Gerard P. Craughwell Calls for Urgent Debate on Ukraine
Gerard P. Craughwell urged the Leader to arrange a debate in the House on the war in Ukraine, arguing the matter should be put "front and centre" and that support for Ukraine should be increased. He accused Putin of war criminality, warned that Putin and allies including Iran appear intent on prolonging the conflict with missile strikes and supplied drones, and contrasted the fighting in Ukraine with the genocide in Gaza.
Craughwell asked the Leader to schedule a short debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste to focus attention on Ukraine, saying the time had come to put the crisis "front and centre" in the House.
He stated that Putin should be called out for pursuing peace talks while allegedly continuing large-scale attacks, describing Putin as "equally a war criminal" in the context of recent strikes on Kyiv and other cities.
Craughwell raised concerns about the role of Iran and other allies, saying the Iranian regime is providing drones to attack Ukraine and that missile strikes are being fired into Ukrainian population centres.
He contrasted the devastation in Ukraine with the "genocide of Gaza," acknowledging the severity of both situations and arguing that attention and condemnation must extend to what is happening in Ukrainian cities.
Craughwell reminded the House that "we have provided support to Ukraine" and urged continued assistance while calling for an elevated parliamentary discussion and a stronger response to the escalating attacks.
Call for a House debate
Craughwell asked the Leader to schedule a short debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste to focus attention on Ukraine, saying the time had come to put the crisis "front and centre" in the House.
Accusations against Putin
He stated that Putin should be called out for pursuing peace talks while allegedly continuing large-scale attacks, describing Putin as "equally a war criminal" in the context of recent strikes on Kyiv and other cities.
Links to Iran and weapon supplies
Craughwell raised concerns about the role of Iran and other allies, saying the Iranian regime is providing drones to attack Ukraine and that missile strikes are being fired into Ukrainian population centres.
Comparison with Gaza
He contrasted the devastation in Ukraine with the "genocide of Gaza," acknowledging the severity of both situations and arguing that attention and condemnation must extend to what is happening in Ukrainian cities.
Support and next steps
Craughwell reminded the House that "we have provided support to Ukraine" and urged continued assistance while calling for an elevated parliamentary discussion and a stronger response to the escalating attacks.
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Transcript
Go raibhraibh. Leader, this morning I noticed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Tóniste, Simon Harris, had made some very strong statements in relation to what's going on at the moment in Kyiv. We talk about the genocide of Gaza and the war criminality of the likes of Netanyahu. We should be aware of the fact that Putin is equally a war criminal. Donald Trump told us during the election campaign that if he was elected he would have the war ended within 24 hours. We're three months in and there's no sign of that war ending. And what's more, we need to be aware and need to discuss the fact that there appears to be absolutely zero intention on the part of Putin and his allies in Iran and in the Middle East who are quite prepared to see this war go on. Hundreds and hundreds of missiles being fired into Kyiv and various other cities in Ukraine. So I would ask you Leader, maybe the time has come for a debate on Ukraine again. To put Ukraine front and centre for a short time in this House. Because certainly the war in Gaza is terrible and the absolute annihilation of the people of Gaza and their homes is terrible. But similar is now beginning to happen in cities around Ukraine. And it's time we called out Putin for his fun and games that he wants peace talks while at the same time firing hundreds of thousands of missiles. We also need to look at the Iranian regime who are providing them with drones to attack Ukraine. So I think we have skin in the game because we have provided support to Ukraine. And I hope we will continue to provide support to Ukraine. But we need to discuss it and we need to up our game in that area. So if you could arrange a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Tanishda, I would appreciate that. Thank you very much. Thank you.