Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of colleagues have raised Ukraine this morning. I wish to note two things, the first being the pregnant lady. I agree with Senator Sherlock in that I do not think that photograph will ever be erased from my mind. I note also the very elderly lady who was being carried away in a blanket by two soldiers and the sheer fear on her face. The gentleman on this morning’s programme said they do not even have time to dig graves because of the bombing and the shelling. He had no idea who the 47 bodies were who were buried in an unmarked grave yesterday. It is only a tiny flavour of the horrific situation and the evil being displayed and yet Senator Buttimer talked about the compassion that is being displayed by all countries, but none less than what is going on at Poland at the moment. I am in awe at the generosity of Polish people and will not to try to define the reasons other than their generous, compassionate nature. They are also living in fear that it could be their country next.

Senator Buttimer is right in regard to the world leaders meeting in Versailles this afternoon. The international leaders who are talking to each other on a daily basis need to do more. It is easy for us to stand here and commend the solidarity we have. I absolutely concur with colleagues that it would have been absolutely trite for us as a nation to light up and continue with the greening we normally enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day when there are humanitarian crises going on in all the neighbouring countries of Ukraine and an absolute vision of evil going on in the cities Senator Buttimer and other colleagues talked about. It is hard to fathom in this day and age that evil still exists. It is inexplicable. I acknowledge everyone’s contributions this morning.

I have a humanitarian response debate organised for the schedule the week we come back. Our personal response, as a country, on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Justice, should be outlined and I will invite both of them to come in after St. Patrick’s Day.

Senator Craughwell talked about the Defence Forces report. It sometimes puts us to shame how quickly other people can respond. It is not to deny the responses that we have already made, but I acknowledge what he said. I will bring his comments to the Minister for Defence. I am also flabbergasted that a new PPQ has to be issued. I wish him continued success in his investigations and I have no doubt they will come to something.

A number of colleagues welcomed yesterday's third decrease on the excise duty on oil, petrol, diesel and industrial oil. Everybody is right. My husband has become obsessed with checking petrol prices, as I am sure most people in the country have, and not just between petrol stations, but between countries. Colleagues reflected on the fact that on the hour we saw petrol stations increase their prices on the basis of the anticipated reduction. It is absolutely shameful and a stain on the economies of the large companies that enjoy the profits they make from Irish people but particularly the profits they are now making off the misery the Ukrainian people are going through. It is absolutely a stain on those companies and their management. We should call it out daily until it is recognised and reversed.