Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House, and recognise and thank him for the leadership he has shown on this particular issue on behalf of the Government and the people. Many striking issues arise from this outrageous act of barbarism perpetrated by an evil thug. One of the most striking is that we did not really see it coming. Notwithstanding the best available intelligence, the international community felt that it was a bluff. That outcome was designed and delivered through the way in which information was provided through various different sources by the Russian Federation. It was about presenting the idea that it was strengthening its army, training and doing various manoeuvres while it clearly had a strategy and plan all of the time. It is really disturbing that it did this before our wide-open eyes. However, it has happened and we now have to react.

I recognise the role the Government played in working behind the scenes to make the package of sanctions really effective. The work the Minister and the Taoiseach have done in recent days has not gone unnoticed at European level. As others have said, the sanctions are biting. When we consider the extent to which the rouble has been devalued and the efforts the Russian Federation is deploying at a financial and economic level to try to shore up its currency, it can be that it is fighting a rearguard action that I suspect it did not expect. The removal of some key banks from the SWIFT system has been really effective. We have to keep that up and go much further.

The Minister has rightly identified a way of addressing our military non-alignment. However, there is a debate to be had on that, although it is one for another day. I know that debate is opening up from listening to Joe Duffy. I happened to be in the car both yesterday and today when that debate was ongoing. There are people who quite frankly cannot understand our position of being non-aligned militarily. We need to have that debate as a people at another time. That purpose would probably be best served by a citizens' assembly, or some other format, in due course.

For now, it is about doing everything we can. We are leading the way at European level on that. The Minister has talked about the purchase of helmets, blankets and various other elements to fuel the machine that is driving the resistance. All of that is good stuff. However, we have to move to the humanitarian aspect. I acknowledge that the Government, through the Minister's Department and the Department of Justice, is working on a programme to work with the refugees when they come. The Minister will get a lot of support from Irish people on that. I was at Shannon Airport late on Sunday night to meet a family who have contacts in the region and who were coming from Poland. I have seen the reaction of people on the ground. They want to help. While I was waiting for my speaking slot, I received a text from a woman saying that she is not going to stand by. She has a room in her house and wants to take in a family. There is a lot of goodwill and I hope the Government, through the NGOs or some other means, will be able to harness that enthusiasm and desire to help.

Many different communities are taking up collections at the moment. However, it is worth pointing out that the relief agencies and NGOs are saying that what they want is money rather than equipment. I know people are really trying to make an effort and have the best will in the world but, with money, the necessary goods can be purchased rapidly on the ground rather than having to truck equipment from Ireland to the front line. The Minister will know better than most that there is a humanitarian crisis along the borders of the countries that are most affected as refugees come across from Ukraine. We have to play our role in providing the appropriate funding in that regard.

All the words of condemnation of Putin are for naught; it is now about action. I have every faith in the Minister, his Department, the Minister for Justice and the Government in general to put in place a package of measures that will be embracing and in tune with where the Irish people are at. They want us to do everything we can to ease the suffering of these people. The Minister rightly identified in reply to another Senator that many of these people will not be going home anytime soon. Sadly, many of the women and children who will come here will not have a home to go back to. The sad reality is that their sons, husbands and partners will not be there when they go back. As they leave to cross the border, it is most likely the last time they will see many of them. That is the striking reality. The Irish State cannot be in this for the short haul and I know we will not. The Irish people will want us to make these people a home in Ireland, where they will become valued members of our community. We have to work with education partners, social partners and everybody else to make them as welcome as possible. There is never a happy ending to war. Sadly, as we see mothers and children coming through, we know there will unfortunately be no happy ending for them.