Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a very important debate and I think we all agree on the necessity to have this debate. The actions of the Government must be added to and they are supported right around the country - in our communities, in our political parties, in our schools and everywhere else. The impact of this appalling, evil war in the Ukraine is felt in every house and home in Ireland. On every television, on every Facebook page, on every TikTok channel, the reality that war is evil and the human tragedies are unfolding hourly on the media. There is no hiding place for the truth, and the truth is that this war must stop. The truth is that the West, in particular the European Union, have given firm and very constructive support for Zelenskiy, who, to me, epitomises democracy and the right of people and of nations to determine their own future.

Sadly, this is not the first time cities in Ukraine have been reduced to rubble. Indeed, Ukraine was described by Ukrainian writer, Vasily Grossman, during the Second World War as his country was reduced to “fire and tears” and “sadness and wrath”. He said, in a very powerful book which he wrote, Life and Fate, “There is power, which can resurrect huge cities from the ashes, but no power in the world is capable of lifting the light eyelashes over the eyes of a dead child.” We need to learn from our history. There was a man who wrote of the Nazi occupation of the Ukraine, and of Russia as well at the time, and pointed out clearly what happens when evil takes over and when good is banished.

The Irish actions, particularly in regard to the United Nations, are very powerful and very important. Notwithstanding other voices in this House, the fact is that our role in the United Nations, our role in the world, always has been one of peacekeeping and of trying to find solutions. I commend our ambassador at the United Nations, who just happens to be from Drogheda, so I have to praise her. We are doing an excellent job there, in addition to the leadership we are showing as a medium size country in Europe in regard to how we respond to this appalling invasion. As I and other Members have said, all of our communities, through “The Late, Late Show” to the children collecting funds on the corner, are reaching out to help and support and open our doors to these people.

The important thing we need to plan now is how we make sure we are in a position, in our own country, to defend our borders if and when they may be threatened by sea, on land or in our airspace. The recent report on our defence capacity into the future is very important and we need to debate that fully. I understand we will have the Government decision on it shortly. We must be able to defend our land and, unfortunately, as a result of what is happening in the Ukraine, we must invest more in our military capacity to defeat any invaders.

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