I agree with Senator Cosgrove that it was unfortunate and quite disrespectful to the Seanad to see the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 guillotined in such a short manner last week, without even having the opportunity for some amendments to be spoken to, given the significance it has for so many. It is a practice we should be pushing back on collectively as a House.

It is unfortunate that a previous speaker tried to take what is a collective motion on the Order Paper today and make it about the €90 billion question. I was there for that debate, which did not centre on the amount of money or on whether it would be spent, but on how it would be spent - on the question of €60 billion for military expenditure versus €30 billion for very important humanitarian rebuilding, which is vital work. There is so much that can be done. I have just stepped out of the foreign affairs committee which, as we speak, is discussing peace building and the importance of giving resources to peace building.

That is why today's motion, which focuses on the question of a just and lasting peace, and the work of that, is very positive. I regret it was not possible to add the phrase "of international law", which I looked for. I think it was too late to have that added. Referencing that is crucial though because that is where Ireland comes in. We heard today about international law and its crucial role in peace. Take the International Criminal Court. The EU could be doing so much more to back that court, which has issued warrants for Putin and others. More could be done to back those who are trying to document the many crimes Russia is committing and ensure they are fully documented so there is justice in a meaningful way at a later point. There is also the huge humanitarian, medical and rebuilding work. There is a huge amount that can and must be supported and some of us simply have concerns in relation to the military aspects of that. For example, I had questions about cluster munitions and was hoping for their exclusion, but that is a different piece. I am very glad to have cosigned that motion. In looking at peace and the voice Ireland can bring to supporting peace in Ukraine and internationally. One of the things we should do is be champions for international law, be that the ICJ, the International Criminal Court or the UN Charter itself.

I wish the Leader all the very best in his latest endeavour. I join everyone on the common theme of today being the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Little did we think back then that it would be prolonged for four years. We certainly hoped Ukraine would prevail because of the almost universal international support, but the war has ground on. In spite of initial successes, it is very much an entrenched war. I echo what others have said about this needing to stop and how there must be no capitulation in any form to Vladimir Putin. We need to be as steadfast as we were on day one and as Europe was on day one. That needs to continue. I welcome the very strong comments made by the President of European Parliament Roberta Metsola in the Parliament today.

There are a lot of Ukrainian people who have, at this stage, set up home in Ireland and who are wondering about their future because we have a situation where they still only have temporary permission to remain. It has been a protracted period and we should bear in mind a child of four or five years of age who started school in 2022 has been attending four years and somebody who started secondary school is almost at their leaving certificate. We need to engage with our European colleagues and if that is not possible, we need to consider making decisions ourselves about temporary protection so those who have established very definite roots here have a pathway to remain, irrespective of what happens. It would not be the worst thing in the world to have a debate on the situation in Ukraine here with the appropriate Minister as a reminder of the absolute determination of Government policy to support Ukraine, but also to give us an opportunity to do a deeper dive than we are doing under the Order of Business into the present situation.