Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his statement. More than half a million people, most of them women and children, have already fled Ukraine. It is the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. In this age of social media, we are watching the horror unfold on our devices. I was especially concerned to hear 19-year-old Rachel from Carlow, a medical student in Ukraine, tell her experience today. We need the Minister's assistance to get her home. I have emailed him and the Taoiseach on this matter and I have more information to give them. We need to get Rachel home.

It is welcome that Ireland is waiving visa requirements for Ukrainians fleeing the war. This has been a vital comfort to the Ukrainian community here in Ireland, including for families in Carlow and Kilkenny. We must ask the good people in our communities to express their solidarity by offering, if they are in a position to do so, to take in Ukrainian refugees as part of the EU's humanitarian response to the conflict. These same communities, including those in Carlow and Kilkenny, have already set up donation stations to help. There is a huge amount of goodwill within communities, with a large number of stations established to raise funding and collect food and clothing.

One has to congratulate communities for the efforts they are making and it is important that we recognise the work they do and we are helping. Our State facilities will not be enough and we need to accept this. This is a war effort and while we are neutral, we are human and we should do everything we can to help those displaced by this.

The invasion by Russia on innocent people in Ukraine is horrific. I appreciate that we must keep diplomatic channels open and that we are a small country but can we not lead the EU in expelling the Russian ambassador from our country and support other countries in taking the same action? This aggression by Russia will cause untold hardship and tragedy for the Government and people of Ukraine, who have shown remarkable resilience and resolve. I admire Mr. Zelenskiy, who has shown such leadership to his people. A father himself, he does what he does for his family and country. I was moved by his appeal to the European Union today and I know I am not alone. We must not leave them alone out there and we all recognise that. The people of Ukraine are our family and we must answer his call for help by offering them the humanitarian support they will need. I want to applaud the Department of Foreign Affairs for its support of those members of Irish Families Through Surrogacy with children just born in Ukraine. They are our families too. The help we give will be vital now. I know the Minister is working hard on this but we need to give every support we can. What is happening in Ukraine is horrific.

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