Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá go gcáineann Sinn Féin gníomhaíochtaí na Rúise agus iad ag sárú teorann agus ceannas na hÚcráine. Seasann muid le muintir na hÚcráine ag an am iontach deacair seo, agus is cinnte go seasann an Dáil leo fosta.

I begin by expressing on behalf of Sinn Féin our complete opposition to the actions of the Russian Government in its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. I am sure all of us in this Dáil are united in our condemnation of the latest actions of Russia overnight in initiating a military invasion of Ukraine. I extend our solidarity to the Ukrainian people at this time. This morning, we all witnessed distressing scenes of families fleeing their homes and early reports of casualties. A humanitarian response needs to follow. What work is under way at this early stage by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and by the Government in its capacity as a member of the UN Security Council, to co-ordinate a humanitarian response to affected people and areas?

Significant and severe economic sanctions must follow this latest action and such breaches of international law cannot pass without response. Sanctions need to be targeted not only at the Russian Government but also at the assets of those connected to Putin's state apparatus, many of whom live or hold significant assets in European capitals. We expect the Irish Government will do what it can in this regard. Will the Tánaiste give an update on the tranche of sanctions that are under consideration and those that would be supported by the Government?

Of course, we also have our own responsibilities in this regard. Russia and Putin's inner circle possess large amounts of offshore wealth. The International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, is a major source of finance to the Russian economy, with €118 billion having been funnelled from the centre to Russia between 2005 and 2017, second in Europe only to Luxembourg. Often, this has been through section 110 structures, an issue that has been raised repeatedly by my colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell. For example, Vnesheconombank, VEB, a Russian state investment company whose supervisory board has been controlled by members of Putin's government, raised €9.3 billion between 2010 and 2013 through a section 110 vehicle here. Will the Government end the use of these section 110 companies, many of which have charitable status, that are being used to channel funds that could be connected with Russia's state apparatus and Putin's inner circle? The Taoiseach is in Brussels, so the Tánaiste might give assurances as to whether this is one of the issues that will be under consideration and discussion later today.

It is inevitable that recent developments will result in further spikes in the cost of energy, and the price of crude oil and gas has already spiked in recent days. Of course, this comes at the worst of times, when people are already under severe financial pressure due to the rising cost of living. I again implore the Tánaiste, therefore, to bring forward further targeted measures to support workers and families, who will bear the brunt of these costs.

To return to the events that are, unfortunately, unfolding in eastern Europe, given our status, position and military neutrality, and our seat on the UN Security Council, Ireland is uniquely placed in Europe and at the UN to make a case for the intensification of efforts to find a peaceful way forward. Will the Tánaiste outline on this very difficult day the next steps in the State's diplomatic response to this crisis?

I want to say on behalf of the Government that today we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Ireland is militarily neutral, but in this conflict Ireland is not neutral at all. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering and unconditional. At this moment, in a European nation not too far from here, families are leaving their homes, children are being bundled into cars and martial law has been introduced in the face of an unwarranted and unjustified attack. This is an act of aggression, it is unprecedented in the 21st century, and it gives us grim echoes of a much darker past. As President von der Leyen said this morning, President Putin is responsible for bringing war back to Europe. Ireland has much in common with Ukraine. Many people of Ukrainian origin have made their home in Ireland, and they and their families are in our thoughts.

The first wide-ranging package of EU sanctions will come into effect today. This includes an EU travel ban and asset freeze for all 351 members of the Russian Parliament, the Duma, who voted in favour of this violation of international law. There will be an asset freeze and travel ban on senior decision-makers, business figures, military officers and persons involved in leading a disinformation war against Ukraine. An asset freeze will also apply to three private banks and an entity responsible for disinformation. The package also targets the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU's capital and financial markets and services, and this limits Russia's ability to finance further aggressive policies and actions. The new measures will also target economic relations between the European Union and the two breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk. The European Council will meet later today to finalise further sanctions against Russia and to discuss how to protect the rules-based international order, how to hold Russia to account for its actions and how the EU can provide further support to Ukraine. I want to be very clear that the Government will fully support any additional sanctions against Russia, including those of a financial nature relating to banking and financial services, aviation and any other matters.

As a committed European, in some ways I find it very hard to absorb what has been happening in Ukraine today. The tide of history towards peace, multilateralism, democracy and international co-operation and European integration through the EU has brought more than 70 years of peace to countries within its borders. In a globalised world, aggression and belligerent behaviour always lose in the long run, in my view. Ukraine is a sovereign nation, it has the right to determine its own future and it has been independent for 30 years. It can trace its history back more than 1,000 years. We believe it has as much of a right to exist as any of the other successor nations of the Soviet Union, including Russia itself.

I thank the Tánaiste for the response and for the clarity regarding the support of the Government for economic sanctions, including banking sanctions. Will the Government this afternoon put forward an argument for some of these sanctions with its European counterparts? We are learning through media reports that there is disagreement, or at least there was, with some countries looking for carve-outs for diamonds and other luxury goods, banking services, railways and so on. Has the Government a position on this? Given our unique position of being both neutral and having a seat on the UN Security Council, is it the view of the Government that we are best placed to bring forward a resolution for consideration by the Security Council?

Events are happening very quickly, as the Deputy will appreciate, and the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I need to speak today. I think it is fair to say we are all united in our abhorrence of what is happening in Ukraine, and Ireland will not be putting any selfish or economic interests ahead of a response that is required.

We will support whatever sanctions are necessary, including those that would disrupt the banking and financial services that are used by Russians, whether it be in the State or in other states. The same applies to aviation.

I particularly welcome the support of Deputy Pearse Doherty's party on this matter. I remember when I was Taoiseach in 2018 when Russians murdered somebody in England, the Deputy's party leader, Deputy McDonald, being very critical of us for expelling a Russian diplomat at the time. Deputy McDonald said it was a violation of our neutrality for us to expel a Russian diplomat.

It is here, and the Taoiseach raised it previously. I have never said anything about it. For a long time, the Deputy's party has been soft on Russia. As recently as three years ago, Sinn Féin described the expulsion of a Russian diplomat as a violation of our neutrality. I welcome that on this issue Sinn Féin has finally come to its senses and finally realises what Putin is and what the Russian regime is.

This is not a time for political scoring from any side of this House.

Hear, hear.

The world is watching with alarm the shocking events that are unfolding in Ukraine. What we are witnessing is unprecedented in Europe since the Second World War - a full-scale assault and invasion of one state by another. This attack is unprovoked and unjustified and will cause needless death, injury and suffering among the Ukrainian people. As the violence escalates and bombs explode across Ukraine, there is growing panic among the population as they attempt to flee to safety.

Over the past few weeks, Ukrainian citizens living in Ireland have been pleading with the Government to allow them to offer a safe place of shelter for their parents and family members. In most European countries, there is no visa requirement for visitors from Ukraine. This has meant over the past few weeks people have been able to take in their parents and offer them somewhere safe to say to protect them from war. It is no more than any of us would want to do for our parents if they were faced with the same terrifying situation.

What they requested was simple and straightforward. They asked that the Government would waive the visa requirements so that they could take their parents into their homes and provide them with somewhere safe. Irish people living in Ukraine with family members who are Ukrainian citizens have been unable to get visas for the family members, including for their sons and daughters. This has meant that they have been unable to leave and come home to safety in Ireland. Their lives are now being put at very serious risk.

The response from the Government to these pleas for assistance was to say that all visa applications would be dealt with as quickly and humanely as possible but the reality is people have faced significant bureaucratic hurdles making it extremely difficult to obtain a visa. Being asked to surrender your passport to the Irish Consulate for a period of up to ten weeks at a time of war has made the application process virtually impossible. With the country under attack and with martial law declared, it will now be extremely difficult for anyone to leave the country.

I acknowledge the hard work done by the Department of Foreign Affairs in recent weeks in assisting Irish parents whose children were born to surrogate mothers in Ukraine. Consular teams worked through the night to ensure that those families could get home. The same support needs to be given to families seeking to bring their loved ones to safety in Ireland.

I welcome that a waiver of visas for Ukraine citizens has finally been announced by the Taoiseach in the past hour. Regrettably, this announcement has come very late. Is this waiver in place immediately, what practical support will be given to families to help them get their loved ones to safety in Ireland and will Ireland commission more flights from Katowice in Poland?

My understanding is that waiver is in place as of today. There are a small number of Irish citizens in Ukraine. We need to make sure that they can leave if they choose to do so and we also need to make sure that their families can get out if they need to do so. There is ongoing engagement today involving the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to make whatever arrangements are necessary to enable the family members of Irish citizens to leave Ukraine if they need to do so in the coming period.

Our ambassador and her team are currently in safe locations in Kyiv. The Department of Foreign Affairs will remain in close contact with them in line with its procedures on ensuring the security and safety of embassy personnel.

The Government is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine with our EU partners and other international partners. In light of recent developments, the Department of Foreign Affairs is now advising all Irish citizens currently in Ukraine to shelter in a secure place. However, citizens should consider leaving Ukraine if they judge it safe to do so depending on their location and prevailing circumstances.

The Department of Foreign Affairs remains in direct contact with Irish citizens in Ukraine who have registered with the embassy. Currently, there are approximately 70 Irish citizens in the country. The safety and security of Irish citizens and their families is our priority.

The capacity of our embassy to provide consular assistance to citizens in the period ahead unfortunately may be extremely limited due to the security situation but the Department will issue regular updates as the situation develops and anyone requiring consular assistance and support can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

I asked the Tánaiste specifically about Ukrainian citizens living in Ireland hoping to get their family members here and what assistance would be given to them.

During the pandemic, Ukrainian citizens in Ireland showed up for us. They kept our supermarkets open. They were working in front-line services in healthcare, working as care assistance and working as nurses. They were looking after our family members.

For the past few weeks, they have been trying to look after their family members and get them here to take them into their homes. They have not been assisted in terms of the bureaucratic processes. Will we be giving them practical support now to help them get their loved ones to Ireland? That is specifically what I am asking the Tánaiste.

I agree that we have the benefit of a Ukrainian community here in Ireland who are an important part of our country and have served us well, not only during the pandemic but also before. We are keen to make sure the family members of Ukrainian citizens who have settled here in Ireland are also assisted to leave Ukraine if they need to do so. It will be complicated. We have a very small mission on the ground in Kyiv. Our ambassador and staff are currently in a safe location so what we can do is relatively limited. However, we want to do it. We will make arrangements today to provide whatever practical assistance we can to help the dependants of Ukrainian citizens here in Ireland to make sure that their family members are safe. The Deputy has my commitment in that regard.