Russian trade sanctions likely to continue in 2015

Sanctions on trade to and from Russia look likely to continue into 2015, with Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Dara Murphy unable to confirm if the sanctions will be lifted this year.

In reply to a parliamentary question from TD Brendan Smith on whether the sanctions would be lifted in 2015, Murphy said "whether they can be lifted in 2015 depends on the extent" of the progress made towards the objectives set by the EU when they were put in place, indicating that the sanctions would continue. Sanctions were put in place by the EU last July and September in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Smith told the Dail that Irish companies, particularly the Irish agrifood sector, "have been hit hardest by the retaliatory sanctions against the European Union". He said "these companies are really worried about the continuation of these sanctions and the lack of a resolution".

Murphy said that there has been continued efforts to open new markets for pigmeat, while Russia "remains a major strategic market for Irish dairy produce". He added that there has been no "clearly discernible impact" on beef export prices in the EU. However he said the Government is "aware of the difficulties being caused to many Irish food exports due to the retaliatory sanctions imposed on us by Russia".

Despite acknowledging the difficulties caused by Russia's sanctions, Murphy said he remained "of the view that the restrictive measures against Russia, coupled with open dialogue and continued political and diplomatic engagement with the various sides involved in the conflict, offer the best way of creating the conditions for a peaceful resolution of the crisis."

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