Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is supporting the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57004/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Tá Ceist Uimh. 97 in ainm an Teachta Cleere ach tá an Teachta Lahart á thógáil ar a shon.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Tánaiste the way in which Ireland is supporting the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Lahart is doing a lot of heavy lifting this evening. I thank him for taking this question and I also thank Deputy 'Chap' Cleere for tabling the question. It is a really important issue and one that Ireland has genuinely tried to shine a spotlight on and has tried to work on in international coalitions for quite a period of time. We have been consistently condemning the deportation and the forcible transfer of children, which amounts in our view to a war crime or a crime against humanity. At the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday, I underlined our condemnation and our support for all efforts to hold Russia accountable for crimes against the Ukrainian people. The deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia or Belarus is part of a co-ordinated effort to erase Ukrainian identity. Let us not forget that. These children face Russian re-education so-called, vilification of their nationality, forced adoption and coercion to accept Russian citizenship. The idea of snatching somebody's child creates such a horror. As I have said previously, it is my firm belief that the forced displacement of many Ukrainian children is morally repugnant and I am sickened by what is happening to Ukrainian children.

On 23 September this year, during the United Nations high level week, the Taoiseach attended an event hosted by Ukraine and Canada, called Restoring Childhood and Humanity: Advancing Peace, where he underlined that the forced removal of children from their homes is one of the most callous and egregious crimes committed by Russia. Ireland is a member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. We are engaged in discussions on the future work of the coalition and on how it can support efforts to ensure the return of Ukrainian children to their families and communities. The European Council has condemned in the strongest terms Russia’s unlawful deportation and transfer to Russia and to Belarus of Ukrainian children. I also had the opportunity to speak with Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on these issues. As part of its overall response, Ireland has consistently supported strong sanctions against Russia in response to aggression in Ukraine, including a range of measures targeting individuals and entities involved in the forced transfer, deportation and military indoctrination of Ukrainian children. We note that such alleged crimes are the subject of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. We have raised this issue in all our statements in multilateral forums, in our national capacity and as part of the European Union.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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One thing this conflict has in common with what is going on in Gaza is that I cannot think of one single thing that would guarantee intergenerational conflict more than the use, abuse and the taking and maiming of children. It almost guarantees that the memory just simply cannot absolve itself of the horrors of it and that the atrocity will live on. In spite of that, the Ukrainian Government, through its ambassador, has expressed deep appreciation for the role that Ireland has played, particularly in the recent high level meeting of the coalition that has been established in New York in the last month or so, and for our continued active engagement. However, this is one of the most truly appalling crimes. It is a crime against humanity. It beggars belief and understanding as to how someone, a country, a government or a regime could stoop so low. I will not come back with a second comment so I am happy to take the Tánaiste's final response on this. It is truly one of the most appalling crimes that could be committed in a war situation or any situation.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is. When I attended the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland I attended a number of meetings on this with the then Prime Minister Trudeau. It is horrific. When I visited Ukraine, I visited Kyiv and I met with the International Red Cross and UNICEF and visited a centre that was working with children and families where there had been forced displacement. It is an absolute horror. I note that the First Lady of the United States has taken an active interest in this. That is a welcome development. I was encouraged that yesterday the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Commission talked about wanting to host its own summit on this in early 2026. Surely if we are moving towards, or can get to any moment of, peace, a ceasefire, or a cessation of hostilities, one of the first areas in which there could be progress is the return of children who effectively have been kidnapped and abducted from their families and from their nation.