Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to examine the situation in Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. I acknowledge the presence of H.E. Larysa Gerasko, and the members of the Ukrainian community who have travelled from all corners of Ireland to be here today. You are all most welcome.

Three years on, it is more important than ever to stress our steadfast support for the people of Ukraine, and our strong commitment to helping them achieve a just and sustainable peace based on the principles of the UN charter. The terms and conditions for any peace agreement must be in line with these principles. There can be no agreement on Ukraine without Ukraine. It is for the people of Ukraine to chart their own future.

I visited Ukraine in August 2022 as part of a parliamentary delegation from across Europe. I witnessed first hand the devastation and human suffering wrought on Kyiv and other cities by Russia. Homes, schools, crèches, businesses, community centres and industries were all targeted and destroyed during the Russian invasion. Attacks on civilians have continued through Russia’s drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. A feature of my interactions with Ukrainian people in Kiev, both in my constituency of Dún Laoghaire and here today, has been their thanks to the Irish people for our generosity over the past three years. Irish people have welcomed them into their homes, schools and communities. At the march last Sunday, "Thank you, Ireland" was chanted continuously. We heard that message. We thank the Ukrainian people for their support and their engagement in Ireland.

The Tánaiste and the Minister of State referred to Irish-Ukrainian co-operation on the parliamentary friendship group. Co-operation is essential to provide support to build bomb shelters in schools. That is quite a scary sentence to say in this day and age but, unfortunately, it is what is required in Ukraine. The EU must also act much more quickly on Ukraine's candidacy, to ensure that it becomes a full, participating member of the EU. Ireland will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine until a lasting, sustainable peace has been achieved.

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