I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 231, inclusive, together.
Since the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24 February 2022, Ireland has stood in unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine.
Ireland is working at the UN, EU, International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, the OSCE - and across all relevant multilateral institutions - to bring an end to this war, to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights norms and standards, and to meet the humanitarian needs of those caught in the conflict.
The response of the EU has been strong and swift in both words and actions. This reflects collective EU solidarity with Ukraine and intensive work by the Member States and the EU institutions. The EU has imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia. The principal rationale of these actions is to incentivise Russia to find a political solution to the conflict that President Putin has created, and to reduce the funding available to Russia to continue its illegal actions in Ukraine. At the most recent meeting of Foreign Ministers on 21 March 2022, I discussed the impact of these sanctions with my colleagues and the options for implementing further measures.
The EU has also committed over a billion euros in support to Ukraine. Ireland is contributing to a number of EU mechanisms to assist Ukraine, including the new European Peace Facility. We have also contributed to the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, and we are engaged on discussions on coordinating the EU’s response to help the millions of people, mostly women and children, who have been forced to flee Ukraine.
At the United Nations, Ireland has been at the forefront of efforts to hold Russia internationally accountable for its actions. As a member of the Security Council we are fully committed to ensuring that the situation in Ukraine continues to be considered by the Council. We have actively supported Security Council and General Assembly meetings on Ukraine, and have urged others to join us in condemning Russia’s invasion and in calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine.
Ireland, along with our partners, will continue to support genuine efforts at the UN Security Council to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those who need it, and to call for full respect of international humanitarian law. We have backed this up with concrete support and a package of €20 million in humanitarian aid (from Irish Aid), as well as medical supplies from the HSE, which is being disbursed through our partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Ireland stands ready to support any initiative which can achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and which respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. My Department is monitoring developments in relation to efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict and stands ready to support initiatives which can deliver peace in line with international law, particularly international humanitarian law as well as international human rights norms and standards.