Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent telephone call with President Zelenskyy. [46841/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [48521/25]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [48527/25]

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his engagement with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. [51122/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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19. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [51664/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [51669/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his engagement with President Zelenskyy. [53244/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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22. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [55511/25]

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. [56998/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 23, inclusive, together.

The coalition of the willing is a group of more than 30 countries committed to strengthening support for Ukraine. I have attended leader level meetings of the coalition since it began its work in March. Over the summer, in July and August, US engagement aimed at ending the war in Ukraine led to increased diplomatic activity. A summit was held between Presidents Trump and Putin in Alaska in August. A meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy, together with European leaders, took place subsequently in Washington DC.

The coalition of the willing met on four occasions to discuss the outcomes of these meetings and to consider the next steps, most recently on 4 September. Discussions focused on progressing work on security guarantees for Ukraine that will underpin any ceasefire or peace agreement and provide assurances to Ukraine that it will not face a future invasion by Russia. These security guarantees aim, first and foremost, to support the Ukrainian military as the primary provider of security. They would also include a multinational reassurance force. There may also be a role for a peacekeeping force to monitor any ceasefire or peace agreement.

I have made clear to our partners in the coalition of the willing that Ireland would not join a reassurance force. In line with our long tradition of peacekeeping, however, Ireland is open to considering participation in an appropriately mandated peacekeeping mission. There was also agreement that Ukraine's accession to the European Union would form an important part of a package of comprehensive security guarantees for Ukraine. We have been steadfast in trying to accelerate accession for Ukraine to the European Union.

At the meetings of the coalition and at the informal meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen on 1 October, I underlined Ireland's strong support for Ukraine's European Union ambitions. I urged that the accession negotiations with Ukraine progress as quickly as possible. There was discussion at all meetings on the need to maintain pressure on Russia, including through more sanctions and other economic measures. The coalition of the willing will continue to work to support the achievement of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. In that context, I hope that the most recent initiatives from US President Trump lead to meaningful progress. I will be attending an online meeting of the coalition later this week.

The meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 23 October, which I will attend, will consider how to step up our support for Ukraine and efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a meaningful and inclusive peace process. I spoke by phone on 1 September with President Zelenskyy. We had a warm and substantial conversation during which I reaffirmed Ireland's strong support for Ukraine and the Government's commitment to a just and lasting peace. I invited President Zelenskyy to visit Ireland. I look forward to welcoming him in the near future. I expressed my solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the face of unrelenting Russian assaults and reiterated Ireland's readiness to continue to support Ukraine. I also restated previous commitments that Ireland will continue to work with partners to support Ukraine's path towards EU membership.

During my travels to New York for United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, high-level week on 23 September, I attended a meeting of the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children, co-chaired by President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Carney of Canada. On 24 September, I participated in a meeting of the international Crimea platform, which was also attended by President Zelenskyy. The meeting agreed the New York declaration which recommits to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, and which respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022 and was granted candidate status not long after that. Since then, significant progress has been made, with the screening progress reportedly completed in September 2025.

Will the Taoiseach provide an update on the current status of Ukraine's accession talks, progress made on any required reforms - if that information is available - and the key milestones that remain? Precisely how is Ireland supporting Ukraine's accelerated integration into the Union, especially in light of ongoing political challenges from some member states? Will the Taoiseach outline Ireland's diplomatic efforts to help build consensus among EU partners for Ukraine's full and timely accession?

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I echo the views expressed by the Taoiseach and my colleague Deputy Brennan on the fact that we need to continue to show solidarity with Ukraine and support, in every way possible, the people of Ukraine in their fight on the front line against Russian aggression. Whatever support we can provide while bearing in mind our policy of neutrality, must be provided. On cyber resilience and hybrid warfare, we need to work with our EU partners and Ukraine to combat Russian aggression. I welcome the moves we are making to provide support. The Taoiseach might outline what further supports will be provided during our EU Presidency in respect of Ukraine's accession. In that context, it is critical that we have a fully funded Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, that makes provision for Ukraine, which is a big producer of food, and that the next CAP will take into account an enlarged EU. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has invited President Zelenskyy to come to Ireland. I suggest that if he does come as part of the European political community, he might be invited to address a joint sitting of the Houses. I know he has done that previously on screen, but I think he would be accorded a very warm welcome and it would be good to hear from him directly.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We support Ukraine in the context of the absolutely brutal invasion by Russia. We would like to see proper development of a peace process and to do anything we can to facilitate that. We all know that communications from the White House are, at times, not necessarily things we can absolutely stand by. There is talk of a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest. The Taoiseach has had engagement on this, particularly at European level. How does he see this progressing? All efforts need to be made - Russia is the aggressor - in the context of delivering a proper peace process. We have seen the issues even here. There has been increase in the number of younger men coming here. We have to work on the basis that they are men who are not looking to be involved in a war. We really need to create the conditions to bring about peace.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Taoiseach's former Cabinet colleague and now preferred choice for President, Heather Humphreys, took part in a radio debate about a week ago during which she said that Irish troops should not be stopped from being sent to Ukraine by a Russian veto. Is that the Taoiseach's position? Is he in favour of sending Irish troops to Ukraine without Russian consent? Doing so would mean placing their lives in very serious danger because they would be seen as hostile forces by Russia if they were sent there despite its opposition. It would also presumably mean that there would be no peace agreement. They would not be peacekeeping troops. In other words, they would be part of a NATO- or EU-led military intervention rather than an international peacekeeping force.

To be clear, I am opposed to the Russian invasion. I call for Russia's unconditional withdrawal. I call for the right of ordinary people in Ukraine to decide, but I am against Irish troops----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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To decide what?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The right of ordinary people in Ukraine to decide what their future is. I am against sending Irish troops to participate----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What does that mean? Russia is giving them no chance. It is just bombing them.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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That is why I am calling for the immediate, unconditional----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is weasel language.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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How is it? I am calling for people----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is classic, formulaic stuff from you.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I appeal to the Chair to stop the Taoiseach from intervening.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I apologise.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I will restate my basic points. I am opposed to the criminal invasion. I call for the immediate withdrawal of all forces. It is the right of Ukrainian people to decide their future; it is not for Russia to decide. I am against sending Irish troops to participate in a war against Russia in Ukraine. I am asking the Taoiseach whether he agrees with his candidate in the presidential election that this is what we should do.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Did you listen to my reply?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I did. I am asking you a question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Why do you ignore it?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I am asking you a question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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You distort everything. That is just stock in trade.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Feel free to answer the question.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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I was going to ask a question about the presence of Russian assets in Ireland and reparations to Ukraine, but I want to raise the manner in which some questions were put to the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions about the terrible crime against a child that happened at an IPAS centre in Saggart yesterday. There was a clear conflation made between delayed deportations and risks to children in some of those questions. That is a dangerous narrative to put out.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is a separate matter. We dealt with it earlier. Come on. We are on Ukraine now.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy, please confine your contribution to the question submitted.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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It is about refugees and asylum seekers and our political responsibility towards them.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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This is about Ukraine.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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There is a very febrile atmosphere out there for refugees and asylum seekers. It is incumbent on us to be very careful with our words in here in order that we do not inflame tensions further. It was remiss of the Taoiseach, as leader of the country, not to take issue with the narrative that was put to him in some of those questions. He was practically ingratiating in response to Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice when the latter made that narrative very clear. That is something the Taoiseach really needs to push back on.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The territorial integrity of any nation state is a sacrosanct principle and should guide any of our interventions in the area of foreign policy. What preparations are being made by the Government in terms of the overall reparations that need to be made to the Ukrainian people at the end of the war? How will the Government support a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine in the future to ensure that whatever war crimes have been committed during this war by the Russian aggressor will be dealt with properly, fairly and in a just way in order to give true justice to the people of Ukraine when the conflict comes to an end?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the Deputies for raising those various issues. Deputy Brennan raised the key issue of Ukraine's accession process. Ukraine has responded very well to the framework that governs accession. Basically, it involves reform. Ukraine has carried out a lot of reforms, which the Commission has acknowledged to the membership of the EU Council. The Commission has also stated that Ukraine has been extremely positive in terms of meeting the various standards required. One of the big issues we have is that Hungary continues to oppose the formal opening of the first chapter, even though we would argue that the European Council had agreed to the accession process in an earlier vote over a year ago. At the same time, there is a parallel negotiating process in terms of approximating Ukraine to the various standards that would apply to different chapters. It is very regrettable that Hungary has behaved in such a manner. It is really endeavouring to stifle and stop Ukraine from joining.

Key milestones have been reached. There is ongoing interaction with the Commission. We have offered support in terms of providing personnel, namely people from Ireland who would have previous experience of the European Union, to help with Ukraine. We have offered funding on the humanitarian side and so forth. What we can also do - we do this with other accession states - is in terms of training of public servants, utilising the IPA and so on. We are very open to helping the country on progressing the reforms and understanding how the EU works.

We have been strongest in terms of making sure that this matter is on the agenda at every meeting. In the previous Government, I would have been, in or around 2021, one of the minority pushing for accession. From a geopolitical perspective, it is a no-brainer. It has to happen. That has helped the western Balkans, even though the states there were worried Ukraine would go ahead with Moldova. Now it is accepted that enlargement, as an issue, is back firmly on the EU. It had been fairly dormant for ten years, if we are honest. It can be a long process. Hungary is really undermining the process, but we are working with Hungary and with others. My latest encounter with the President of the Council, Antonio Costa, was on Ukraine membership.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne raised very important issues in terms of cyber resilience, hybrid warfare and further supports. Deputy Shane Moynihan raised similar issues in two separate strands.

On hybrid warfare, Russia is becoming far more risk-averse or reckless, is the word I would use, in terms of violating the territorial integrity of member states of the European Union through drone violations, aeroplane violations, hybrid attacks on Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and in terms of the monitoring of subsea cables and of the gas networks between Britain and Ireland. Ireland is under threat from Russia. We should have no doubt about that. We are not immune. We are not some safe haven. It is not the case that every other member state is under pressure but we are not. The drone violations in Denmark were calculated to intimidate before the European political community met and before the informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen. That was what they was about. We should be under no illusions in that regard. As the Prime Minister of Denmark said, the pattern of behaviour is clear.

It is not an accident in the Baltic Sea when an anchor takes a gas connection or a cable with it. These are not accidents any more. The shadow fleet is very dangerous. A lot of those vessels are old but they are dual use. They are also environmental disasters waiting to happen. This is very serious because they are transporting loads of oil to India and other places. These are very real concerns that Deputy Byrne raised. I take his point in terms of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Deputy Shane Moynihan raised the issue of reparations. I link that back to some aspects of what Deputy Byrne was saying as well. As regards the immobilised assets, there is a big debate ongoing at the moment at European level. We have used the windfall from those assets. In other words, the interest accrued has already been used. I am strongly of the view that when a country like Russia invades and destroys another country, it cannot be Europe that has to rebuilt it. There has to be a financial and economic deterrent into the future. The immobilised assets should be used for the rebuilding of Ukraine. The ECB and others have issues with this from a monetary system perspective. Belgium has issues because it is the home country of Euroclear. There are issues, but it is valid to use immobilised assets in this context because of the destruction that has occurred. Countries cannot violate the UN Charter willy-nilly and then expect the good, honest countries and, I will be straight about it, the European Union pony up all of the time. That is an ongoing issue at EU Council level.

Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of the summit in Budapest and so on. President Trump, if we are honest, has some unorthodox methods of making peace, but he is focused on peace. He does not like war. He thinks war is irrational and he wants to end wars. I hope that applies in the context of Ukraine and that we can get traction to get the war stopped. However, Russia has shown no interest-----

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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No.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----in ending this war.

I regret that I had to interrupt Deputy Murphy, but I just noticed his language. He deliberately ignored what I said earlier, namely that we had made it very clear to the coalition of the willing that we would not be part of a reassurance force. I said that in the House. Then I said that we would be willing to be part of a peacekeeping force if it was to monitor the ceasefire line, for example. Yet, he just ignored that and tried to implicate that we would be conscripting Irish troops to a war in Ukraine. He does distort the situation. He-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I did not mention conscription.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is what you are saying.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Taoiseach is getting ahead of himself.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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You said, "send Irish troops to war".

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Who is your presidential candidate? The Taoiseach can criticise her, no problem.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No. You know the presidential candidate. I have no doubt that she was talking about a peacekeeping role, but you just choose-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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No.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Then you use language like "I oppose". What about the term "I condemn"?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I condemn.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Grand. Keep going.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I have said it a million times.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, but it is very formulaic. I have noticed it over the years. Look at how many times you guys talk about Russia in the House. You will talk about the United States until the cows come home. You will talk about the European Union until the cows come home-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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When I was in the European Parliament, I spoke about Russia and Putin-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- but you do not talk about Iran, about Russia or about all the others.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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-----five or six times and Fianna Fáil MEPs did not mention Putin once. I checked the record on that.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Murphy-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Again, the Ukrainian people have decided. They decided a long time ago that they want to belong. That is the other bit of language you used. You said that it is up to Ukraine to decide, as if there is an issue. Ukraine has decided on its self-determination. You guys have never been sympathetic to Ukraine, if the truth be told. That is the bottom line. Sinn Féin was with the People Before Profit-Solidarity in 2014 when Crimea was invaded. I read all the stuff, and the Sinn Féin line-----

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is just running down the clock in order that he will not have to answer the question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----about Nazis in Ukraine and all the rest of it. You guys had a soft underbelly for the Russians for a long time.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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Jesus.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What Deputy Quaide said was unfair on Deputy Fitzmaurice. I thought Deputy Fitzmaurice was reasonable in what he presented. There is a tendency on the Opposition's side to be intolerant. I saw how they all interrupted Deputy Fitzmaurice on Leaders' Questions. He raised legitimate points. He said there should be a debate. I did not get the sense that he was deliberately trying to stir up fear or hatred. I have been very strong on this. I do not need lectures from anybody in this House about supporting diversity and multiculturalism or supporting people irrespective of ethnicity, colour or creed. It is wrong to put that construction on how I responded to Deputy Fitzmaurice or, indeed, on my contributions on the issue yesterday evening. I fully accept Deputy Quaide's point that there is a febrile atmosphere out there. However, I do not think what was said was fair to Deputy Fitzmaurice. That is my view. I ask Deputy Quaide to reflect on that.

A lot of people get brassed off when they think they are being told they cannot talk about something or they cannot raise issues.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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It is not a legitimate debate.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That view is out there.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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If it is a false narrative that is putting vulnerable people at risk. That is not legitimate debate.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are a lot of people out there who feel they cannot talk about migration. We cannot just dismiss people's fears and anger. What happened last evening will create fear.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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We need to be very careful about how we make that point.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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One hundred per cent, but I genuinely do not think Deputy Fitzmaurice misrepresented the matter. We can disagree on it, but I just do not think that was where he was coming from. We need to be careful. Everyone has the right to speak in the House. There is a tendency that if people say certain things on the issue of migration they get shouted down straight away. It is a very complex issue, and it is very difficult. What happened last evening adds to that difficulty and complexity.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Taoiseach comment on the possibility of President Zelenskyy addressing a joint sitting of the Houses?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Apologies. We will go through the programme for President Zelenskyy when he confirms a date. He is anxious to come. He has indicated he wants to come. I think we have a timeline and certainly that address would be on the agenda. Have we run out of time again?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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He says hopefully.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Never, Deputy. I always encourage our engagement.