Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I have been listening in to the discussion. I thank all of the contributors today. I want to particularly thank the Polish ambassador. Poland has led the way in terms of opening its doors to Ukrainian refugees. In the first few days of the war, we watched as many Ukrainian people were welcome into Poland. In terms of Poland's attitude to that of our neighbours, the UK, Poland has to be commended. I would like to think Ireland followed suit from a distance. We are doing all we can. I work with a Polish colleague from Lublin, a city that is close to the Ukrainian border. Polish people living in Ireland are really proud of their home country and all of the support it is giving to the Ukrainian people.

In regard to all of the other contributors, it is great to hear from the Red Cross that Garda vetting is to the fore. In the past, we have made mistakes in regard to Garda vetting. It is important we do not repeat those mistakes in regard to these vulnerable people. It is reported in today's newspapers that over 2,400 children have been taken out of the jurisdiction of the Ukraine and transferred to Russia. What is going on? It is an anecdotal news report, but it is terrifying what is happening to vulnerable people and children. From an Irish perspective, what more can we do? What can anyone do? We have all expressed how angry, sad and terrified we are for all of the vulnerable people in the Ukraine. I will leave it at that because other Deputies and Senators have already raised many of the questions and points I had intended to raise.