John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The ambassador is very welcome. I have had the privilege of meeting her on a number of occasions, including before a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs before the invasion started. On that occasion, I listened to all of the concerns, including those about the military build-up. Unfortunately, all of the ambassador's concerns played out exactly as feared. Like all my colleagues, I stand with the Ukrainian people and my thoughts are with Ukrainians here and their families back home in Ukraine. I cannot bear to think about the trauma Ukrainians in Ireland are enduring so many miles away from their families and loved ones, so my thoughts are with them in what is a criminal act by Russia. We are in the 20th day of the invasion and see images being played out on a daily basis on our screens - maternity hospitals, pregnant women and civilians being targeted, and civilian infrastructure being systematically destroyed. We see the horrific images of Ukrainian people being forced from their own communities and spilling over the borders into neighbouring countries like Poland, Moldova etc. The figures are stark. A total of 2.7 million people have been forced over the borders. This committee will hear some testimony from some of those countries about the impact of this. In addition, 1.85 million people have been internally displaced.

I will focus on two areas because my colleagues have covered a lot and I covered a lot with the ambassador previously. I wish to discuss the humanitarian response. There are rules in war in terms of humanitarian access. We see how Russia has no regard for any of that in terms of safe corridors. In terms of the delivery of aid to Ukrainians who need it, we see Mariupol and other towns and villages under siege. Will the ambassador paint a picture as to how difficult it is to get aid to places like that?

The outpouring of support from the Irish people is very stark. We see people willing to open their homes and do everything they can. People from Wicklow are filling up vans and bringing stuff over on ferries etc. What more can the Irish Government do in terms of refugees over the border in Poland? Should Ireland be looking at buses or chartered aeroplanes to help people to come to Ireland, which has taken more than 6,000 to date? What meaningful measures can be taken on the borders in addition to measures already undertaken by the Irish Government? Do we need feet on the ground to help people to get to Ireland?

I know talks are taking place today as well. I know negotiations have not been very successful, which says a lot about Russia's intent. I think Putin has to have this perceived victory for his own survival internally, which may explain a lot of what is happening.

How optimistic is the ambassador in terms of the talks? She mentioned Chernobyl and the threat of nuclear weapons being put on standby. We know there was a power cut to the Chernobyl power plant. In Ireland, we have done much work with Ukraine, particularly families from Chernobyl. There have been reports that power has been restored to the Chernobyl power plant. Ms Gerasko might give us a brief update on that.

I want to touch on a final point. The ambassador mentioned some countries taking unilateral action, such as Cyprus closing ports. All along, we have heard talk that when the EU moves together, it is strongest. That is a rationale given by some countries not to take unilateral action. Does Ms Gerasko think Cyprus taking that unilateral action in closing ports should be a message to other countries to follow suit? If the EU is moving too slowly on these matters, should Ireland take unilateral action and move to close our port or is it more powerful when the EU moves as a bloc?

The second part of this point is the diplomatic approach. My party and I have constantly said the Russian ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Yuriy Filatov, should be thrown out, as should other diplomats. I met Ms Gerasko outside the Russian Embassy and some of our colleagues in the Oireachtas were also there. Again, Ireland said we will only act when the rest of the EU acts. How powerful would it be for Ireland, as a member of the Security Council, to move unilaterally to expel diplomats or, indeed, go further and expel the Russian ambassador?