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

I will come back to the ambassador, Ms Gerasko, shortly. I am very conscious of the wide-ranging questions that have been put by members. I will ask her and her colleagues to deal with them as she feels appropriate. To reply to some of the questions that have been put, I suspect she would need to have the capacity of a military general directing operations on the front line. She should feel free to deal with the questions in a manner she thinks is appropriate.

I acknowledge the importance of this morning's approval by the Government of the participation of up to 30 Defence Forces personnel in the newly-established European Union military assistance mission in support of Ukraine. That mission will provide what we would regard as vital training to the Ukrainian armed forces. It will also co-ordinate the EU member states' response, which is important in the context of the EU contribution. Having regard to Ireland's solidarity which has been mentioned by all members here and having regard to the considerable experience and expertise of our Defence Forces in training both here in Ireland and also overseas, I would see the participation of our Defence Forces in this mission as an important signal of our unwavering support of and solidarity with Ukraine. Again, the primary role of the Defence Forces will be to provide that training to members of the Ukrainian armed forces. That training will be provided on EU soil in one of the neighbouring states. The trainers will also be supplemented by a small number of staff based in Brussels and the multinational special training command in Germany.

There has been a lot of discussion in recent times about Irish neutrality and the Irish position. It is fair to say that since the beginning of the invasion and over the past 12 months, Ireland has provided significant support to the Ukrainian armed forces, principally through the European Peace Facility, EPF, through which we are currently committed to the provision of €77 million. Ireland stands ready to increase that contribution in the event the European Union agrees that further tranches are necessary in support of Ukraine. Ireland is not alone in insisting that EPF funding is used for non-lethal purposes. That reflects our long-standing position, as was confirmed in the course of the recent meeting between the Taoiseach and President Zelenskyy. I acknowledge the many bilateral contacts in the past 12 months between Ireland and Ukraine at political and diplomatic levels. Insofar as Ireland's contribution is concerned, the focus has been on providing assistance, as Deputy Cowen has said, in the area of de-mining, which was an important aspect of the conversation between the Ukrainian Prime Minister and the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, last year. It is important that Ireland continues to make these contributions, which are consistent with our long-standing position of military neutrality. In the presence of our guests, I say that Ireland is not, and has not been at any stage in the past year, in any way politically or morally neutral. We will continue to provide supports as the need arises.

I return the floor to the ambassador, Mr. Rubashov and Mr. Schedrin, as they deem appropriate.