Local TDs condemn Russian action
Local political representatives have spoken out in condemnation of Russian “aggression” in their invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at a meeting of the British/Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Westminster Deputy Brendan Smith said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“What we have witnessed is an attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine. Ukraine as a sovereign country has the right to choose its own foreign policy and its security path,” Deputy Smith said in his address.
He spoke of the shock many elected representatives feel at developments: “This is the first invasion of Europe since 1945. A few weeks ago I doubt if any of us could have envisaged what we have witnessed over the past few days.”
Deputy Smith went on to say: “We need to continue to re-assure the people of Ukraine and indeed their neighbouring countries of our continuing strong support. The attack by Russia is an attack on all of us. Our values, our stability and the international rules based order have been attacked through this abhorrent aggression.”
He concluded by talking of the solidarity of the opponents of the invasion: “We stand with Ukraine and for this naked and vicious aggression a high price has to be paid by Russia.”
Party colleague Niamh Smyth has written a letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin demanding diplomatic censure of the Russian Ambassador: “I am calling for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador, Yuri Filatov, from Ireland with immediate effect. I have not made this decision lightly, but as a nation we should be proactive in our support of Ukraine and its people.”
Deputy Smyth condemned the invasion of the sovereign nation saying: “The death destruction, inhumanity pain and suffering inflicted upon its innocent people, especially defenceless women and children, cannot be tolerated or accepted in any guise.”
Speaking on the government's commitment of €10 in aid for humanitarian action Deputy Smyth said: “The EU economic package of measures will hopefully place pressure oligarchs and individuals who support the invasion.”