Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Norris. It is great to see him here today. That is the spirit which has people from our country bringing humanitarian aid to the conflict zone, with medicines to tend to the wounded and meals to feed the hungry people President Zelenskyy spoke about. They bring defensive shields against the weapons of war. It is in that spirit that the Irish people have opened and will open their doors to provide sanctuary and shelter for women and children in particular fleeing conflict while their men stay at home. It is going to be difficult and challenging beyond compare, which we all know, but we are committed to this work.

I will quote one of the other leaders who has spoken here, former Chancellor Kohl of Germany. In addressing this House he said we are "European by conviction" and that is true. It is our conviction as a small State and nation that allows us to strengthen when we work in co-operation and collaboration with European colleagues. It is appropriate today to quote two lines from the preamble of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which governs this relationship.It states that the signatories are:

INTENDING to confirm the solidarity which binds Europe and the overseas countries and desiring to ensure the development of their prosperity, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, [and]

RESOLVED by thus pooling their resources to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty, and calling upon the other peoples of Europe who share their ideal to join in their efforts...

We heard today that just such a call has come from the people of a European nation to be part of those efforts. I agree with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that our answer to widen and broaden the European family, on this most western outpost of Europe, is to say yes, that that ideal is not an exclusive one. It should not be constrained. It will be stronger when we spread those democratic ideals.

I will quote one last person, Nelson Mandela, who spoke here so eloquently after he had reached and achieved his freedom. He said: "Nothing can stop the evolution of humanity towards the condition of greater and ever-expanding freedom". He went on to say: "We ask that you stay the course with us, we need your support for the democratic perspectives that we represent." On that call for support for democratic systems, our European democratic system is absolutely founded in realising that it requires us to follow the rule of law, with all the conflicts, contradictions, complexities and compromises that sometimes involves. That is what we are standing up here for today and what we need to do. It may take time. We have to answer what Nelson Mandela called for us to do - to be willing to stay the course in the face of other challenges that it will present, as we stop the use of those fossil fuels and provide our homes, schools, healthcare and other social services. Staying the course will be difficult, but I expect this House and our people are up for that challenge, one of the greatest of our time.