James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Ireland has joined with others in condemning Russia's active aggression against Ukraine. We have grave concerns regarding reports of attacks by Russian forces that may constitute war crimes, including the targeting of civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure. It is essential that those responsible for war crimes are identified and prosecuted.

The current proposal will allow Eurojust to play a key role in supporting member states' and international bodies' investigations of core international crimes committed in Ukraine. As has been outlined, the main objective of the proposal is to allow Eurojust to collect, preserve and analyse evidence relating to genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and related criminal offences and, when necessary and appropriate, enable its exchange or otherwise make it available to the competent judicial authorities, national or international.

In view of the gravity of the situation, it is vitally important that all necessary measures are taken as a matter urgency to ensure that those who committed those crimes in Ukraine are held responsible. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the prosecution services in member states and in Ukraine, who have started investigations of core international crimes, need to be supported in the best possible manner.

This proposal will allow for national and international judicial authorities to benefit from the fully fledged support that Eurojust can provide in the ongoing investigations of core international crimes in the context of aggression against Ukraine.

National authorities are already collecting evidence of international crimes that may have been committed in Ukraine. Due to the ongoing hostilities, evidence cannot be stored securely in Ukraine. This requires that a backup storage place be urgently secured by the European Union. Thus, in order to co-ordinate efforts currently deployed by member states to collect evidence, the Union has deemed it necessary to quickly set up central storage where evidence collected by Union agencies and bodies as well as national and international civil society organisations could be stored. That is the basis behind this proposal which aims to expand the remit of Eurojust to allow it to become a central repository for such evidence. It is imperative that every effort be made to support the prosecution of such crimes. This proposal will enhance the role of Eurojust in doing that.

Ireland stands in solidarity with its European Union colleagues in working to support Ukrainian people fleeing the appalling situation visited on Ukraine by Russia and in ensuring accountability for crimes committed. Ireland has been a participating member of Eurojust since its inception in 2002 and recognises that Eurojust as an integral part of Europe's security architecture and is key in the context of co-operation across our law enforcement agencies in the fight against cross-border crime.

Ireland supports the key role intended for Eurojust in this proposal in supporting member states and international bodies investigations of core international crimes committed in Ukraine. The Government has no hesitation in commanding the motion that we opt into this proposal to the House. Doing so under an Article 3 opt-in will ensure that we send a strong statement of solidarity to our European partners that we will take the necessary steps to support ongoing investigations of core international crimes and ensure accountability in the context of aggression against Ukraine.

I commend the motion to the House.

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