I ask the Taoiseach about the appalling situation in Ukraine. Will the Government and our EU partners give consideration to how best we can assist with Russian soldiers who are conscientious objectors to what is happening? Many are fighting a war they do not want to fight and are involved in situations where they are killing men, women and children that they do not want to kill. Could this concept be explored by our Government and our EU partners to see whether there is something we can do to help?

The most effective route to resolving these issues is for Russia to call off this war, de-escalate and end it and to withdraw from Ukraine. The European Union stands ready at all times in terms of a humanitarian response and to facilitate people, such as conscientious soldiers, who have no truck with this war and want to disengage. One will find that the European Union, through all of its agencies, will be facilitative and help out in that situation.