Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Brady asked about generators in Ukraine. The committee probably knows most of what I am going to say about medical assistance but I will put some of it on the record because it is important information. Ireland responded immediately to the crisis in Ukraine.

With regard to humanitarian assistance, we were among the first to respond with a significant Irish Aid package on the first day of the invasion which has since increased to €20 million. Ireland's humanitarian package has been channelled through the UN system via International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Irish NGOs best able to deliver lifesaving assistance to Ukranians affected by the conflict including in neighbouring countries.

A significant share of the response has been provided by local civil society organisations and charities. It is critical that we continue to support these local efforts and engage with civil society. Ireland has provided €2 million to support the response of Irish-based NGOs in their partnerships with local partners in Ukraine. Ireland has also provided in-kind medical assistance and supplies to Ukraine including ambulances valued at more than €4.3 million through partnerships between Departments, the HSE and other agencies working with private sector and civil society partners.

I should also stress that Ireland contributes to global funds and provides a substantial core in flexible funding to key agencies that have allocated funding to the crisis including the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, as I mentioned earlier in the context of the Horn of Africa. CERF has responded with €60 million to the crisis which demonstrates the importance of pre-positioning of funding for immediate action. Ireland's support of CERF in 2022 is €11.5 million. Some €75 million is earmarked for Ukraine and the impact of the war for next year. There is a lot more.

However, the Deputy is right about what Ukraine needs right now. It needs lots of things; it needs military support and money to ensure that their public systems can continue to operate with regard to salaries, financial supports and so on. The President of the European Commission announced a multi-billion euro package for Ukraine in the past few days. Ireland will of course contribute to that, as will every EU country. One of the specific asks is mobile generators for areas where Russia has targeted electricity and energy infrastructure in order for us to provide as much power as possible to Ukraine where it needs it as we move into a dark and very cold winter. I do not have any figures for what Ireland is contributing in that effort but I think we will contribute to a collective EU effort in the usual way with regard to our allocation key.