Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador from Ukraine. The world is in a very difficult position and, clearly, we all have worries about war breaking out and families being destroyed and obliterated from the face of the earth. It is unacceptable to all of us. The Irish Government, the European Union, the United Kingdom and America are all speaking with one voice here - there must be an end to this unacceptable aggression. It will have important and far-reaching effects on the world and, indeed, on the economy here. I worry about the increase there is likely to be in energy costs and the impact that will have on the world economy, as well as the fact that interest rates are likely to go up sooner rather than later. The great uncertainty at present is absolutely unacceptable. The European Union knows well what the deficit may be in our energy supply. We have to make every effort. I presume that reassurances have been given to all the countries in Europe, Germany in particular, about an alternative supply of energy should the worst come to the worst.

One thing that concerns me is that when the Russians sent their warships adjacent to Irish waters recently it pointed to the serious deficit that exists in our military and defence capacity. I fully support remaining neutral and retaining our neutrality and independence from all blocs, including NATO, and other forces, but we must have the appropriate and proper method to defend our country if a country invades our airspace or our waters to use it as a base for attacks on other countries that may be part of other alliances. We must make sure in terms of the European Union that there is not a vector of attack, as it was described in one newspaper, where weaknesses can be strategically exposed and taken advantage of. I know it is a different debate, but we must find the money and resources to ensure that we are fully and properly equipped to defend our airspace and waters in situations that might probably arise now.

Having listened to people talking about America and politicians, I can say one thing. Thank God for Joe Biden, when one looks at what Trump has gone on the record as saying in the New York Times, which I have just read. He said that Putin was very savvy and he was a genius by doing what he is doing and going into Ukraine. When one talks about right-wing politicians, there is nobody more right wing than him that I am aware of. We have to ensure that common sense and decency prevail. What I very much like in the response of Joe Biden is the return to the involvement or concern that the United States has for the future of Europe and for our security. I welcome the contacts he has had. He has strong contacts with all the governments and particularly with the European Union. We should all say in one united voice that Putin must withdraw and Ukraine must be allowed to decide, as it has, its own sovereignty and government. Our support for its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its right to choose its foreign and security policy path must be unwavering.

Finally, a Cheann Comhairle, I am a member of the Russian-Irish inter-parliamentary friendship group and we have met with the ambassador, Yury Filatov, a number of times over the last few years. We have always found him prepared to listen to what we say. However, the issue is that our relationships as parliamentarians cannot proceed unless and until there is a withdrawal. That is my personal view, and I am glad to see you hopefully agreeing that we cannot further our relationship as parliamentarians. I refer briefly to Anton Morozov, the former chairman of that group from the State Duma in Russia. We met him and he attended here. Unfortunately, however, that is the reality. That is one way we can show our view as parliamentarians, and, hopefully, it will be the view of the Oireachtas. We stand by Ukraine and we stand by world peace, not by dictatorship now or ever.

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