Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We want to thank President Zelenskyy for his presentation today. I thank Ambassador Gerasko for being here and I thank her and her staff for the excellent work they have been doing over the last number of weeks. The Irish people and the Irish Government have been to the forefront in standing up and saying we will put our shoulders to the wheel and we will do everything collectively that we can do to support the people of Ukraine, the people who have had to come here literally with what is on their backs and the bags they can carry. We never thought that we would witness such an event in our lifetimes but I thank the Government, the Department of Education and all the agencies of the State for doing everything they can do. People are working night and day in their Departments. They should be acknowledged by all the parliamentarians here today from both Seanad Éireann and Dáil Eireann. We should thank those people because they are working long, extended hours trying to help those people.

In County Kerry, in Cahirsiveen, Killarney, Glenbeigh, Tralee and Tarbert, people have opened up their homes. People are working to try to ensure people have a safe, secure place for themselves and their children.I commend the teachers who are doing everything humanly possible to facilitate those young people and to keep them busy in their time here, to continue with their education and ensure they have the happiest time they can have in the circumstances. The Government deserves to be commended on the leadership it has shown in the last weeks in this horrendous event.