Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask Senator Sherlock to listen to Dr. Ronan Collins’s remarks on the renaming of the road on this morning’s "Today with Claire Byrne". There are lessons in it for all of us, notwithstanding the need to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. I would advise her to listen to that radio interview. It was an interesting interview with a resident who is supportive of the people of Ukraine. There is a need for us all to reflect on that.

I commend those involved in the Global Greening campaign on asking for world landmarks to be lit up in the Ukrainian colours this year and to pause the greening of world landmarks in our colours. It is a wonderful gesture and it is one we should support. Today is day 15 of the war in Ukraine. The mayor of Kyiv cited a very interesting statistic in his press conference this morning. Two million people, or one in two, have fled the city. I was there three years ago election monitoring for the OSCE, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Parliamentary Assembly. They are beautiful people and Kyiv is a beautiful city. One in two fled the capital city. I hope our Taoiseach, who is travelling to Versailles today, will join with the German Chancellor and President Macron in asking for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. It is just heart-breaking.

This morning I talked to a friend of mine who had been in Kyiv working but who is now back in the USA. I heard stories of people with whom he worked who are missing or gone, with hope abandoned. It is just appalling. Pausing the greening of landmarks is a small symbol.

I request that the Ministers for Justice and Social Protection come to the House after the St. Patrick’s Day break to discuss how we, as a country, will facilitate the Ukrainian people. Let us not call them refugees even though they are since they are fleeing. They are people coming to our country and we should assist them in their repatriation.