Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I strongly support today's motion. I want to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people following an outrageous breach of international law by the Russian Federation.

The images of refugees pouring into neighbouring EU countries, families separating at borders and civilians being targeted by cluster bombs are all stark, and reminiscent of images we hoped Europe would not see again. This is an aggressive and hostile infringement of the sovereign integrity of Ukraine. Ireland is militarily neutral but we are not neutral when it comes to egregious breaches of human rights and democratic norms in the Ukraine or anywhere else. We have a proud tradition of military neutrality but we also have a proud tradition of independent foreign policy.

I welcome the package of sanctions against Russia and assistance provided to Ukraine, in particular, and the speed with which these were approved following last week's invasion. Three packages have been announced in just the last few days, which include removing air access, removing banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, SWIFT, system, sanctions against key individuals, sanctions against Belarus and limiting the propaganda power of Russia's puppet media. Every one of these sanctions is a two-edged sword. They will impact Russian interests but will also have an impact on Irish and EU interests. However, we take them because we deem them to be necessary and justified. I believe there is more we can do as a country to express our solidarity with Ukraine.

In 2018, we expelled Russian diplomats following the poisoning incident in the UK. The events of this week, when the Russian ambassador used our airwaves to spread lies and disinformation, and Russia invaded a sovereign nation and is targeting civilians in what could amount to war crimes, are incidents that I believe are at least comparable with the 2018 incident in the UK and, in reality, are far more grave.

It is, therefore, time that we moved to expel their diplomats from Ireland again. Like other sanctions, it will have consequences, but we should not be shy about taking the right decision. Diplomacy is the formalised communication between nations, including the ultimate communication to sever that relationship. It is ultimately a call for our Government. In my view, however, all EU countries should expel Russian diplomats. That is without prejudice to the EU as a block maintaining a diplomatic relationship that may be required to build a peaceful solution.

In the very short time remaining, I must mention the triple lock mechanism, which I supported, that guarantees our military neutrality and multilateral approach to foreign policy. However, it also hands Russia, China, Great Britain or the United States a veto on this State taking any military action, even on this island, because they are permanent members of the UN Security Council. This Dáil must ask itself whether we believe our sovereignty is best served by the interests of those nations.

This is a question that is increasingly relevant, but which today's debate does not allow us to fully discuss.

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