Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I refer to the last point Deputy Berry made about the Russian ambassador and the Oireachtas. I was appointed by the Ceann Comhairle as the convenor of the Irish-Russian parliamentary group. We had a discussion following the invasion of Ukraine at the weekend and the Ceann Comhairle decided, in conjunction with the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, that the Irish-Russian parliament group would be dissolved yesterday. The Ceann Comhairle issued a statement, which quoted me, that it was being done in full support of and solidarity with the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian people. That job has been done, effectively and well. Following the Russian invasion, the Ceann Comhairle's act of solidarity has been the right and appropriate one to make. It reflects the views right around the country that that should be the case.

This day, millions of despairing Ukrainians are fleeing for their very lives from their family homes - men to bear arms to do battle for freedom against the Russian invader and women and children to undertake arduous and desperate journeys seeking sanctuary and a safe haven in western Europe, and looking to places such as Ireland where they will find a place of safety.

Cities all over Ukraine are daily under appalling cruise missile and artillery assault while combat-hardened Russian troops and battle tanks creep closer each day to the centre of cities such as Kyiv and threaten the innocent men, women and children who may still reside there. Brave and determined patriotic Ukrainian soldiers are fighting resolutely and with superhuman effort to resist the invader but there is no doubt but that the dark fog of war that is swirling around in Ukraine emanates solely from the decision of one man, the Kremlin dictator, safe in his gilded palace in Moscow, as Deputy Berry said, at his long table away from and afraid of everybody.

We in this country and, indeed, the EU and the free world call for Russia to end its military aggression in the Ukraine and we demand an immediate ceasefire. I have no doubt but that Ireland, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, is working unceasingly for a peaceful resolution of this crisis and we are ready, willing and able to assist in that manner.

I salute the unquenchable spirit of the Ukrainian people, as all of us do, led as they are in their resistance by the resolute and brave democratically-elected President Zelenskiy. He is a man for all seasons. He is somebody who shines out and gives all of us who believe in democracy a shining light to follow and to support.

The Irish people have responded to this crisis with great generosity. Every town and village is organising practical support, help and assistance and we are ready, willing and able to assist refugees who may come here.

We hear today of a 60-km long Russian military convoy approaching Kyiv which has the capacity to pulverise and raze that proud city to the ground and massacre many of its remaining inhabitants. Please God, they will not succeed in this objective. The truth, the fundamental truth, the universal truth is that good must prevail over evil and might is not right. I believe that the blue and yellow national flag of Ukraine will never be replaced on the flagpoles of Ukraine by the flags of temporary imposters from aggressive military occupiers. The only other flag that should be welcome alongside their national emblem of Ukraine will, I believe, be the blue flag with the gold stars of our united European Union. We in the European Union and Ireland must now earn our place on that flagpole by our continued determined unequivocal support for Ukrainian membership of the European Union, and, indeed, expand further our Union to further interested nations.

We must also, as an island on the edge of Europe, play our full part in ensuring the safe defence of the European Union into the future and have a full national debate, and an informed debate, on how this can best be done. We stand absolutely united behind the Ukrainian people. I fully support all the actions which the Government and, indeed, the European Union are taking in this situation.

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