Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

Another figure that the Ukrainian ambassador cited was that 1,000 drones are being built every day in Russia. Those drones are not being used for delivering a cup of coffee or medicine, we all know that, stark as it is. The sanctions package is very interesting. An Irishman, David O'Sullivan, has the EU responsibility of monitoring sanctions and seeing how they impact. I attended a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in May when he provided his report which showed that yes, the sanctions are having an effect, not only on the oligarchs who prop up Putin's regime but also on the critical economic infrastructure of Russia. They are having an effect but it must be said that there are certain EU member states who restrict the ability for these sanctions to go as far as Ireland and like-minded countries would like. It must also be said that of all EU member states, Ireland comes top of the charts when it comes to adherence to and enforcement of these sanctions.

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