Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. It is good that we are able to celebrate Europe Day and make statements on it. Ireland as a country is the perfect example of why the European Union is a success and we have benefitted on the back of that. It is important to acknowledge that if it were not for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporting this country in joining the European Union, it would not have happened and all the benefits on the back of that would not have happened either, or at least not until later.

We must remember that there are people, including children, dying today simply because they want to be part of the European Union. There are thousands of people in Ukraine and all they are seeking is freedom for their country and to be part of the European Union. They have simple requests, which have been mentioned by a number of people. They want more weapons but clearly Ireland does not play a role in that. We can play a role when it comes to equipment etc. Ukrainians want more sanctions on Russia, and the European Union has been very supportive on that matter. Ukraine is seeking more sanctions to defeat loopholes or other countries facilitating Russia or giving it opportunities through such loopholes.

Ukraine also wants sanctions against Russian media. One of the main points Ukraine wants to make is that this is a war by Russia and not just Mr. Putin. It is supported by the Russian people, although the information they are getting is one-sided. It is being supported by the Russian nation and until there are sanctions on television stations and people who work in media in Russia and the narrative is changed, the support for Putin will not change. Until that happens he will not be overthrown.

One of the key roles we can play in the next number of weeks is to support Ukraine with its candidate status in joining the European Union. It is a massive deal for the Ukrainian Government to ensure that goes through in June and is not delayed. The public perception is that European countries have been very supportive of Ukraine joining the European Union - Ireland has been more supportive than anybody else. People said this last week when I spoke with them. However, the Minister of State knows better than anyone that a number of countries are, at best, sceptical about Ukraine joining the Union. It is imperative that Ukraine receives candidate status for joining the European Union at the end of June.

The Minister of State knows that in war, propaganda and perception are just as important as anything else. If Ukraine does not receive that status in June, the propaganda put out by Russia will be that Europe does not want Ukraine. The argument from the start by the Russians is that Ukraine should come back to Russia and many Ukrainians want to be part of Russia. It is utter rubbish but the argument will be strengthened if, as sometimes happens in Europe, we say we need a bit more time to think about it and the issue is complex. All the matters can be resolved and this is just about giving candidate status to Ukraine.

We are a small country in Europe but we are very influential in our role. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, have done phenomenal work over the past number of months in flexing their muscles from a diplomatic perspective and ensuring the people of Ukraine are supported. It is imperative that they receive that status at the end of June. I spoke with Ukrainians last week and I know that would re-energise the Ukrainian Government and justify the fight being put in by its army. They will be able to see a future for themselves and their people. If the European Union can do that, the Ukrainians are utterly convinced they will win the war. On the back of that, they are utterly convinced that after that, Ukraine will be able to join the European Union.

I am drifting away from the topic of Europe Day but this is a critical point for the European Union. I understand the scepticism from some countries around taking in Ukraine but it will not survive unless it joins the European Union. That is the simple fact as Russia will always see it as an area it can occupy. Once it joins the European Union, that option will be gone. There is scepticism from what are predominantly larger countries - although they are not all large - but there is no other option than to take in Ukraine. We can play a massive role in persuading those countries to do that. I am thankful for the opportunity to speak.