Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add my voice to condemning the illegal and outrageous invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Russia should immediately withdraw its forces and uphold international humanitarian and human rights law.

I wish to outline for colleagues the actions that Ireland is taking to provide healthcare support to Ukraine at this time. I have asked my Department and the HSE to identify ways for Ireland to provide medical assistance. They are responding to a number of urgent requests for medical humanitarian assistance that we have received from the governments of Ukraine and bordering EU member states. The Government of Ukraine is seeking support, including emergency medical supplies, from Ireland and other EU member states directly through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The Government of Ireland has offered an initial donation of medical supplies to the Government of Ukraine through this mechanism. The donation includes 10,000 bio-protection suits, 50,000 medical protective masks and 2,500 litres of disinfectant, all items requested by the Government of Ukraine.

Officials from my Department have attended EU meetings of the Health Security Committee and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority in recent days and have heard directly from Ukrainian officials, and the deputy minister for health speaking from Kyiv, about the harrowing situation they are facing as they attempt to prepare their health services to receive civilian and military casualties. We have also heard directly from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, including Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Officials from Ukraine and its neighbouring countries have indicated that their needs are rapidly changing and that we can expect further requests for assistance, including medical assistance. I have asked my Department and the HSE to identify a wider range of supports in terms of direct support to Ukraine and neighbouring countries and ensuring that Ukrainians arriving in Ireland will have access to any healthcare they may need. This work is being done in co-ordination with ongoing EU efforts. I am also speaking with some Ukrainian doctors in Ireland who are looking to have medical supplies and other healthcare assistance provided to Ukraine.

I would like to express my solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to assure them that the Irish Government stands ready to assist in any way we can as part of the national response to this terrible crisis and outrageous and illegal invasion.

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