D’Arcy to observe election in Ukraine

Fine Gael Senator for Louth, Jim D’Arcy, has been appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee of the Council of Europe, of which he is a member, for the observation of the legislative elections in Ukraine, which take place on Sunday 26^th October 2014.

“I will be based in Kharkov, which is the second largest city in Ukraine and which is on the Ukrainian/Russian Border. There was an uprising when separatists took over Government buildings. However, Ukrainian security forces were able to quell the uprising and order was restored in September and it is peaceful at the moment.

Senator D’Arcy has experience of being an observer as he was in Turkey in August observing the Presidential Elections there on a joint Council of Europe/ OSCE mission.

“It is very important to promote and stand up for the function of the Council of Europe which is to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These are crucially important elections for Ukraine which will define the country into the future and hopefully end the strife that is there at present.

Senator D’Arcy will fly to Kiev on Thursday 23^rd October and will be briefed over the following two days and meet representatives of the political parties, the media and civil society, before taking a nine hour train journey to Kharkov in the east of the country. He will spend Sunday 26^th October observing the elections in the company of an interpreter, before flying back to Kiev on Monday 27^th October to make his report.

“The only thing annoying me is I will be missing Dundalk’s final match in the League of Ireland with Cork, on Friday 24^th October, which will decide the title winner, but my brother is coming home from Germany for the match so he can use my ticket.”