Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the all-female delegation from Ukraine. I passed on my best wishes to them, their family and all Ukrainians. All I can offer to the ambassador and her colleagues are my words, but they are sincerely and strongly spoken. This House, representing the Irish people, is overwhelmingly supportive of the right of Ukrainian people to self-determination and territorial sovereignty. We repudiate the idea that any state, through force of arms or cyberattacks, can attempt to extend its sphere of influence beyond its borders. We will not accept that powerful states can attempt to control their smaller neighbours.

The current situation has come about because those who sees themselves as strong men or hard men want to reverse the historical change that has taken place over the past 100 years, especially the historical changes in Ukraine leading up to 2013, culminating in Euromaidan in 2014. I must admit that it was only when, as an MEP, I visited Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland that I got some sense of their legitimate security concerns and how aware they are of the lessons of history. They are determined not to reverse the democratic and positive changes that have taken place, which have been consolidated by EU membership.

I spoke of sincere words, but actions also matter. In the context of EU membership, which I spoke about, the EU has walked back from the planned association agreement that Ukraine signed in 2013 and which Russia managed to scuttle. I have met many Ukrainians who aspire to EU membership or at least want to get back to that point.

We need to participate fully in any sanctions agreed at EU level. This will be tough and we must not falter. We have to be generous in our response to any Ukrainians who are forced to flee their homeland. We hear the stories of dark money and how Dublin is part of a circle of dark money and shell companies. This cannot be used to support any Russian aggression.

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