Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As are my colleagues I am quite frankly stunned by the actions of a brutal dictator and imperialist, Vladimir Putin, in Ukraine. This very much fits in with the regressive foreign policy Russia has adopted over recent years. For example, supporting the brutal dictator Assad in Syria. I hear a lot of people speaking about the biggest war on our doorstop since the Second World War. It is also important to remember Russia's role in the Balkans. It is not 30 years since we had a brutal civil war in the Balkans. It is on the verge of breaking out again. For example, there was Russia's role in not recognising Kosovo for a very long time and in supporting Syria. This is part of an aggressive foreign policy it has adopted on its eastern flank. It is alleged that in 2005, Russia poisoned the Ukrainian opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko. This led to the October revolution. We also saw outbreaks in 2014.

This has not happened out of nowhere. Russia has pursued a very aggressive strategy, particularly since Vladimir Putin took over. It has worsened. I never thought I would see the day there would be boots on the ground going from Russia to a neighbour in Ukraine. I always thought it would use its playbook of cyberattacks, financial measures, funding opposition and Cold War tactics. It is a dark day for Europe and I urge the Irish Government to have a harsh response in terms of sanctions. What the Taoiseach said today is very important. What gives one man the ability to decide that other young men aged 18, 19 or 20 will have their lives taken from them? It is a failure of international diplomacy. It is also a long-planned attack by Vladimir Putin and we have all been played.

I want to raise an issue that is raising disquiet among many people. This is the change in the tenant purchase scheme lowering the eligibility threshold to allow old age pensioners to be included. The timeline for individuals and couples has been extended from one year to ten years. Many people who were applying for the tenant purchase scheme and putting together their P60s have suddenly been told they are no longer eligible. The statutory instrument was signed off at the end of January. Will the Minister reconsider this for people in the process of the tenant purchase scheme so they are still able to apply and are not cut off suddenly?