Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Just a few weeks ago, we would have scarcely have believed that we would find ourselves in a 1930s moment and yet here we are. A dictator has moved beyond threatening his neighbour. Putin has rained total devastation and indiscriminate slaughter down on Ukraine. He has gambled with the peace and stability of Europe, of his own country and of the world.

In 1936, Éamon de Valera addressed the United Nations in Geneva. He lamented the unwillingness and the incapacity of the League of Nations to defend Ethiopia. He said:

Let us face the fact that every nation may when the test comes have many good reasons for shirking the terrible responsibility of entering upon a war. Let us face the fact that not one of the fifty nations represented here is prepared to face war to preserve the principles of the League in the present dispute.

We speak of solidarity with Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands across Europe are expressing solidarity in the only way they can. They are taking to the streets. They are active across social media. They are making themselves heard. As parliamentarians and as governments, the threshold for solidarity is much higher. It is not enough for us to say that we support Ukraine. We have influence. We have power. We can help Ukraine by our actions, or we can condemn it by our inaction. We must give the people of Ukraine every chance of survival. We have seen how they are standing up for democracy, for their right to self-govern and for their right to self-defence in the face of a man who is intent on destroying democracies and intent on maximising destruction on his neighbour.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, spoke earlier of how impressed he was with the speed at which governments acted when it became clear that all-out war was imminent. We have seen urgency and unity across the governments of Europe. Positions that were long-held by states and by political parties shifted dramatically in a matter of days. We have shown that governments need not be stagnant and slow moving. They can be agile and responsive when people need it most. We have seen immeasurable courage from the men and women of Ukraine. The world is watching with awe as they face down the tanks of a military superpower. We have seen political courage across the European Union as leaders and Ministers faced up to what was happening. They saw it for what it was, namely, a war of aggression against a sovereign nation, a 1930s moment. The sacred cows of non-intervention and neutrality have been shaken.

This responsiveness from the political establishment in Europe has given Ukraine a chance against the odds. In my party, which is a pan-European party, we have always taken a firm stance against militarisation. Our fundamental philosophy is to oppose it, but it has been recognised that we do not have the luxury of not being involved. As Europeans, we are involved and across Europe we are facing up to that.

Ireland must grapple with the same dilemma. We are on the edge of Europe, but are we going to stand on the side-lines? We must have the courage and resolve that we are seeing in the Ukraine and that we are seeing across Europe.Whether we like it or not, we are part of this 1930s moment. This is a fight for democracy, for sovereign integrity and, possibly, for civilisation. I commend this motion.

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