Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is genuinely one of those moments where I am glad that we are part of the EU and we do not stand alone. The EU does not just ensure and underpin our economic prosperity but it also helps to underpin our security and allows us to act with solidarity when it comes to issues such as this.

There will be a meeting of the European Council this evening in Brussels. The Taoiseach will attend. Whatever we do on sanctions, refugees or on the Russian ambassador and diplomats will be done at European level because Putin and the Russian regime have no fear of small countries. They have no fear, even, of large countries. Ukraine is not a small country. However, it might have a fear of the EU and of the EU, the USA, the west and democratic nations acting together. It is really important that we act in consort with our European allies. Let me be very clear, that when it comes to accepting refugees and to financial and other sanctions, Ireland is willing to be at the forefront of doing what is right, regardless of any selfish or economic concerns that we might have for ourselves.

See this speech in context