Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This motion, which I support, is very much to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We have heard and seen so much in the past few days about Ukraine and the terrible way its people are being treated in their own country by Russia, a move sanctioned by the Russian Government but which may not be supported by the majority of its Russian people. In the past few days, we have heard some politicians in this country make wild statements about expelling the Russian ambassador. This might sound like a popular move but common sense must prevail here and doors must remain open so the mad actions of Russia will be condemned at the highest levels in this country.

Ireland must focus most of our efforts on something we can do, and this is to make the Ukrainians who come here welcome and comfortable in Ireland. From what I can gather, no accommodation provision has been made for anyone coming from Ukraine to Ireland. This is typical - all talk but little or no action. I spoke to the Ukrainian community in west Cork over the weekend in Bandon, Skibbereen, Clonakilty and Bantry. Many of them told me they are living in one-bed apartments and are expecting family to arrive here. In some cases, five to ten adults and children will arrive on a 90-day visa and all are expected to cram into a one-bed apartment. This is not good enough and the Government must act quickly.

We may ask what is the solution. What about our lovely community centres and parish halls across the country? While this is not the perfect solution, surely it is better than putting ten people in a one-bed apartment. At least they will be treated with some respect and dignity if the State were to work with local communities to provide these excellent facilities with a little financial aid.

In the past few days, I have seen what I always knew was in this country - an outpouring of love and kindness as a Ukraine family were reunited yesterday in Dublin Airport and last night in Ballydehob, after a nightmare journey. It started in Kyiv last Friday morning when they went to their local hospital with their five and a half year-old son, who has leukaemia, to be met at the hospital by the medical team, who gave the boy’s mother and father the boy’s medical records and told them to flee the country immediately. This started an incredible 77-hour journey, ending in Ballydehob last night. I would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs for its co-operation, the staff in my office, who followed every minute of the highly dangerous journey for the family, night and day, and the family themselves for being brave enough to get out and seek immediate medical attention for Leonid in this country. This journey for Yana, Sergei, Svetlana and, last but certainly not least, the real hero, Leonid, a five-year-old child who is now in the wonderful care of medical professionals in this country, must have looked like an impossible journey. To leave behind their country, their home and their loved ones must be a heartache beyond words. No matter how Victoria, David and Sasha show kindness in Ballydehob, the hearts and minds of that family who came from Ukraine must be in Ukraine.

I would like to thank the doctor, nurses and staff in the Mizen Medical Practice in Schull for the wonderful care shown to Leonid, who was to undergo a bone marrow transplant in Ukraine on 10 March. I would also like to pay tribute to other medical professionals in Cork, Dublin and Belfast who have put out the hand of love to these people through me since their arrival in Ireland yesterday.

There are many other people out there who are in our thoughts. Eugene O'Sullivan from Bantry is out in Ukraine at the moment and I was in contact with him over the weekend, and there are many more. We are doing our level best but we need to look at the accommodation side.

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