Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Notwithstanding other matters that may have happened today, I believe this is the most important debate to be happening in this House. It is not just about Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine but, rather, a question around the war in Europe and, indeed, a war on Europe by an increasingly aggressive Russia. I have to express my disappointment that while every other parliament in Europe has been debating and exploring this issue, this is the first time since the summer we have had the opportunity to have statements on this matter, even though I have requested it every week since we came back after the summer. It also reflects a lack of media coverage of the ongoing war in Ukraine. With some notable exceptions, we do not get the level of attention paid to what is happening. In many other countries in Europe, there is an exploration of what this means for those countries and Europe more widely. I criticise The Irish Times in particular, which decided to publish an opinion piece this week in which other European countries were criticised for deciding to invest in defence but yet not once in that opinion piece was the reason mentioned, that is, their fear of the threat coming from Russia.

I welcome the fact that President Zelenskyy is likely to come to Ireland in December. I called previously for him to be invited to address the joint Houses in person, as he previously did online. It would be welcome both to show our solidarity in these Houses and also to recognise the enormous contribution of those Ukrainians who came here, both before and after the war, and how they are contributing to all of our communities.

Next year, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the European Council of the European Union. It is at a critical period. We have always had a very proud record in support of enlargement. We need to use that period of our Presidency to do what we can to further Ukraine’s future membership of the European Union. In the same way in 1990, when Charles Haughey was Taoiseach, we held the Presidency and we supported a unified Germany becoming a member of the EU. In 2004, when Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach during that EU Presidency, we supported the largest ever accession when ten countries, including eight from central and eastern Europe, joined the EU. We should do whatever we can to support the accession of Ukraine and, indeed, other countries at that time.

I commend those members of the European Parliament - I note Barry Andrews, for instance, is currently in Ukraine - who have continued to ensure at a European level that all European countries, including Ireland, continue to show solidarity with Ukraine. Indeed, questions should be asked of some of our MEPs who have failed to show that solidarity over the last number of years.

We know about the horrors of the impact of the war in Ukraine. Yet, as I said, they are not sufficiently debated in this House. It is horrific that there are now an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred to areas under Russian control by the Russian defence forces. Think about that number - 20,000 children - and the impact that has on their families and, more importantly, the long-term trauma of those children. We know that Putin has no regard for the rights of those children. Yet, why is it that we are not doing enough to ensure that they are reunited with their families?

I wish to touch on a number of questions that we as a country need to address in our own context with regard to security and defence. I will start by referencing the Russian shadow fleet. RTÉ has previously reported that, based on intelligence, 245 shadow fleet vessels have passed through Irish waters more than 450 times in the first seven months of this year. A total of 72 of those vessels were named by intelligence as already being on sanctions lists and many of those were part of the Russian shadow fleet.

I find it bizarre that we are not calling this out in this House the whole time. We can be absolutely certain that if an American vessel was in Irish waters without permission, people in this House would rightly be criticising it and screaming and shouting. If an Israeli vessel was unlawfully in Irish waters, we would be having debates nearly every week about the issue. The Russian shadow fleet, though, is passing through without debate in this House and, quite frankly, without sufficient action being taken. I welcome the fact that Canada, which is at the other side of the exclusive economic zone and shares responsibility for much of the Atlantic, is now stepping up pressure against the Russian shadow fleet. In terms of our responsibility, particularly if we really are a neutral country, then we do need to take action, not only because this shadow fleet is engaged in sanction-busting but because many of these vessels are, for want of a better description, rust buckets. If any of them are in any way damaged or are transferring oil in the Atlantic or other parts of the world, there is a huge environmental risk and this will impact Irish waters. Yet, we have never had a debate about the Russian shadow fleet operating within our waters.

When we look at cyber infrastructure, again, people here know only too well about the HSE attack, which Deputy Duncan Smith referred to. Ultimately, it will have cost the State in excess of €500 million, but more importantly, lives were lost as a result of it. We are seeing increasing numbers of cyberattacks by Russia on Ireland and on other European states. This is because Russia does not respect Ireland's neutrality when it comes to cyberspace. It is determined to do anything to undermine states that believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We can see this too if we look at the attempts by Russia to influence Romania and Moldova in their elections. I have no doubt that we will see Russian bots trying to influence elections here in Ireland in the future and we need to be prepared for that.

I make no apologies for saying we need to stand in solidarity with our European partners and neighbours, in the same way they showed great solidarity with us when we faced the threats of Brexit. If we look at what has happened to our fellow European states, the Estonians, the Lithuanians and the Latvians can tell us plenty in terms of the cyberattacks over the last number of years, but it is not just about what has happened in recent years. Let us look at even just the last few months. In September alone, Members will be aware that 19 unarmed Russian drones landed in Poland. That was no accident. In Denmark, when European leaders, including the Taoiseach, were gathering, drone attacks led to the closure of the airports around Copenhagen. At the same time, three Russian MiG-31 jets violated Estonian airspace. We know, therefore, that Russia is showing increased aggression, not just to Ukraine but to other European countries. Indeed, Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, who is an SPD politician, a social democrat, has warned that he is now expecting increasing Russian escalation and has said that this past summer may have been the last summer Europe is at peace.

We should not, therefore, underestimate the threat being posed to Europe. This is no longer a conflict purely about Ukraine. This is about a war on Europe by an increasingly hostile Russian regime. I am someone who deeply believes in multilateralism and I am strongly committed to the UN Charter. Yet, there are those who believe that in this country we should not be preparing to deal with the potential threat of increased Russian aggression, and who believe that Russia will have no interest, somehow, in Ireland. I say we should be listening to our friends in the Baltics and in central and eastern Europe because they know from their experience exactly what is going on. Anybody in this House who expects Vladimir Putin to respect the UN Charter is clearly deluded. There is absolutely no hope of Putin respecting it.

It is really important that we continue to focus on providing whatever support we can - non-military support - to Ukraine. We need to continue to call out Russia at every international forum, whether it is for the cyberattacks, its brutal war against Ukraine, the abduction of children or the undermining of the UN Charter. This issue is incredibly important. I cannot figure out why, when we have Russian vessels operating in our waters, we are not debating this issue every week. Why are we not debating this issue when the key aspects of digital and energy infrastructure are under threat from Russian vessels and the shadow fleet operating in Irish waters? People say the Russians are not going to touch us. Well, they already are. Why do we think the Russian fleet and the shadow fleet are operating in Irish waters? Anybody in this House who has any doubts should talk to states like Finland and Sweden, states that share our perspective on the world, and they will tell them exactly about the threats we face. I believe that in this House and in many of the public debates, we have been naive and gullible about the threat being faced in Europe by Russia. We really need to finally face up to it.

I welcome the fact we are having a debate today. This has to be the top priority for our new Minister for foreign affairs. I wish her well in that role. We should have no doubt that in our Presidency of the EU Council next year, this will be an even bigger issue. The threat will be even more significant. When it comes to cybersecurity and protecting our waters, we are going to have to face up to it. We need to continue to show our support for Ukraine, but equally, we need to make sure this country and the rest of Europe are prepared for what is happening. I hope the Minister of State will bring this topic to her colleagues in the Government. I have been disappointed so far in that I do not believe this matter has received sufficient attention either in this House or by the Government, but by God, we are going to need to address it.

In the meantime, to the many people from Ukraine who have found their home here and found refuge, I continue to say "slava Ukraini". We will continue to support those people. You are welcome here. Thank you for your contribution. For however long it takes in your battle to uphold the principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, we will stand by you.

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