Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The meeting in Paris in February commemorated the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I am sure the Taoiseach's predecessor, who attended it on our behalf, and the other leaders of the EU were fairly consistent in their desire to ensure that there was continued support for Ukraine. Obviously, from this country's point of view, we are limited in what we can do with regard to our military neutrality. However, when you look at our representation in the EU, we do have an important voice.

One other thing that stands out about the response of Europe to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was the fact that Europe agreed to freeze Russian assets in the European Union. When we look at the amount and quantity of assets that have been frozen, it really does reflect and illustrate how much money has been taken from the Russian people and put offshore. At present, there is approximately €190 billion of Russian assets that have been frozen and held in the Belgian depository of Euroclear. That is generating approximately €3 billion per annum. I would have thought it would be a sensible political outcome if the EU leaders decided that the interest - I am not even talking about the capital - could be used in the future to help Ukraine reconstruct its economy and rebuild buildings that were devastated by Russian aggression. That is a line the Taoiseach and Ireland should pursue in order to ensure that there is some financial and economic support for Ukraine. Without financial and economic support, it will not survive.

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