Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ambassador Gerasko for such a powerful statement to the committee. Some of our colleagues are online. Deputy Calleary is in Strasbourg at an extraordinary session of the Council of Europe, whose purpose is to exclude Russia from that organisation. He cannot join us here today but asked me to send his regards to the ambassador. Our Chairman, Deputy McHugh, cannot join us today but he sent a message which I will read:

I would like to thank the ambassador and her colleague [Ms Olena Shaloput] for meeting with me last week and for her comprehensive opening statement, which includes an update on the Ukrainian people's incredible effort to fight for freedom and an insightful analysis of a future vision for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. My question to the ambassador is: How can we as a committee help in the immediate term to deal with the enormous challenges her country faces?

I ask for a response to that first and then I will give the floor to Deputy Richmond.