Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I express the very best wishes from us. I pay tribute to the Deputy's predecessor as leader, Deputy Alan Kelly. Notwithstanding the odd spat we enjoyed a good relationship. His heart was always in the public interest and of that there can be no doubt. I appreciated his constructive leadership in the teeth of the Covid-19 crisis.

I concur with much of what the Deputy has said in respect of the Ukrainian crisis. I express my sympathies to Pierre's family. I was invited to the service but was at Cabinet so my aide-de-camp and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, represented the Cabinet. His death illustrates the vital importance of modern media and the bravery and courage of journalists in battle zones. They shine a light on atrocities and the barbaric attacks on civilisation, including citizens and households, the indiscriminate bombings of towns and people and the horrendous human trauma visited on the women, children and men of Ukraine. We do not often reflect on the degree to which members of the media put their lives literally on the line to bring the truth to us. We see in authoritarian regimes, and in Russia itself, what happens with the suppression of anybody who voices dissent: it is savage, it is severe, it is imprisonment. It is important we remind ourselves of the importance in our society of the tenets of democracy, including separation of powers, including on the judicial side, the freedom of media and the necessary tension between all the different pillars.

On sanctions, we sought to act in unison all along with our fellow European member states in the belief that this has the greatest impact. To date, the economic sanctions have been severe and unprecedented. The fact they happened with the United States, the European Union and others was powerful. Last week we saw very strong unity from the United States and Europe together, along with Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom, saying we are democracies and we stand with the people of Ukraine. That is impactful.

On the diplomatic side we have also sought to work with others and will continue to do so.

We will keep all of those issues under review in respect of diplomatic sanctions or initiatives to illustrate the country's dissatisfaction, to put it mildly, or outrage at the war. I refer also to other activities that are under way in the name of diplomacy but may not necessarily be bona fide diplomacy.

On climate change, perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will also give me a few extra seconds.

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