Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise a specific issue with regard to the war in Ukraine, that is, the issue of Ukrainian children being held prisoner in Russia. A report by researchers at Yale University gives a detailed account of Russia's child deportation campaign. There is a network of 43 Russian facilities to which Ukrainian children have been moved since February 2022. Many of the camps are in Crimea and southern Russia, close to Ukraine. The researchers say that at least 6,000 children have been transferred to the camps, but the figure is probably far higher. I want to highlight this issue.

On a broader level, we must be in no doubt what we are dealing with regarding Russia. It invaded Crimea in 2014 and we accepted it. It invaded eastern Ukraine in 2022 and it was only limited because the US and Europe united. This arrangement is now in question. Europe now realises that it can no longer rely on the US and must plan to defend itself. This is a reality that cannot be denied. Europe did very little to stop the Balkan Wars in the 1990s, again relying on the US. The UN could do nothing. Russia saw this weakness.

As Mr. Anders Rasmussen, former Secretary General of NATO, said this week, "Europe must come to terms with the fact that we are not only existentially vulnerable but also seemingly alone." Russia longs for a return to the days when it controlled eastern and central Europe, and that was not so long ago. It could happen again. At this stage, what Ireland can do is limited - we are a small country - but we need to re-establish our reputation as an honest broker in international matters. We need to be steadfast in our defence of democracy and the rule of law. We must retain our values, remain responsible and not be sidetracked by populism. We absolutely need to take seriously the task of defending our country and our territorial waters, and not have such complete dependence on others. This will cost us, but we have no choice.

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