Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to address the committee. I welcome the witnesses this afternoon. Obviously, it is a very difficult week for the ambassador, Ms Gerasko, on the first anniversary of the invasion off her country. It is certainly an anniversary that nobody wanted to reach. It is exceptionally difficult for her personally and also for her fellow Ukrainians. I note the Moldovan ambassador and his colleagues are also here. This war has had a significant impact not only on Ukraine's immediate neighbours but indeed right across Europe. We, in this House, stand in solidarity with each and every one of them.

Many of my colleagues have spoken about the effective use of technology by the Ukrainians in particular. I was not here for all of Ms Gerasko's opening statement. I ask her to touch on the implications of foreign involvement and the supply of technology to the Russians. In particular, we saw the use of drones earlier on. I understand that other technologies are being utilised for different types of weapons, which is obviously having a devastating impact on the Ukrainian people in many of the country's regions. Speaking of the annexation of certain regions within Ukraine, Deputy Stanton mentioned the children. Not only has there been the abduction of children, but also the re-education of children in many parts of Ukraine. Obviously, there are human rights issues in that regard. I ask Ms Gerasko to elaborate on that.

Obviously, Ireland has witnessed a certain amount of migration, but not to the same extent as Ukraine's neighbours, particularly Poland and the Baltic countries. This morning, RTÉ reported that some Ukrainians were heading home where there was liberation of certain towns and areas. I suspect that is the minority of cases. Does the embassy here have a figure for how many Ukrainians may be returning from Ireland and elsewhere around Europe? Obviously, I know that information is quite sketchy and not necessarily a high priority for the Ukrainian Government at present. Nothing amazes me, however, when it comes to the Ukrainians because they have been able to do so much simultaneously. As was said earlier while fighting a war it is proceeding with the process to join the European Union and is communicating its needs with the rest of the world throughout this war.

I thank both ambassadors for being here.