Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are numerous credible reports that Russia has engaged in the large-scale deportation of Ukrainian women and children to the territory of Russia and Belarus since the beginning of its illegal invasion. Almost 20,000 children have been identified by Ukraine as having been forcibly deported from their homes.

Ireland believes that all reports of human rights violations should be thoroughly investigated, and perpetrators held accountable. Ireland has been to the forefront of international efforts to ensure accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine. The deportation or forcible transfer of civilians, including children, may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Ireland has raised this issue in our statements in multilateral fora, including the Human Rights Council, both in our national capacity and as part of the European Union. Ireland co-sponsored a resolution of the UN Human Rights Council establishing an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The Commission provided an interim report to the Human Rights Council in September 2022; the report found that, amongst other grave human rights violations, civilians have been unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation. At the Human Rights Council in March 2023, the Commission of Inquiry reported that Russian authorities have committed a wide range of violations, including unlawful transfers and deportations of children. The Commission will submit a comprehensive report in 2024.

Ireland welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s Prosecutor Office to issue arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova in respect of possible war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Last year Ireland made a voluntary contribution of €1m to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, to assist in the investigation of all situations before the Court, including in Ukraine.

On 23 June, the EU adopted its eleventh sanctions package in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, which lists over 100 additional individuals and entities subject to asset freezes, including individuals involved in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.

On 30 June, the European Council condemned Russia’s unlawful deportation and transfer to Russia and to Belarus of Ukrainian children and other civilians and called on the Russian Federation and Belarus to immediately ensure their safe return.

Ireland will continue to engagewith our partners in the international community on ensuring accountability for Russia’s actions, and to insist that the Russian Federation and Belarus immediately ensure the safe return of all children and other civilians who have been unlawfully deported during the course of this brutal invasion.