Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
57. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the recent issuing by the International Criminal Court of an arrest warrant for the President of the Russian Federation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19623/23]
View answerAs the first permanent international court with the power to prosecute international crimes the International Criminal Court has a crucial role to play in fighting impunity for atrocity crimes. These include the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine. In response to this and other crimes being committed in Ukraine, in March last year Ireland and 42 other states referred the situation there to the ICC in order to allow the ICC Prosecutor to immediately start an investigation. In May 2022 Ireland then made a voluntary contribution of €1 million to the Office of the Prosecutor in order to help it address urgent resource needs across all situations before the Court following the opening of the Ukraine investigation, including the situation in Ukraine itself.
The Government also supports efforts to ensure accountability of the Russian leadership responsible for the crime of aggression, a crime that is outside the jurisdiction of the ICC’s investigation in Ukraine. For this reason Ireland has joined the Core Group on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. The Group, which now consists of 33 states, is working through the complex legal and practical issues that arise in establishing a credible, legitimate and effective special tribunal to deal with this crime, and will meet again next month.
I note the recent decision of the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Children’s Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, on allegations of having committed war crimes of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Undoubtedly this development reflects the very grave and disturbing nature of the continuing policy of the Russian authorities to remove children from their homes and families in Ukraine. Those responsible for such a policy must indeed be held accountable for their actions.
