John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the Minister called in the Russian ambassador to outline the Irish position on the illegal annexations but it raises the question of why he is still here. From the outset, my party and I have called for him to be expelled and I reiterate that point today. The UN General Assembly will next week debate the annexing of these four regions and I welcome that.

It is important that there is an international push to try to bring the illegal conflict and occupation to an end. I hear what the Minister is saying about Ukraine. We have to listen to what is being said by its President and its people but we have an international responsibility, given the impact this war is having not just on the energy crisis but also on food security, where there is a crisis in places such as the Horn of Africa. There is an onus on the international community to also push for peaceful discussions.

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