Aubrey McCarthy (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I rise to support the motion. As Senators O'Loughlin and Daly mentioned, there is a lot going on in the world at the moment, and often Ukraine is not mentioned and is forgotten about because the war has been going on for so long. We are rising to support the motion, however, affirming Ireland’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

I was asked by the Ceann Comhairle a number of months ago to be the convener of the Ukraine-Ireland parliamentary group, and I was honoured to do so. Last month I, like Senator O'Loughlin, had the honour of visiting Kyiv. It is an amazing city. Even the journey to get there was difficult but, when I arrived, I saw a country and a city that has endured unimaginable hardship, yet one could see the resilience and conviction of the people there. I had a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and that man embodies the resilience and the leadership of a country that is under siege. I was privileged also to meet the Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, the Speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and members of the opposition, including Ivanna, whose second name I will not try to pronounce. They are amazing people. I was brought into the Parliament and, as Senator O’Loughlin said, we used an app that showed us when drones were about to hit. I thought that as we had former general Keith Kellogg with us we were fairly safe, but he flew home and, within 48 hours, the building we were in was bombed. It is a real situation and it is affecting the lives of so many people.

I compliment Her Excellency Ms Larysa Gerasko on the leadership she has shown in keeping the war to the fore of Irish people's minds. We compliment her on all she has done regarding the relationship between Ukraine and Ireland, and on behalf of Ukrainians in Ireland. I also want to compliment our own ambassador in Kyiv, Mr. Jonathan Conlon. He is an amazing diplomat, an outstanding man and a wonderful representative for Ireland over there in such difficult times.

What struck me in Ukraine was that they have strategic clarity that their future lies within the European Union. Their belief is that democracy, even when it is bombed and bloodied, must never surrender. When I, like Senator O’Loughlin, stood in Independence Square, I saw the flags, flowers and memorials and the faces of the fallen. I took different photographs. The Irish Times published a photo I took in Kyiv, and a mother in Newbridge got in touch with me. I had taken a photo of her son's memorial. His name was Robert Deegan and he gave his life in defence of Ukrainian freedom. He was from Newbridge, County Kildare. This story brought home to me how close defending the borders of Europe is to us, including for people from Newbridge.

I witnessed the devastation first-hand. I witnessed the shattered buildings and bombed streets, but I saw that Ukrainian resolve is second to none. They are a strong people and, since March 2022, Ireland has stood with them. As chair of an organisation called Tiglin, we welcomed over 150 Ukrainian guests on St. Patrick's Day in 2022. I remember their faces coming in that day. One of the first to arrive was a young guy called Rodion Kudryk, who has cerebral palsy. When he was fleeing the war, he had to leave his wheelchair behind, so he was literally carried to Ireland. When he arrived with us in Tiglin, he had a bright smile. Today he was my guest in Leinster House for lunch. He was here in his new electric wheelchair and complained about some of the lifts in Leinster House but, otherwise, he was very happy to be here. I am delighted he was here. Not only that, many of my Ukrainian friends are in the Gallery. They are guests of mine in Greystones. These are people who have made their lives here in the most difficult of circumstances after having to flee home.

Ireland has, through humanitarian aid, diplomatic advocacy and the tireless work of the ambassador, managed to do a lot to try to make a difference, and that is why this motion is so important. It affirms what we already know is true - that Russia's illegal invasion is a crime against international law and humanity. The world must continue to put pressure on Russia through sanctions and isolation until this aggression and war ends. Ukraine's rightful place is within the European family. That is protected by the security guarantees of peace, democracy and membership of the EU. Though Ireland might be a small nation, our moral voice is not small, and we have seen that lately, even through what happened in the Middle East. Our neutrality must not be indifferent and I do not believe it is. It has to be an active commitment to peace and justice, and justice in this situation demands that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine until the last missile falls. When I was in Independence Square in Kyiv, I was reminded that, as one memorial read, freedom is our religion. We need to make sure Ireland continues to stand on the side of that freedom, and not just in word, but in action.