Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cáineann Sinn Féin gníomhaíochtaí na Rúise agus iad ag sárú teorainn na hÚcráine. I express Sinn Féin's condemnation for the actions of Russia in violating the national territorial integrity of Ukraine. We all stand united in the House, and that is very important, in condemning the latest invasion we have seen in the past 24 hours. We call for all of the necessary diplomatic and political response the State can bring to bear. As other colleagues have said, we have already seen the real humanitarian impact that will play out before our eyes unless there is a step back from these actions. As I encouraged last week, it would be useful for the House to hear an update from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or whoever the Government deems appropriate, on how the State will use its role on the UN Security Council to co-ordinate humanitarian responses to ensure there is support for those who will be fleeing and seeking refuge, and that the necessary aid and support is delivered to people who will, no doubt, suffer as a result of these actions. This has to be first and foremost in our minds. We need to lean into that international role. We need to lean into our own experience of peace building and conflict resolution. As other colleagues have said, such breaches of international law need to be met with sanction.

I want to reference steps we could take. The State has its own responsibility in this regard. Russia and Vladimir Putin's inner circle possess large amounts of offshore wealth. The IFSC is a major source of finance to the Russian economy, with €118 billion funnelled from the IFSC to Russia between 2005 and 2017, second only to Luxembourg. Often this has been through section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, an issue my colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, has raised in the other House a number of time. For example, VEB, a Russian state investment company whose supervisory board has been controlled by members of Vladimir Putin's Government, raised $9.3 billion between 2010 and 2013 through a section 110 vehicle. We need to hear whether the Government will end the use of section 110 companies, many of which have charitable status, to funnel funds that could be connected to the Russian state apparatus and Vladimir Putin's inner circle. I would welcome the opportunity to have these statements. I join colleagues in sending our solidarity and support to the Ukrainian people at this time.