Mr. Dominic McSorley:

I will just restate what I said earlier. Ireland needs to try to get the EU and other large institutions to redouble diplomacy efforts. In particular, we have heard about humanitarian corridors, but this is probably the lower form. It is about pushing for a ceasefire. We cannot be satisfied with allowing people to flee for assistance when many more will be waiting inside for aid to go in. Mariupol is a failure. It is a failure to intervene. That must be pushed up, and it is not easy. It must be pushed at on all levels. We must push for donor funding to be proportionate, and especially in relation to the escalating humanitarian needs. We also have to watch very closely the neighbouring countries, as Mr. O'Sullivan referred to. This situation is changing rapidly and we cannot say that "Poland has done a really good job, well done Poland", when actually the crisis is still unfolding. I welcome the fact the committee asked for this meeting today. The committee should repeat these meetings regularly because the situation is changing fast. I appreciate the comments and recognition that Ukraine is not a stand-alone crisis. It is potentially creating a new hunger pandemic. We are a nation that has a very strong reputation for placing a priority on ending conflict and hunger. Now is our opportunity to bring some of that to the policy influence.