Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On this occasion, I wish to mention Ivan Farmer, a distinguished member of our staff who is about to leave us and go to Brussels for an important position. I wish to put on the record my group’s deep gratitude to him for all the work he has done for this House over the past five years.

I raise the point that the south aspect of this House is, at night-time, adorned in the national colours of Ukraine. Senator Frances Black mentioned the occupied territories Bill. The occupied territories Bill was moved originally in 2018 at a time when it applied to certain parts of eastern Ukraine and the West Bank in particular. It was not and is not a reaction to Gaza. The principle that underlies it is the same.

Regarding what has been happening over the past few days, the people of Ukraine should not be abandoned by the western democracies. President Trump seems to suffer either from invincible ignorance or incorrigible dishonesty in the way he is dealing with them. He demands half of their mineral resources, and then when he is refused that, he accuses them of starting this war.

I ask the Leader to go back to where we were a couple years ago when the invasion of Ukraine started, wholesale, and have an all-party debate in this House with the Minister present, where we can pass an all-party motion supporting the principles that Ireland supports, supporting the decent people of Ukraine and making it clear that the people in this democracy will not be bullied by international piracy to give up on our fundamental principles.