Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Fine Gael group for putting forward this motion and framing it very carefully in terms of international law. When we talk of sides and approaches, the key thing is that Ireland has been unequivocal in condemning Russia’s aggression and invasion of Ukraine because it is a breach of international law and the UN Charter, which calls on and requires countries to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of another state. That is very important. To place that frame at the beginning of the motion is crucial.

Much of Ireland’s power internationally comes from the fact we are seen as champions of international law and we come with a political record of having championed non-engagement in issues. The non-aligned and active neutrality we have had is not about passivity or not doing things; it is about Ireland operating on a politics of principle, on international multilateral principles, on being known to be consistent and strong in how seriously we take them and being willing to criticise wherever the breach might happen and on the fact that we do not operate simply in the politics of kind of big powers or client states or a kind of a simple version of allies and interests. The idea that we engage on principles rather than interests is fundamental to Ireland’s credibility and its power in the world. That is why, for example, Ireland was able to negotiate the ban on cluster munitions. Unfortunately, Russia was one of three or four countries in the world that did not sign up for it and has shamefully used them in its atrocious attacks on Ukraine. Again, Ireland has contributed and been powerful in that way.

Another part of this motion refers to Ireland being to the forefront at United Nations level and in the General Assembly because we know the blocks that are happening at the Security Council. In fact, by being able to engage with the hundreds of countries in the General Assembly that go beyond just the EU countries, Ireland is a crucial bridge in building international-wide support and condemnation of Russia’s breaches of human rights and international law.

Sanctions are a legitimate part of hard diplomacy, and I have always argued that this is part of diplomacy, including in relation to situations such as Israel’s occupation of Palestine. I am glad Ireland has been to the forefront in applying sanctions. I have literally just come from the finance committee where we discussed how we ensure we do not just look to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, SWIFT, issue, but that we make sure that assets of some of the named and listed oligarchs who act as support for Mr. Putin internally are genuinely tracked down throughout our financial services sector. That is very important.

Crucially, where Ireland has been incredibly important is in terms of humanitarian leadership, including in the argument for humanitarian access corridors, in emergency supplies and in terms of ensuring we help get people to safety. I commend those points, arguments, suggestions and pragmatic ideas in the motion on how we make that humanitarian support real and practical.

The temporary protection directive is a very good thing. This is something that allows Ukrainian refugees to come to any part of the EU. It is a pity this was not used in respect of Syria. The European Parliament had asked that the same directive be used in respect of the Syrian refugees in 2015. Again, there were refugees and hospitals in Syria were bombed by Russian bombs. It was an early signal of inappropriate action. We should have been addressing the same humanitarian action and intensive diplomatic response at that time.

In respect of the refugee issues, there are a couple of issues I want to slightly highlight. One of the lines in the motion talks of mainly women and children arriving in Ireland. It is very important to sound a cautionary note here and that we do not create a dynamic where we create a stigma if there are, for example, refugees who are men from Ukraine. Albert Einstein was a refugee and his contribution was pretty immense in terms of setting up the International Rescue Committee. I am not suggesting that is the intention at all, but it is a phrase that is being used in the media a lot. In fact, it is very important, in that LGBTQ and environmental activists, for example, would be particularly vulnerable at this time. We should recognise that there will be many different kinds of people who will need to seek refuge. What I like about this motion is that it looks not just to give people safety, but to ensure they still have opportunities to contribute, continue with their education or employment and to contribute to society in that way.

Lastly, I note again, in a note of hope in a difficult time, that there is much study of how wars start, but less attention is often paid to how wars end. As one of the other speakers said, it comes through very difficult negotiation. I hope that we will have some progress and success in the current negotiations. I wish President Zelenskiy and others well in those negotiations. I know that, for example, being a neutral state is perhaps one of the outcomes that may come. I hope Ukraine is able to be a neutral state within the European Union. I hope that option to be a member state of the European Union is available to it. That will be important. We all hope for the best in that.

I support and comment the motion. I thank all of those across this House who have consistently worked together on issues of human rights. That is something the Seanad can be very proud of.