Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I bring greetings from Poland, where I attended an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, meeting last week in the parliamentary Chamber in Warsaw. I visited alongside Senator Cassells and Members of the Dáil and we were assisted by members of the Irish Embassy in Poland, who always do us proud, receive us well and brief us well. Two things were palpable during our visit. First, everywhere we went, we were met with endorsement and warmth from the people of Poland for what the Irish people have done for their country over many years.

More important was the response from the many Ukrainians we met and spoke to at the OSCE meeting. One Ukrainian delegate read a short letter a little six-year-old boy called Ivan had written to St. Nicholas. The boy said in the letter he would not ask for the tricycle or toy train he asked for last Christmas and did not get. Instead, he had three requests, namely, that his father would come home, he would have light and he would have water. It was a very moving letter. The president of the OSCE suggested that we turn the entire Parliament into darkness and she then asked everyone to turn on the torch on their mobile telephones. It may be seen on the OSCE website and on Twitter how the beaming lights from the telephones of hundreds of delegates from all the jurisdictions of the OSCE shone on the ceiling of the Chamber. It was a reminder, albeit for a few minutes, of the darkness, isolation and loss the Ukrainian people are having to endure. The switching on of the light was a powerful gesture and I would like other Parliaments to take an opportunity to do the same between now and Christmas. The building was in darkness for five minutes and then we took our mobile telephones in our hands and shone out that light. It was not a very powerful light but it was a powerful and moving message.

Ukrainians are deeply moved by and thankful to us as a nation for what we have done for their people. I hope we will continue to do the same in a spirit of hospitality, kindness and generosity. I ask that we be patient and understanding of the difficulties in local communities. Yes, integration is very important and many people want and choose to remain in our country. I hope we will big enough and our arms wide enough to embrace them and keep them here. It is important that this House is regularly briefed on what is happening. We support what is happening and we also acknowledge that there are communication issues in communities that must be overcome. Let us be resolved and determined to be reasonable and responsible, to show political leadership and to embrace the challenges facing the people who seek a safe home in our land.