Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The principle of accountability is very important. At the commencement of and during all wars in the past, accountability has seemed a long way off and appeared an almost unachievable proposition.

We should know from history that accountability can and does happen in the aftermath of terrible wars. We saw that recently in the Balkans. We must pursue those who perpetrate war and engage in the crimes in question. They must know there will be day of reckoning or, at the very least, that could be such a day in the form of international accountability. Along with our EU partners, we have referred the situation in Ukraine to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC to pursue accountability in respect of alleged atrocities committed in Ukraine. The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide that have been committed on Ukrainian territory since 2013. In March of last year, the Prosecutor of the ICC commenced a formal investigation in the situation in Ukraine.

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