Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My time is short so I will make three very brief points. First, on the upcoming European Council, I am satisfied with Ireland's position on Ukraine's application for EU membership. However, I want more clarity on our position on sanctions particularly around purchasing Russian coal, oil and gas. The impact of sanctions in this area would be very powerful but it would also hit the European and Irish economy very hard. We have to make choices and ask ourselves if we starve the Russian military machine now and literally cut off the supply lines of euro and dollars will it bring Putin to the table sooner? Would it shorten the war and human disaster unfolding in front of our eyes? My view is the tougher the sanctions now the greater the impact and the greater the likelihood that we just might shorten this war.

Second, the response of the Irish people in offering assistance and shelter has been so positive and heartwarming but we urgently need immediate co-ordination at local, county, regional and national levels. I know that reception centres have been set up and good work is being done but the Taoiseach himself said that we are in a war situation and being on a war footing requires a war-type response. At the very least we need a Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility for co-ordinating our refugee response. So many of the pieces are already in place. People have shown generosity. Local voluntary community groups, NGOs, local authorities and so many bodies are willing, ready and able but the Government has ultimate responsibility to join the dots, put the supports and the structures in place. This will be far more difficult than we think both at individual and national level. We can make it work but we need a co-ordinating body and a Minister with full responsibility to manage the situation. Otherwise the difficulties will multiply. They will multiply anyway but if somebody is in charge that helps.

Finally, human trafficking and women and children must be at the top of our agenda. Our systems at both national and European level must ensure that those women and children fleeing one horror do not find themselves in another.

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