Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Ireland plans to be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine even if Russia does not consent to the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49149/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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60. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Ireland has agreed to be part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine even if Russia does not consent to the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49148/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 60 together.

At the outset, I wish to reassure the Deputy that I am committed, as is the rest of the Government, to working with our European and Ukrainian counterparts to maintain our solidarity with Ukraine and to ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself against brutal Russian aggression. This remains a key focus of my engagements, both bilaterally, at EU level, and in other fora. Ukraine, as the Deputy can imagine, features prominently on the agenda of the European meetings in the Defence and Foreign Affairs Councils. We are regularly - in fact, almost always - joined by the Ukrainian Ministers, generally virtually, to hear directly about the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s most pressing needs. This is an important forum for discussion on what more the EU can do to ensure Ukraine gets the support it urgently needs to defend itself and to deter future Russian aggression.

It is important to state that Ireland and the EU have been consistent in our support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression, including in terms for calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and in terms of being party to discussions on what actions might follow any cessation. The response by the European Union to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been unprecedented in its unity, in terms of providing both civil and military assistance to Ukraine to defend itself in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Ireland was an early advocate for Ukrainian Accession to the European Union and we continue to strongly support Ukraine’s European perspective. I believe that the most credible security guarantee the EU can offer Ukraine is accession and this is something that Ireland has been very clear on to date at all levels.

Ireland also engages with a range of international partners, both bilaterally, and as part of other fora in support of Ukraine, such as via the Ukraine Defence Contact Group and the ‘Coalition of the Willing’. Ireland stands ready to play our part - building on support we have already committed to Ukraine in terms of non-lethal military equipment and in terms of provision of training by Defence Forces personnel as part of the EU's Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine (EUMAM-Ukraine). In addition, as discussions progress on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, both the Taoiseach and I have emphasised that Ireland is open to contributing to an appropriately-mandated peacekeeping mission, in line with the UN Charter, and in the context of a robust ceasefire or peace agreement. We look forward to considering proposals on the table and confirming where we can meaningfully contribute in due course.