Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's statement prior to the European Council meeting and the agenda for the meeting, which is to discuss Ukraine, energy, economic issues, external relations and the COP27 summit in a few weeks' time. I welcome the Taoiseach's points on Russia. Europe needs to maintain its steadfast support for the Ukrainian people. Ultimately, the Russian despot has to be defeated. I acknowledge our neutrality and status of military non-alignment, but we have to do everything we can in Ireland to help the Ukrainian people and we have to bring that message to Europe.

With respect to energy, we have an energy crisis. I heard Deputy Brady from Sinn Féin state that Europe had caused the energy crisis. Europe has not caused it; Russia has caused it and Europe is doing everything it can to solve it.

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