Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the ambassador, Ms Miculet, and her colleagues for appearing before the committee. It is great she is here. It is important that this exchange and flow of information continues in both directions. As I said privately to the Chair, I had to leave to represent a colleague who could not be in the Seanad today. I missed the presentation but I have notes.

I will start with a point in Ms Miculet's speech. It is one that has been picked up in the media. It is very disturbing that Russia is attempting to destabilise Moldova with cyberattacks and the threat of military invasion. It is very disturbing development. Along with colleagues, I salute the logistical support Moldova has given Ukraine. It has been the route in and out. It has housed record numbers of refugees and made a great contribution.

Ms Miculet is right to underline our common values, our friendship through history and the visit of various personnel from here and vice versa. I hope this will continue. I am a strong supporter, as I said earlier, of Moldova becoming a member of the EU. It would be wonderful for Europe and its stability to see Moldova in the EU along with Ukraine and Georgia. I have not been part of the discussion or heard the previous questions. Our real function today is to listen to Ms Miculet and salute what Moldova is doing, welcome her and assure her that as Ukraine has our solidarity, so too does Moldova. I will leave it at that.