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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Is cúis bhróin agus díomá go bhfuilimid anseo inniu chun cogadh tubaisteach san Eoraip a phlé.

Táimid go léir ag breathnú le huafás gach lá ar ghníomhartha foréigneacha na Rúise sa Úcráin. Seasann an Rialtas agus, tá mé cinnte, na Teachtaí Dála go léir go láidir leis an Úcráin agus le muintir na hÚcráine, agus táimid réidh lenár dtacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh. Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine is illegal, barbaric and immoral. Russia must halt its military action and withdraw from Ukraine immediately and unconditionally. With our partners in the international community, we are resolute in our solidarity and support for Ukraine.

I spoke with President Zelenskiy by phone on 16 March during my visit to the United States. I found him to be calm, focused and determined. I assured him of Ireland’s support for Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of Ireland for their support, including in welcoming those fleeing the war; for our support for Ukraine’s application for EU membership; and for our support for the severest sanctions against Russia. I welcome that President Zelenskiy has accepted the Ceann Comhairle’s invitation to address this House next month.

I attended a meeting of the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, where EU leaders again discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We heard directly by video call from President Zelenskiy and he set out the desperate circumstances facing Ukraine one month to the day since the brutal invasion began. He called for the EU to continue to exercise the maximum pressure on Russia to end its appalling war. We were also joined in person by President Biden for an exchange of views on how the EU and the US can work collectively and in closer step to bring this war to a just end.

This was the third meeting of EU leaders within a month since the beginning of Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. We met in a special session of the European Council on 24 February, and at an informal meeting in Versailles on 10 and 11 March. Determination and unity of purpose has characterised the EU’s approach and that will remain essential in responding to Russia and the crisis it has caused. Ireland has been to the forefront in the EU in calling for the most robust response to Russia’s appalling violence in Ukraine, including additional sanctions. We have fully supported the sanctions packages agreed to date and we are actively engaged with partners in looking at what further measures can be taken. Ireland has contributed in full to the €1 billion military assistance package provided by the European Peace Facility, EPF, for Ukraine; Ireland's total share will be €22 million, which will go towards non-lethal elements, consistent with our involvement in the EPF.

Among other supports, the Government has allocated €20 million in humanitarian aid, as well as providing medical supplies to Ukraine. We have launched a new dedicated Ukraine civil society fund of €2 million specifically to support Irish NGOs responding to the crisis. In recent weeks, more than 3.5 million people, mainly women and children, have arrived in the European Union. The EU has reacted swiftly in response to this humanitarian catastrophe. Member states, including Ireland, unanimously activated the temporary protection directive to offer immediate and effective assistance, and clear legal status to those fleeing Ukraine. The European Commission has mobilised financial support through the EU budget, building on the wide range of assistance already available under the civil protection mechanism, the cohesion policy and the home affairs funds.

As a member of the UN Security Council, Ireland has co-ordinated efforts to try to end this conflict through diplomatic means, to hold Russia to account and to call out Russia’s cynical attempts to use the Security Council and other UN bodies to spread disinformation about supposed Ukrainian bioweapons programmes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is putting pressure on global food and nutrition security, and the worst impacts will be felt by the poorest countries, as well as those who rely on imports for their food security.

Addressing global food and nutrition security is a long-standing priority for Ireland. The European Union is now prioritising work on global food security, in particular by supporting food security and agriculture in Ukraine and food-deficit third countries.

The war and the implementation by the EU and Ireland of far-reaching sanctions against Russia is having, and will continue to have, an impact across all economies, including Ireland's. Global economic growth and investment will be impacted and this too will affect Ireland. Ireland is playing its part in this humanitarian crisis and the cost of providing for the reception of refugees arriving from Ukraine will be very significant. It is, however, a cost we must bear.

The invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the inflationary pressures the global economy was already experiencing as a result of supply chain disruptions brought about by Covid-19. Russia and Ukraine are major suppliers of energy, food, fertiliser and other commodities, and whereas Ireland's direct trade links with Russia and Ukraine are very limited, the economy is exposed to the indirect effects arising from the impact on our main trading partners and rising costs for energy and other commodities. These international factors are outside Ireland’s control but the Government will closely monitor developments and seek to assist where possible. We will also continue to work closely with our European Union colleagues on how to respond.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked further energy price increases and brought unprecedented volatility to energy markets. This is feeding through to retail price increases for all consumers. The impact on low-income households is, of course, a particular concern for the Government. That is why we have taken targeted action to help alleviate the immediate pressure of energy costs. The electricity credit of €200 will soon be paid to all consumer accounts at an overall cost of €400 million. There is also a lump sum payment of €125 for people on the fuel allowance, which benefits 372,000 households across the country. This is in addition to the €5 increase to the weekly fuel allowance that was announced in last October’s budget. In addition, we have temporarily reduced excise duty on fuel by 20 cent per litre of petrol, 15 cent per litre of diesel and 2 cent per litre of marked gas oil. The cost of these reductions is €320 million overall. For hauliers, a temporary grant scheme will provide a payment of €100 per week to help mitigate the rising price of fuel and the scheme will operate for a period of eight weeks, valued at €18 million.

The Government will keep the energy situation under close and active review and we will continue to examine what measures are possible to manage the impact of rising energy prices for households and businesses. While the Government is responding, and will continue to respond to this crisis, we have to be realistic that it will not be possible to respond to every unfavourable price move on global markets. History teaches us that chasing inflationary pressures with ever more Government spending would be counterproductive. The country’s economy was recovering strongly as we were getting over the worst of the Covid-19 crisis with strong growth and reducing unemployment. Our response to the crisis in Ukraine will affect economic growth and we need to be prudent in how we respond to the challenges that lie ahead.

The agriculture sector has been particularly affected by inflation in the price of almost all farm input prices. The Government is committed to supporting our farm families through the challenges that have arisen as a result of the war in Ukraine. We are already providing support through the recently announced package of targeted interventions worth more than €12 million to support additional tillage and protein crops and the establishment of multi-species swards. This is in addition to an €8 million support scheme put in place recently for the pork sector. Additional work is ongoing to develop contingency plans and technical advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises through what will be a difficult period and to prepare an industry response to the emerging issues with feed, fodder, fertiliser and other farm inputs.

As the House is aware, millions of people have fled the horror in Ukraine to seek refuge in the European Union and other neighbouring states, and it is anticipated many more will follow. The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.

The Government has moved quickly to ensure a range of supports and measures are in place. To date there have been 15,294 Ukrainian arrivals here, mostly through Dublin Airport, but also at Shannon and Cork Airports and Rosslare Port. Dedicated reception facilities have been put in place to provide people with temporary protection and access to other services immediately on arrival. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth's international protection accommodation service has provided accommodation to people who have sought it on arrival here, and as the numbers arriving are increasing, arrangements are being ramped-up to provide accommodation in hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts, as well as accommodation pledged by the general public, State or privately owned properties, religious properties and local authority community facilities. Just over 20,000 pledges of accommodation have been made to the Irish Red Cross to date and the inspection process is now under way and been scaled up. The first of these properties will be handed over for use this week. It is hoped that as many of these offers as possible will be crystallised for use.

All accommodation options are being examined as the situation evolves and planning is ongoing for the medium and longer-term needs that will arise. Accommodation available through the existing channels may not meet the level of need if increased numbers of people arrive in the weeks ahead. For this reason, a number of contingency options are in place, including centres such as Millstreet and Citywest, as well as the use of Gormanstown Camp. Every effort will be made to ensure this type of solution is temporary until more suitable accommodation becomes available.

Other Departments have also stepped up a crisis response to give immediate support to people arriving here, providing access to personal public service numbers, income and other financial supports, health and social care services and education. The Government is also working to ensure local capacity and resources are factored into the overall humanitarian response. Local community and voluntary groups around the country have been mobilising in recent weeks to welcome people into their communities. As the new arrivals begin to settle in, community response forums will provide enhanced local-level co-ordination for the community and voluntary response in their area. This will build on the structures and relationships that were highly effective during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I thank all the people who have opened their hearts and, in many cases, their homes to people from Ukraine to provide shelter. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. It is inspiring to me that following all the sacrifices made over the past two years, the Irish people are once again rolling up their sleeves to provide much-needed help to a country and a people devastated by war. I repeat that Ireland will stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of the brutal war being inflicted upon them by Russia. As a country we have never been found wanting in times of crisis and I am certain we will rise to the challenge of this humanitarian crisis.

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