John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Unfortunately, the conflict in Ukraine is making a dire situation even worse for tens of millions of people who have already been plunged into extreme poverty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, climate shock and economic turmoil in different regions of the globe. Not only has the war disrupted shipping within the Black Sea, which has had a huge impact on the artery for grains and other commodities, but it has impacted exports from Russia and Ukraine to markets in Africa. It has also had a huge impact on Afghanistan, which is on the brink of famine, given the serious challenges there, including drought, the pandemic and the freeze on the national assets. Unfortunately, I think some of the targets and funding commitments made prior to the war will not be sufficient, given the scale of the challenges we face. The Minister of State said Ireland is a penholder. What measures will be taken now?

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