Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept that. I accept the Minister's bona fides in wanting peace but I do not hear our voice as loud as it should be as a neutral, non-aligned country that holds respect in the world. What is happening in Ukraine is deplorable, unacceptable and illegal but joining a meeting led by NATO is not a way to bring peace. The Secretary General of that body, Jens Stoltenberg, has told us the West must prepare to continue supporting Ukraine in a war lasting for years. That is his view of what lies ahead. I do not accept that and I do not think the world can accept it. It is way too dangerous to think this war could be let go on and on. It is extremely worrying when Ursula von der Leyen says things like Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective. That type of language is not peaceful language. While deploring what Russia has done, we are different from any other country. Ireland is a small country and one of the very few neutral states left in the world that can use its voice for peace.

I will not go over time as I know how difficult it is to be in the Chair.

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