Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the Ukrainian people who have arrived on our island. I also commend the generosity of the Irish people to date. Where does one even begin? What we are watching is totally inhumane, grotesque and deeply unnecessary. It is difficult to watch and sometimes we switch off from the news. What a privileged position that is to be in to be able to do that. It is certainly not a privilege enjoyed by Ukrainian people either at home under siege or abroad watching on. They have shown incredible courage, bravery and heroism. Obviously, they have our unwavering solidarity.

As a non-aligned nation and a member of the UN Security Council, Ireland has an important role to play in providing leadership in terms of the humanitarian effort that is required. We should be leading the drive at the UN for the opening of humanitarian corridors to provide relief and assistance to civilians. I welcome that the Minister indicated in his contribution that we have called for unrestricted safe passage for civilians out of areas of military operations. I acknowledge that part of his speech. Hopefully that will bear fruit. It is the least any person can expect; the right to international protection.

The priority for everyone must be to end the invasion and secure full Russian withdrawal form Ukraine. The economic sanctions have been welcome but they need to be strengthened at the meeting of the European Council. Now is not the time for incremental strengthening. We need maximum sanctions. The Irish Government should press for that.

The Government indicated some time ago that rather than expelling the Russian ambassador from Dublin we would do something else in terms of a diplomatic response. I am not sure what steps have been taken in that regard. We are all aware of Putin’s diplomatic footprint across Europe. That needs to be challenged, certainly in Ireland where security experts have questioned the size and scale of its operation here.

In terms of the plan, the humanitarian crisis we are watching demands action from all of us but we need to see the detail of where people will be accommodated and how this will all work in practice. It would be remiss of me not to mention that countries in Africa, as we read in the news, are at risk of famine due to their reliance on goods coming from Russia and Ukraine.

In the context of this debate, I am concerned when I hear the Minister, Deputy Coveney, talk about the EU’s strategic compass, saying that Ireland would play a significant role in the EU rapid reaction force. Neutrality is central to our foreign policy. Our blue helmet work has allowed Ireland to make a major contribution to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts around the world. Irish people are proud of that tradition. At all times there must be someone in the room who is not militarily aligned.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Is there a single Department responsible for the national response? Is that his Department? Numerous Departments are involved in it. The Minister might address that point.