Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the Members of the Ukrainian Parliament and thank them for taking the time to address and listen to us and, most important, for putting the work of sovereignty into practice and demonstrating Ukraine as a sovereign state through its Parliament and parliamentarians and the continuation of Ukrainian Members' work representing the people of Ukraine in Kyiv and here. The proof of sovereignty is when the representatives of the state speak as they have and are strong in their voice, as they have been today.

It is right and proper that a few months ago this House passed a motion that unequivocally expressed our solidarity with Ukraine and condemned the Russian invasion as a breach of international law and the UN Charter. It was an imperialist act which breached the UN Charter, particularly the right to self-determination of nations. That charter is a fundamental document that came not out of wishful thinking but out of a moment of full understanding of the horrors of war following Second World War, much as the European Union structures came into place at that time. It has as its first line the commitment to do all we can to protect future generations from the scourge of war. Fundamental for Ireland and the reason Ireland has a strong voice and can achieve things that other countries might not be able to is that Ireland is a voice on international law and the principles thereof. That was put in place because of knowledge of what war can do in its worst face. Ireland being a neutral nation is not an apathetic thing. It is an active role Ireland has had as a champion of international law which engages on issues of principle and pushes, as I have experienced as somebody who engages internationally as a parliamentarian.

In prior years, some aspects of the Russian Government have worked to undermine international multilateral spaces, international negotiations and those common languages. There are those in Russia who would be comfortable with us moving back to a world of big powers and might. That is why we must use every instrument of international diplomacy and of our multilateral structures, including the United Nations. It is not just about the Security Council, where we are hitting blocks; the UN General Assembly and the European Union are all parts. We need to use every diplomatic and international legal tool we have, including the International Criminal Court, and diplomatic measures such as sanctions, which are an effective hard diplomacy tool that could and should be used with more strength. This is somewhere Ireland can push and contribute.

I note two of the Ukrainian Members present are members of economic and finance committees and will be aware of the importance thereof. Our finance committee in Ireland is looking at section 110 companies and at the financial structures in Ireland and many countries which may allow oligarchs to hide their assets and indirectly contribute to the funding of war and the machines of war.

Regarding the arms industry, a strong action we could take would be to stop funding arms in the Russian state. That is important and significant. Ireland has had a role. We saw horrifying reports last week from Amnesty International on cluster munitions. They breach international law and must be prosecuted in international courts. Ireland, as an example of where our neutrality has been tested, was the country that negotiated a global ban on cluster bombs. Only a handful of countries, including Russia, have not signed up to that ban. The fact that such horrific tools that target civilians are an exception rather than the rule is thanks to the power Ireland was able to exert.

It is especially important now when we see blockages at the UN Security Council that we have General Assembly motions on humanitarian corridors. Ms Shkrum's past is in working with refugees and she has worked with displaced people around the world. The importance of that humanitarian work is fundamental, especially now when we face the humanitarian crisis of refugees and that being visited by the immoral use of food as a weapon of war. That is never acceptable, whether in Yemen, Eritrea, Ukraine or in those countries Senator Ward described as being held hostage to this war and the manoeuvres of big powers. It must be condemned and acted on. These are things we can do.

I will finish with a comment on the future. That quote on the laughter of the children is very powerful. Ireland should, can and must accelerate the accession of Ukraine to the European Union but there is other work of peace, including the role of women in peace negotiations and the 13-25 principle. We know that is what makes peace negotiations work They must be strongly in it. President Zelenskyy mentioned community development when he addressed the Oireachtas. That long work of peacebuilding is there. We will be there to support Ukraine in all of that and look forward to a future where children will be laughing and there will be a strong, independent sovereign Ukraine, fully part of every aspect of the European Union and our shared world.