The Order of Business is No.1, statements on community safety, to be taken at 5.15 p.m., with time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not exceeding ten minutes, group spokespersons not exceeding ten minutes and all Senators not exceeding five minutes. Time may be shared and the Minister is to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader of the House.

It seems unbelievable that it was three years yesterday that we woke up to the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine. Since then, we have had three years of a war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine. There have been many fatalities with people displaced and Europe has been in a state of chaos. We have to think of all the Ukrainians, both those in Ukraine and those who have left. We must also think of those who have come to Ireland. I want to thank all the Irish hosts who have supported Ukrainian individuals and families, particularly Angie Goff for helping Irish hosts.

A total of 57% of those who have come to Ireland are staying with Irish hosts who have opened their homes and hearts to support people fleeing war. There is no doubt we need a strong and united Europe against the tyranny of Putin. It is important that we have the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come in and have a debate regarding the situation in Ukraine.

I want to mention the just transition funding announced yesterday, which will allocate €6 million in funding to really important projects. That funding will go to Laois, Offaly, Longford, parts of Galway - I understand it is the Ballinasloe area - and parts of Kildare, the Clane, Maynooth and Athy areas. This is to try to rebalance employment opportunities that have gone because the extraction of peat has ceased. Some of the projects in Kildare are particularly good. We have four funded projects, one of which is the refurbishment of an old vacant secondary school that will be used to create economic opportunities and training.

I never understood why the area of the Kildare-Rathangan MD has been left out. Rathangan, if anybody knows it, is very much in the heart of the bog of Allen. As a village, it grew because of migrants from other parts of Ireland coming to settle there and work in the bogs. I understand EMRA is the regulatory authority in Ireland but it would be important to have a discussion around future funding and the geographical area. I would like a debate in this House with the Minister on this issue.

In the brief time I have left, I want to refer to eating disorders. An estimated 200,000 people in Ireland will experience an eating disorder at some time in their lives.

There is a myth that eating disorders only affect young people and girls. However, approximately 25% are men and it is generally felt that men are not presenting. People need help. There are only three inpatient beds in the country. Twenty more were promised but have not been delivered. In budget 2024, funding was announced for five new posts within the HSE south-west Dublin, west Wicklow and Kildare area to commence an adult eating disorder team. We need clarification on that because it is very hard to get the information. I would like to see a debate in the House on eating disorders, which of course are not just about losing weight as there are psychiatric conditions and mental health elements involved.

The time of year is looming when St. Patrick’s Day approaches and officeholders of this House, the other House and Ministers of the Government visit all over the world, showcase all that is good about Ireland and, importantly, meet the diaspora in those countries. We have a debt to our Irish diaspora in the sense that they are our own kinship and they had to off and leave in difficult times. Apart from that, they are a great resource for Ireland abroad, they are great ambassadors for Ireland, they are very good at marketing Ireland abroad, they are very good lobbyists for Ireland abroad and they are very good at showcasing Ireland. They are actively promoting Ireland abroad. They maintain a loyalty to the home country and a patriotism. It is quite wonderful.

In light of that, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the role of the Irish diaspora internationally, how we can tap in more to the resource that they are, how we can be supportive of them and how we can have tighter links with them. It is incumbent on us to have this debate. I ask the Leader to request the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Richmond, to come in for this debate. If we could have it before St. Patrick’s Day, it would be much more apt, so people in this Chamber of all political parties and none could come forward and give their ideas of what should be said to the diaspora, what we should be asking from the diaspora and what we should be offering the diaspora.

I had occasion last year to meet the Cavan diaspora in New York and join them on their parade. I was accompanied on that occasion by newly elected Senator Sarah O’Reilly, among others. We all did it in our own time and of our own initiative. It was wonderful. They were delighted we were there to help to lead the parade. We immensely enjoyed meeting them and interacting with them. If Sarah were addressing this question on another occasion, I think she would testify to how impactful and valuable it was in terms of the tourism product and potential investment in this country, for example. It is an important link. The thing I have most enjoyed in my public life down the years have been the visits to our diaspora, whether it is in London, Luton or right through America. It is very special.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who is a distinguished former Member of this House, to discuss this topic here. I think he will bring great energy to his new Department. If we could do it before St. Patrick’s Day, it would make more sense.

I rise today to echo what my colleague, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin said, in calling on the Leader of the House to organise a debate on Ukraine as we mark three years since Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion - three years of war, suffering and absolute displacement of the Ukrainian people, but also extraordinary resilience from the Ukrainian people. From the start - I will echo what Fiona said – Ireland has stood with Ukraine. Our Government has provided humanitarian aid and supported EU sanctions. We have welcomed more than 110,000 Ukrainian refugees to our shores. The generosity of the Irish people has been remarkable. However, we must ensure our support does not end there.

I will never forget when this crisis became a reality for me. When I was at the Tiglin centre in Greystones for the parade on St. Patrick's Day in 2022, I received a phone call from the then CEO of the Red Cross, Liam O'Dwyer. He was ringing to ask if I could take in a family or two, three or four. By the end of St. Patrick's Day, the buses had arrived with 117 people, mothers and children who had fled from their country with only one bag. I remember one particular child. He was 13 years of age and had cerebral palsy. His father carried him from the taxi. His name was Rodion Kudryk. He is now part of our community in Greystones. With the kindness of the Irish people and the safety we have provided, he is now a pillar. He has a new electric wheelchair and is certainly part of our Greystones community. I was asked by the Ukrainian ambassador, H.E. Larysa Gerasko, to speak at the peace rally this past weekend and I saw once again the strength of the Ukrainian people both here and abroad. I realised that their fight is not over and that our responsibility to stand with them remains. That is why I urge the Leader of the House to organise a debate. We must affirm and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine. We must assess Ireland's ongoing role and ensure that we are doing everything possible politically, economically and diplomatically to support their fight for freedom. The war continues and the need remains. Ireland must stand firm.