Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
86. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the Government is undertaking within the international community to attempt to bring about a peaceful conclusion to the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4408/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of Ireland’s efforts at EU and UN levels to stop the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4436/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 105 together.
Ireland has consistently used its voice at all multilateral fora, including the UN and the EU, to categorically condemn Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the blatant disregard for international law and international humanitarian law it represents.
As an elected member of the UN Security Council for the first 10 months of this illegal war, Ireland consistently used our position to amplify the voices of small countries and to remind the international community that this war is a blatant violation of the UN Charter.
Addressing the Security Council on 24 February 2022, the day Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine commenced, we called for a return to dialogue and to diplomacy. In subsequent weeks and months, we continued to use our position on the Council to call on Russia to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw its forces from within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
We have repeatedly condemned the heinous attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for full, unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in need.
We have worked to support Ukraine in its pursuit of justice, supporting their cases at the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, and referring the situation in Ukraine to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. We have also supported action at the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, to hold Russia accountable for what it’s doing.
We will continue to use all opportunities to call out Russian aggression, seek accountability and urge a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
Ireland is supportive of the Peace Formula recently announced by President Zelenskyy and agrees that it is up to Ukraine to determine the terms, conditions and timeline for any peace agreement. Ireland is reflecting on how we might best contribute to the objectives of the plan; we are already involved in many of the areas it covers, including food security, accountability and nuclear safety. We will continue to stand with Ukraine and will work with our partners for a peaceful resolution that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
