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

You never acknowledge that, for example, Germany is the biggest donor to Ukraine on a humanitarian level. I have no doubt that the international response will be one of absolute support for Ukraine and there will be various mechanisms to facilitate that. I have no intention of reducing that to a mere slogan.

Deputy Richmond raised the issue of the expulsion of diplomats. Expelling four diplomats was not paltry at all; it was quite substantive and significant from a Russian Federation perspective and relative to the size of other missions in other countries. A number of Deputies have raised the prospect of expelling the Russian ambassador. There were discussion on this at the Council of Europe and a number of member states raised it.

I raised the need for co-ordination regarding the diplomatic channel. Incidentally, that is not perceived to be the channel that would put the most pressure on Russia. The economic side and the deployment of the peace facility of over €1 billion from the European Union are seen as far more effective in protecting the people of Ukraine and providing for humanitarian matters. Nonetheless, messages have to be sent. We will work with other EU member states on this. I genuinely believe that the more collective actions are taken by EU member states, the better.

Deputy Boyd Barrett asked questions about war crimes. I trust the international system to bring Russian war criminals to justice. It has happened. People from the Balkans were brought to trial and convicted.

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