James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the presence of the Ukrainian diplomats and their ambassador, H.E. Larysa Gerasko. They are welcome to the House.

It is appalling to see what is happening in the sovereign state that is Ukraine. I have had the good fortune of meeting many members of the Ukrainian community. I had my first interaction with people who were not from Ireland when in primary school. I went to a small rural school of just 39 pupils. It was my first interaction with people who were not born and raised in Ireland. I have very fond memories of meeting people from the Ukrainian community in Ireland in my career in politics to date. They are a very proud people. They care very deeply about their culture, which is diverse. They speak different languages, which many people might not be aware of. It is important to say in this House that the people of Ireland have a great appreciation for the importance Ukraine's place in the world. What is happening is absolutely abhorrent, with Ukrainian sovereignty being tested by the Russians.

It is important for Ireland, as a small independent country that fought extraordinarily hard for independence, to stand up for the rights of every single democracy no matter where they are in the world, when they are being threatened for absolutely no reason at all.

This week I went to Clonmult with Uachtarán na hÉireann and An Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, where we saw just what type of struggle our own people went through to get their freedom. It was a freedom that was hard fought. The freedom of the people of Ukraine is being challenged, and in today's world, in the 21st century and in the new millennium, it is absolutely appalling that they are being treated in such a fashion.

I would like to make the important point to the House that we should learn lessons from what is happening in the Ukraine. It is extremely concerning from a security point of view, not alone for us in the Republic of Ireland, but also for the European continent. We need to evaluate our own security and how safe we are as a people. I would encourage all Irish citizens who are still in the Ukraine to immediately seek a degree of safety, whether they return to the Republic of Ireland or make contact with the embassy. I commend the work the Department of Foreign Affairs and the different Ministers in that Department are doing. It is not easy work, but it is important to make that point in the House. It is not something we often discuss. We must also acknowledge the work we are undertaking in the United Nations through our ambassador in the UN. The UN Security Council met on a number of occasions, in particular the other night, to discuss the latest developments in that situation.

What is happening is outrageous in the sense of territorial claims being made and attempts to form new countries. We should completely and utterly reject this as a sovereign and independent democracy. It is important to say that. Speaking as a young person, it is fair to say that the people of Ukraine have an extremely bright future ahead of them if it is allowed to succeed and prosper in its own right. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been enormous progress in terms of the development of Ukraine as a country, and successes lay ahead for it until this incident took place. Ireland, as a neutral country, is obviously in a very unique position. Unlike many of our European neighbours, which are members of NATO, the Republic of Ireland, as a neutral country, is able to stand on its own two feet and say to the Ukrainian people that it commits to protect democracies, no matter where they are in the world, that it values human life and that it places a value on freedoms for people to make their own choices and live the lives they wish to live.

I take this opportunity to add my own two cent as a Deputy from Cork. There are many people in my constituency and in my county with strong connections to Ukraine.

From a defence point of view, it is unacceptable that in the Haulbowline Naval Service base, which is in my constituency, two ships are tied up there at the moment with the threat of a third being tied up. From a security point of view, we must take urgent action to protect our own sovereignty. We are a small independent nation that could potentially be vulnerable to future incursions. Recently, we saw what the Russians are capable doing. An absolutely unacceptable incident took place off the coast of Ireland. Although it was outside our sovereign territory, it was within our exclusive economic zone. It is important that Ireland invests and has the ability to detect what is in Irish airspace. We do not have that ability currently if airplanes turn off their transponders. It would also ensure optimal conditions in the Defence Forces so that people would want to stay in and have careers in the Defence Forces. The pride people have working for the Defence Forces is something I have noted when canvassing. We should invest in the Defence Forces' future to ensure our own safety.

From a peacekeeping point of view, I hope that some resolution is found in Ukraine so that we can avoid bloodshed. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be going in that particular direction. My calls may fall on deaf ears, considering the position I am in. However, it is important that Russia takes stock of what it is doing and how it will impact on the view the world has of Russia in the future and that it withdraws its troops immediately from Ukrainian territory.

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