Brendan Smith urges EU to accelerate Ukraine's EU membership bid
Brendan Smith spoke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, urging accelerated EU membership for Ukraine and backing stronger sanctions and humanitarian support. He called for legal accountability, increased aid and European measures to address energy, food and refugee pressures.
Condemnation and call for EU action
The speech condemned Russian aggression on Ukraine and described daily horrors being inflicted by an "evil regime in Russia." He welcomed a strong European Council commitment and urged the European Union to progress and accelerate Ukraine's candidacy while speeding up membership applications from Georgia and Moldova.
Sanctions and legal accountability
He argued that sanctions must have a major adverse impact on Russia and voiced support for further rounds of sanctions, including discussions on banning imports of oil. He said Ireland and partners have joined 40 countries in referring what is happening in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court and announced an additional 3 million in funding to strengthen the court's resources.
Humanitarian and financial support
He outlined financial measures noting the European Union's 1.5 billion package of peace facilities and Ireland's contribution of 33 million for non-lethal elements of support. The Government has provided 20 million in humanitarian aid through UN and NGO partners, a dedicated 2 million civil society fund for Irish NGOs, and had frozen over 1.2 billion of Russian assets as of 22 April; EU sanctions were amended to better facilitate humanitarian access.
Energy, food and migration pressures
He raised the impact of rising energy costs and supply concerns on households and businesses and called for further EU measures. He warned the invasion is putting immense pressure on global food and nutrition security, driving up prices and hitting the poorest and import-reliant countries hardest, and described energy, food and migration crises as part of Russia's war effort to pressure European member states.
Direct engagement and domestic support
He said he met Ukrainian Prime Minister Deniz Shemal in Shannon and expressed the strongest possible support for Ukraine, including providing assistance to people who have arrived in Ireland after fleeing their homes.
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As we are all aware, for quite a number of years the people of Ukraine were subjected to very serious military aggression by Russia on its border and sadly since the end of February we witness on our television screens on a daily basis the horrors being inflicted on an independent country, a sovereign country by an evil regime in Russia. Sadly we see such loss of life, such suffering and millions and millions of people displaced. I was glad that at the last European Council meeting there was a very strong and firm commitment of the European Union expressing its unity of purpose along with other partners, Britain, the United States and other members of the international community as well. It is important that the sanctions are imposed and that they have a major adverse impact on Russia. Taoiseach, it was important as well I believe that the European Union continues to show solidarity with the refugees and have to complement the people of our own country in their support for people fleeing war, horror and victims of an evil regime. But despite those challenges and what the European Union and the international community face at the present time, I still think it is very important Taoiseach that the European Union progresses and accelerates, as you said yourself, membership of the candidacy of the Ukraine for membership of the European Union and similarly to speed up the membership applications of Georgia and Moldova as well. And like Deputy Hoi, energy costs and energy supplies are having a huge impact on households and businesses. And we need further measures at European Union level. Thank you, Laskan Court. In relation to the Ukraine and the International Criminal Court, we have allocated 3 million additional funding to strengthen the resources of the court. We do believe war crimes, there is no question, have been committed in the Ukraine, and the people responsible need to be brought to account. I met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Deniz Shemal, in Shannon last Wednesday, and I showed him of our strongest possible support for Ukraine, including providing support for those who have arrived in Ireland having had to flee their homes. I also declare my support for Ukraine's application to join the European Union and for the fourth or sixth round of sanctions against Russia. We have joined 40 countries in referring what is happening in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, and we will look at other ways that we can get accountability for these heinous crimes the European Union has provided 1.5 billion of a package of European peace facilities, support for Ukrainian armed forces. Ireland is contributing our full share, 33 million, which will go towards non-lethal elements. Discussions and further sanctions continue, particularly in relation to banning imports of oil from Russia, and we will continue to support the widest possible sanctions. Ireland has frozen over 1.2 billion of Russian assets as of the 22nd of April, and the European Union amended existing sanctions to better facilitate humanitarian access and work in Ukraine, including by the International Committee to Red Cross, UN agencies and certain humanitarian organisations. Government has provided 20 million in humanitarian aid through the UN and NGO partners in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries. A deep dedicated Ukraine civil society fund of 2 million would specifically support Irish NGOs responding to the crisis. The Russian invasion and Deputy Smith also raised issues in relation to this. It is also now putting immense pressure on global food and nutrition security, driving up prices for essential food and agricultural commodities. The worst impact would be felt by the poorest countries, as well as those who are reliant on imports for their food and security. As I said earlier, energy, food and a migration crisis are part of the war effort of the Russian Federation, and that is designed to put pressure on European member states. In other words, to take the pressure off of the Russian Federation, but that will not happen. I agree with Deputy Smith that we need to accelerate the application by Ukraine for membership of the European Union and have articulated that, as well as for other neighbourhood countries such as Georgia and Moldova.
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