Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the House that the Government is doing everything it can to try to make appropriate diplomatic interventions. There are far more Members on the other side of the House talking about neutrality than there are on this side. Every day, my Department and I look at how we can use international organisations and multilateralism to try to make interventions for peace. I will not have the argument skewed in a different direction. Nobody in this House is warmongering or looking to militarise the European Union but we do want to have an open, honest and evidence-based discussion on security and defence issues, given the fact that there is enormous war at the heart of Europe, bordering four EU countries. That does change the debate and we have to recognise that. It does not mean that we move away from our traditional stance of non-alignment militarily but it certainly means that we need to be aware of threats and respond to them.

These are dark times for Ukraine. We have welcomed and will continue to welcome thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war. Ireland has been enriched by our Ukrainian community and it is right that we have offered the Ukrainian people a place of safety in this hour of need. I thank Deputies across the House for their continued engagement on the issues arising out of the Ukraine crisis, a crisis caused by Russian aggression against a sovereign nation. Ukraine’s experience in the past month has resonated deeply with all of us and it is right that we discuss in the House the plight of Ukrainians, alongside discussion of Ireland’s response.

The domestic response already outlined is of great importance. Ireland has reacted quickly and put systems in place to welcome and help Ukrainians arriving here. This reflects the natural outpouring of welcome shown by Irish people. However, it is also important that, internationally, Ireland continues to demonstrate unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.

Ireland’s engagement at the EU, UN and beyond, is characterised by strong and consistent support for Ukraine. As a friend to Ukraine, it is incumbent on us to stand up and clearly restate the truth every time the world is confronted by disinformation regarding this unacceptable attack by Russia on Ukraine.

As a member of the UN Security Council and across the multilateral system, Ireland has been at the forefront of efforts to try to bring an end to this conflict. We have consistently condemned Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and illegal invasion. We have used our voice on the United Nations Security Council to express our steadfast support for Ukraine and have consistently countered false Russian narratives.

Ireland has co-sponsored two strong resolutions at the General Assembly, which were supported by the overwhelming majority of UN member states, condemning Russia’s further invasion and calling for safe and unhindered humanitarian access. This work is ongoing.

Just yesterday, the Security Council briefed on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and Ireland expressed our deep concern at reports of Russian deportations or, quite frankly, abductions, where Ukrainian citizens are taken forcibly across the border and into Russia. This is absolutely unacceptable. Ireland also took this opportunity to counter Russian disinformation on food security. It is Russia’s war on Ukraine that is driving up food prices and food insecurity around the world, not sanctions.

This is of global concern. Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine is compounding other challenges to food security, such as recent droughts, floods and other conflicts, that were already increasing prices and squeezing supply chains. Before this conflict, the World Food Programme, which provides food to the most vulnerable people around the world, purchased 50% of its wheat from Ukraine. War is limiting the capacity of Ukrainian farmers to plant, harvest and export grain. Future harvests are therefore already lost, with longer-term serious consequences for global food security and humanitarian crises.

Yesterday, Ireland also spoke at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on Ukraine. Ireland was clear that the invasion has had grave consequences for human rights as well as increasing humanitarian needs. The Human Rights Council has established a commission of inquiry into the alleged abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in the context of the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Ireland sees the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, as the key organisation at which dialogue on European security issues can take place. We are actively countering Russian disinformation narratives through that forum. Ireland has signed up to the Moscow Mechanism of the OSCE, a human rights tool which essentially allows for a panel of experts to be appointed to investigate alleged human rights abuses.

Ireland played an important role in the decision earlier this month to exclude Russia from the Council of Europe. This unprecedented act reflects the strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked aggression. We will continue to seek the end of these unjustified hostilities during our forthcoming Presidency of the Council this year.

The EU has, of course, been the central focus for Ireland’s support of Ukraine. The EU has acted in unity in its response. Since Russia’s assault began, foreign ministers and leaders have met almost weekly and the EU has imposed successive sanctions packages of an unprecedented breadth and depth on Russian interests. Ireland has contributed in full to the European Peace Facility €1 billion military assistance package for Ukraine. Ireland's total share will be €22 million, which will go towards non-lethal elements. We have also provided ready-to-eat meals and body armour to the Ukrainian military.

EU foreign ministers also agreed on 21 February to provide an emergency macrofinancial assistance operation of €1.2 billion in the form of loans to foster stability in Ukraine. This is already being disbursed and is providing swift support in a situation of acute crisis to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience.

Ireland fully supports Ukraine's application for EU membership. EU leaders acted swiftly earlier this month and invited the European Commission to submit its opinion on Ukraine's application to become a member. EU leaders reiterated that invitation to the Commission at their meeting in Brussels at the end of last week. Ireland has also come together with a grouping of other EU member states that are similarly strongly supportive of Ukraine’s application with a view to providing political and practical assistance in support of Ukraine’s European perspective.

Separately, I would like to address briefly the Government’s decision to request that four senior officials from the Russian embassy leave the State. While we will not be entering into specifics about the intelligence assessment that led to this decision, we are satisfied we have taken the most appropriate course of action in the circumstances. I would also note that a significant number of other EU countries have taken similar actions. At the same time and as I stated yesterday, the Government continues to believe diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open. This is in the interests of our own citizens as well as to ensure we can continue to convey our views to the Russian Federation in the context of Ukraine and other issues.

I want to share with the House that all of Ireland’s support is very much appreciated by Ukraine. I spoke to the foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, on Monday, and he thanked Ireland for its ongoing support. Last week, on 25 March, he stated that Ireland is “at the forefront within the EU and beyond providing essential support for Ukraine in all possible ways”.

On Friday, 1 April, we will have the privilege to mark 30 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Ukraine. Next week, Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy will address us in a joint sitting of these Houses. This anniversary comes at a sombre time for Ukraine but it is during hard times that true friendships are proven and Ireland is doing everything it can to support Ukraine through this dark time. I know other countries will continue to do the same and I look forward to future discussion and debate with perhaps a bit more optimism as we try to find a way to stop this madness.

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