Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome H.E. Ms Gerasko and Mrs. Shaloput. I have been watching Ms Gerasko over recent weeks, and the strength she has shown to Ukrainian people in Ireland has been amazing. I thank her for that.

I apologise for having missed some of the contributions earlier. There was a call earlier in the meeting for medicines, which seem to be one of the most significant resources Ukraine needs. Many people in Ireland have given help and truckloads of goods have gone out. We can see from the pictures that a great deal of clothing is being dumped on the side of the road. It is not something Ukraine needs, whereas medicines are, as Ms Gerasko mentioned. There is a role for the pharmaceutical companies in Ireland, and there was a call in this regard earlier in the meeting, to up their game. While individual people can go to the chemist's and buy various medicines, bandages or medical goods that might be needed, the pharmaceutical companies have them to hand. I call on the pharmaceutical companies, not only in Ireland but throughout the world, to do their job and I ask our guests to reiterate that call.

With regard to the more than 5,000 people who have come here so far, how can we make matters easier for them? It will probably involve the Polish and Romanian border areas. Can we work closely with the authorities in those areas, perhaps through the Department of Justice here, to set up some sort of pop-up unit in those regions to make it easier for people to make the decision to come here? We should ensure that whatever those who are fleeing need can be given to them on the Polish or Romanian borders. I am not sure whether other speakers have complimented the Polish people but they have been simply amazing. All the countries that border Ukraine have shown unbelievable hospitality and solidarity to the people of Ukraine. As a formerly oppressed nation, we can see the significance. The Polish people, too, were oppressed at one time, and their helping hand is there for the Ukrainian people.

In respect of the people coming here, does the embassy have weekly meetings with, say, the Irish Red Cross or other NGOs in Ireland that are looking after the placement of Ukrainians? Does it have regular meetings with some of the Ukrainian nationals who live here, or with people from other the eastern bloc countries who are living here, who may want to do their bit in Ireland for the families travelling here? What is the embassy doing to support those NGOs in trying to place people here?