The Leader of the Irish Delegation to the Council of Europe, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has hit out at the Russian Federation in the Senate and called for Ukraine’s membership of the EU to be granted.
Senator O’Loughlin said ” We’re talking about two men here and Putin is a bully, he’s a thug, he’s a warmonger. And at the other extreme we have President Zelensky who spoke so movingly to the European Parliament yesterday. He has bonded people like never before”
“We all thought the days of war and war mongering were behind us. Ireland is at the very heart of one of the world’s most successful peace organisations, the European Union. As a nation, and as a people we know the strife of conflict. We have experience of conflict on our island, and we need to see every measure being taken to support peace, and the rule of law.
“I am proud of the response of our government to waive the visa requirements, and to offer the Ukrainian people refuge in our country. Yesterday, I met Anton Krasun, a Ukrainian man who has lived here happily with his wife for over 12 years.”
“His family were caught in the crossfire. His father, a 73-year-old man and his mother had to flee, much by foot to Poland. Where thankfully, they were able to fly to Dublin and seamlessly pass-through customs to safety with their family.
Fiona concluded by saying “I welcome the application by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to grant the Ukraine immediate membership of the European Union, and I fully support them in that regard. We need to stand in unison. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder and to offer every protection available under international law to Ukraine and to President Zelenskyy.”
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