Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he expects any further sanctions to be agreed by the European Union against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32928/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU has imposed the most significant sanctions in its history in response to the situation in Ukraine. These have taken the form of six packages from 23 February 2022 to date, comprising individual measures targeting persons and entities, and sectoral measures targeting specific economic sectors or industries.

Individual sanctions now apply to a total of 1,158 individuals and 98 entities in Russia and Belarus. Sectoral sanctions target the financial, energy, technology, defence and transport sectors, and Russian media involved in propaganda. The sale of EU luxury goods to Russia is prohibited, as is the import from Russia and Belarus of certain products. Restrictions have also been introduced on economic relations between the EU and the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

These sanctions aim to incentivise a change in behaviour in Moscow. They impose clear economic and political costs on the individuals and entities responsible for the invasion or benefitting from it. They also deprive Russia of the means and capabilities to wage this unjust war.

In designing its successive sanctions packages, the EU has been cognisant at all times of the need to ensure that specific measures have a greater impact on Russia than on EU Member States and are sustainable. There is broad support at EU level to continue to examine options for further sanctions measures. I expect new proposals to be presented by the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) in due course.

Ireland has been consistent in advocating for a maximalist approach to sanctions since the start of the war. As I have previously stated, Ireland will support the widest possible measures, including sanctions on Russian gas, building on the ban on oil introduced in the sixth package.