle ground to me is that we don't support invasions of other countries so we want those talks to succeed the Normandy format is there as part of the Minsk agreements and there is huge potential there to bring peace and to bring stability to this situation I know as well President Macron and France has the presidency of the Council at the moment in the European Union he's going to have a phone call as I understand it with President Putin on Friday and again we support President Macron's efforts as well on behalf of the European Union as he has the presidency for this term to try to bring peaceful solution to this and we certainly are available to do whatever is required and I think our traditional policy of military neutrality is very very important but the other side of that as well is that when countries are there with armies and military alliances we are not at the table at NATO for example so we are not part of those discussions but there are other formats of course that we are the European Council, the OSCE, the UN Security Council as well if it can be discussed there so I certainly agree with what you are saying and obviously the services of the State are at the disposal of any of the parties who are involved in these particular discussions at the moment thank you very much
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