Neale Richmond
Ceist:292. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expel the Russian Ambassador and all Russian diplomats from Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12179/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 3 March 2022
Ceisteanna (292)
Freagraí scríofa
Ireland has condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's illegal, immoral and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its right to choose its own foreign and security policy path, is unwavering.
To date, four broad packages of EU sanctions have been adopted. My Department has published information on all of the sanctions as details become available, accessible on the DFA website.
The first package of 23 February included:
1. Sanctions against individuals and entities, including members of the Russian Parliament;
- Restrictions on economic relations with the two breakaway regions in Donetsk and Luhansk, mirroring the restrictions imposed on Crimea in 2014; and
- Restrictions on Russia’s access the EU’s capital and financial markets.
The second package of 25 February sought to further weaken Russia’s economy and financial system, and reduce its access to cutting-edge technology. The sanctions comprised five pillars:
1. Financial measures, including prohibitions on lending and buying of securities to all five of the major state-owned banks, as well as two private banks; a prohibition on new listings of shares of Russian state-owned enterprises on EU stock markets; a prohibition on lending to and purchase of securities of certain state-owned enterprises; a prohibition on acceptance of deposits over a certain amount from Russian individuals in EU banks; a prohibition on EU central securities depositories from holding accounts from Russian clients, and a prohibition on the sale of EUR-denominated bonds to Russians;
2. Energy Sector measures, focusing on goods and technology relating to oil refineries and preventing the upgrade of Russian refineries to the latest European standards;
3. Transport sector measures, focusing on the aviation and space sector, prohibiting the sale, supply, transfer or export of aircraft, aircraft parts and equipment to Russia, and related services;
4. An extension of listing criteria, to facilitate sanctioning additional individuals participating in or benefitting from the current situation. New listings on this basis included President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov;
5. A significant expansion of the scope of goods and technologies subject to export controls by EU Member States.
The third package, adopted on 27 February, comprised:
1. The freezing of the assets of the Central Bank of Russia in Europe, to restrict its capacity to engage in EU markets;
2. A prohibition on Russian aircraft landing in, taking off from or overflying the EU; and
3. Additional listings of ministers and politicians, oligarchs, the Chairman of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, figures involved in disinformation and military leaders, as well as an insurance company that insured projects related to annexed Crimea.
The fourth package, adopted on 1/2 March, comprised:
1. Measures limiting the ability of two Russian broadcasters, Sputnik and Russia Today, from broadcasting in the EU, to limit disinformation;
2. A prohibition on investment, participation or contribution to projects co-financed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund;
3. A prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer or export of euro denominated banknotes to Russia or to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Russia, including the Government and the Central Bank of Russia, or for use in Russia;
4. A prohibition on the provision of specialised financial messaging services to seven named Russian banks (i.e. removal from SWIFT system);
5. Additional listings of 22 individuals connected with the Belarussian military and Ministry of Defence; and
6. Sectoral measures limiting trade between the EU and Belarus.
Other measures, including those referred to by the Deputy, remain under review. Our approach remains to take action on a coordinated basis with our EU partners.