Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We believe that, ultimately, the greatest security guarantee we can offer now to Ukraine is membership of the European Union, remembering the European Union is the greatest peace project the world has ever known. We will continue to advocate at an EU level for progress on Ukraine’s EU accession path. We hope that agreement can quickly be found to open negotiations on the first cluster of chapters.

We have been really impressed by the reforms Ukraine has undertaken to date while in the middle of a war. We are committed to working with our Ukrainian partners in the years ahead as they progress along their European path, including in the context of our upcoming Presidency of the European Council next year.

As we look to Ukraine’s European future, Ireland is also engaged in discussions at EU level around short-term recovery efforts and preparations for a successful longer term reconstruction effort. Ireland joined EU, G7 and international partners in supporting the joint declaration of support for recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine last September. This declaration reaffirms our strong commitment to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs and to supporting its long-term recovery and reconstruction.

Ireland is supporting life-saving and protective measures for women, children and those displaced by conflict by working to repurpose damaged buildings for social housing use and to provide housing repair solutions to vulnerable war-affected populations. In addition, I am pleased to tell the House that Ireland has established bilateral co-operation with Lithuania and the European Commission on the construction of school bomb shelters in Ukraine.

Russia’s war represents not only a challenge for Europe. It is a war that is having global impacts. It has compounded an already fragile global food security situation, with major implications for food and agricultural commodity prices. Russia continues to weaponise hunger by targeting Ukraine’s grain and port infrastructure, disrupting supplies.

Russia’s war has had a significant impact on global energy prices. I commend Ukraine’s initiatives to ensure global food supplies, despite attempts by the Russian Federation to weaponise food and undermine global food security. As a long-standing champion of global efforts to reduce hunger and starvation, Ireland is committed to ensuring access to nutritious food as we work to tackle ongoing instability and economic and environmental challenges.

As we mark this grim milestone, we also recall with admiration, on the third anniversary, that Ukrainians continue to demonstrate outstanding courage, resolve and determination. Today, Dáil Éireann should honour their heroic efforts to defend their country and the fundamental freedoms that we in Ireland, and people right across Europe, hold dear and the basic right of all people to live peacefully, within their own borders, without fear of being attacked.

While the current challenges may seem insurmountable, we must not falter in our resolve. We must stay true to our values, beliefs and support for Ukraine. We must stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We recognise that our continued support for Ukraine is a necessity, not a choice. That is why Ireland stands with Ukraine now and in the future. Slava Ukraini.

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