Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

President Zelenskyy spoke powerfully to the Oireachtas this morning about the effect the ongoing war is having on the civilian population in the Ukraine and about how civilians fleeing war are being killed in cars on roadways as they attempt to leave the besieged city of Mariupol. We must all condemn in the strongest possible terms the treatment of the civilian population in Ukraine by the invading forces from Russia, the bombardment of cities and civilians, the use of hunger as a weapon, as mentioned by President Zelenskyy, the humanitarian disaster in the besieged city of Mariupol and the atrocities at Bucha, where innocent civilians were murdered with their hands tied behind their backs. We have heard of children being murdered while trying to escape with their families in cars while waving white flags.

Condemnation is never enough. We need action. Irish people want the Government to do everything it can to support the people of the Ukraine. It is very important to recognise that there has been very significant help and assistance given to date. However, it has not been enough. Ireland, the European Union and the international community must do everything they can to stop these atrocities. Measures taken to date have not been sufficiently effective. The Russian ambassador should be expelled immediately, as should the entire Russian embassy staff. There must be much stronger sanctions and much stronger practical assistance given to the Ukrainian people. We are at a point where partial measures simply are not enough. This is a moment of truth for the European Union. Will it not just stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine? Will it also act in the strongest possible way to defend them?

We must stand up against the aggression, the war crimes and the slaughter of innocent civilians. If we do not do that now and with full measures, when will we do it? We cannot allow the short-term economic interests of some countries to take precedence over stopping these atrocities. There is the point that the longer this war goes on, the longer will be the economic damage to various economies, including European economies, and the longer it will result in food shortages and unaffordable, high food prices, especially in lower income countries, as pointed out earlier by President Zelenskyy.

In terms of taking the toughest possible action and doing that in regard to diplomatic staff, our first instinct should always be to use diplomatic means. We should always support efforts to de-escalate and diplomatic efforts to find peace. However, this invasion is not the first act of aggression by Russia towards Ukraine. It follows years of aggressive armed occupation of parts of eastern Ukraine and years of use of gas as a weapon to undermine the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. It follows the breaking of international agreements, including the guarantees that Russia gave Ukraine when it surrendered its nuclear weapons shortly after independence and the break-up of the Soviet Union, and the failure of Russia to withdraw its troops from eastern Ukraine, as promised under the Minsk agreements.

On Leaders' Questions, my colleague, Deputy Catherine Murphy, raised with the Taoiseach issues relating to energy, energy security and the cost of energy. She made a point about the personal crisis that many families are facing and contrasted that with the unintended windfall for the Government in terms of increased VAT receipts. There is a need to address this matter as quickly as possible. It is welcome that it has been raised at the European Council, that flexibility is being sought and that some progress is being made, but families and households need urgency on that. Last week and this week, people are being obliged to make impossible decisions about whether to pay rent, make mortgage repayments, pay utility bills or do their weekly shop in order that they can put food on the table. These are impossible decisions. We need urgent action on this matter. This is key to building cohesion within the European Union. Building the ability of the European Union to act cohesively means that, in conjunction with governments, it does everything it can to provide the flexibility to allow cost of living and energy costs to come down for people.

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