Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I just want to mention my appreciation to Moldova, which when I last checked had taken more than 4,000 refugees on its border. That prompted this debate because we have a role to play. I am very heartened by what the Minister said. There are 4,000 Ukrainian citizens in Ireland. There is a prominent local businessman in Malahide whom I know very well, who I am very fond of because he is an absolute gentleman. It is important to me to know that there is an opportunity for families to be reunified in these circumstances. For that reason, I am very pleased to hear what the Minister outlined about his Department and the Department of Justice. I thank him for that.

As a neutral nation we cannot declare war, but we can declare financial warfare on the Russian Federation along with our European partners. That is entirely necessary for us to do. I very much look forward to what the Taoiseach has to announce this evening. We must make life as difficult as possible for businesses and for the Russian Federation Government in particular because of the absolute barbarism they unleashed upon the Ukrainian people this morning.

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