Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Ukrainian ambassador to the Chamber. I think it is only right that she is here today as we discuss this issue. We have to state plainly that Vladimir Putin is in breach of international law. I see him, in a straightforward way, as the equivalent of the local drug dealer who gets away with burning down people’s houses as leverage. The question is whether he is going to burn down the whole street or is anyone going to bring him to book. That is where we are at this point in time. I have heard commentators say that he is not so much strategic as tactical and is determining this on a blow-by-blow basis. We are all in the position of fearing the worst but hoping for the best. We want to see peace. All engagements that are necessary from the point of view of bringing about a diplomatic solution have to be done.

The EU and the western powers must engage and have to impose sanctions. This State has to look at itself because we must be clear. Many people have suggested that the only way one is going to hurt this guy, and the oligarchs who surround him, is by hurting him in the pocket. We cannot have the case where we have had €118 billion funnelled through this State to Russia in the past number of years through the IFSC, with multiple devices and the use of shell companies. That is not on in any way shape or form. We know what we cannot and can do, so we have to do that piece. We have to be on the positive side in this.

It would be remiss of me not to bring up an issue that has been brought to my attention by a constituent from County Louth, Brendan Murphy, who is in Ukraine at this point in time with his family. He has been given an instruction by the ambassador that it is a very dangerous situation. I feel for everybody who is there. Mr. Murphy states that he is not enabled to leave the state or country to come directly here because there are visa issues. I have brought this case up previously but I believe this is one, given the circumstances that we currently have, where we just have to find a solution.

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