Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The Deputy is entirely correct. We cannot lose focus on what is happening in Ukraine. The UN is dealing with more conflicts than ever in its history. We discussed Sudan earlier. That is another major humanitarian catastrophe that barely gets spoken about in political dispatches in Ireland. Some colleagues do highlight it but it is not getting nearly enough attention. I worry about this kind of faux engagement on some sort of peace agreement by Russia, which is not being done in good faith while day in, day out it is pounding Ukraine and now we are witnessing a significant escalation.

In Ukraine many children have been forcibly abducted from their parents. Children have been stolen at the youngest possible age. We cannot lose focus on that either. They have been taken and effectively re-educated in Russia. I thank the Deputy for keeping the focus on this. Ireland will continue to stand with Ukraine.

We must also call out others that continue to support Russia. China wants to talk about how we can do more economically with the European Union while continuing to support those carrying out a war on the Continent.

See this speech in context