Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----with great determination to apply unprecedented levels of sanctions in the areas of finance and banking that no one comprehended a week ago. We do not need permission to do anything, other than what we said to the House. In the interests of Irish citizens in Russia or Ukraine, we believe keeping channels open matters in terms of helping those who could be in jeopardy. It also helps in terms of information, knowledge and communicating our position on key events.

It is an easy thing to do in one sense, but we need calm heads as we navigate our way through what will be a terrible humanitarian crisis that we will have to deal with. We have to be generous in responding to that humanitarian crisis, but it is a serious one. We have people now in Ukraine who will need our help - Irish citizens in hospitals, etc.

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