Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are in public session. I have received apologies from Deputy Clarke. I wish to refer briefly to the ongoing matter of Covid-19. I ask all those present in the committee room to exercise an element of personal responsibility in order to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. I welcome the members of the committee and acknowledge that the post Covid-19 regulation regarding members appearing online stands.

By way of reminder to members and guests the meeting is somewhat a hybrid insofar as some members are online, as well as Deputies Brady and Stanton and Senators Wilson and Joe O'Reilly who are with us in person. I welcome Her Excellency, Ms Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland and also Her Excellency, Ms Larisa Miculet, Ambassador of Moldova to Ireland. The purpose of the meeting, as we approach the anniversary of the unacceptable and unlawful act of aggression, that being the invasion of Ukraine, is to receive and hear an update from the ambassadors in regard to their own countries.

I welcome to our Public Gallery Ambassador Anna Sochañska, Ambassador of Poland to Ireland; Ambassador Marijus Gudynas, a friend of this committee, from the Embassy of Lithuania; Ambassador Skåre of the Norwegian Embassy and also Ms Hammouchi; and another special friend of this committee, Ambassador George Zurabashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Ireland who is no stranger to our meetings. I welcome Senator Craughwell and Deputy Cowen.

We commence with Her Excellency, Ms Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. I welcome the ambassador. We thank her for taking time to meet with us in order to brief us and answer some of the questions members will have. We are meeting, as I said, in advance of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of her country. This is an opportunity for us to reiterate our unwavering support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and its people. We welcome the opportunity for Her Excellency, Ms Gerasko, to update us on the situation. I also welcome embassy officials, Mr. Yurii Rubashov, counsellor of the embassy, and Mr. Dmytro Schedrin, first secretary.

I remind our witnesses and members of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make them in any way identifiable or to engage in any speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity.

If any statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witness or member will be directed to discontinue and it is imperative that any such direction be complied with.

I call on the ambassador, Her Excellency Gerasko, to make her opening remarks.