Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank madam chairperson, Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze, for those very sobering remarks. There is much to cover there. Many of the questions and points from our end may come across as a bit frivolous when we know the chairperson and the ambassador and their fellow country people are living under this horrible attack and brutal war. To bring the engagement back to a slightly more procedural matter on the hopeful accession of Ukraine to the EU as speedily as possible, Ireland is one of the countries that has stated in the EU that we want to see this happen quickly, not in ten or 20 years like other larger member states have negatively said. From a parliamentary point of view, what work had been done prior to the war in preparing Ukraine for accession? What assistance would be needed from EU member states in terms of some form of Marshall fund but also to ensure that we, as parliamentarians, in a sympathetic member state can do our best and utmost to ensure that swift accession? I will leave it at that as I know members have a range of questions.