Today, as we pursue a constitutional obligation to ratify an international agreement, we have an opportunity to say "No" by saying "Yes" and voting "Tá". We have an opportunity to say "No" to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, to death and destruction with impunity, to rewarding Russia for stealing Ukrainian land and the forcible removal of Ukrainian children and to inflicting unspeakable suffering and damage without consequence and to say "Yes" to justice, consequences, responsibility, reparation and, above all, accountability. During my visit to Kyiv in March, I witnessed first hand the strength and endurance of Ukraine’s leaders and people, as well the reality on the ground of a country at war, living with the relentless presence of war and Russian violence as part of everyday life. I saw the reality of living with constant fear, unpredictability and, of course, devastating loss. I saw the effects of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure in the middle of a brutal, bitter winter. Russia fired over 6,800 long-range drones and missiles into Ukraine in April alone, more than nine attacks per hour, night and day, every day in April, leaving Ukraine, as a nation without sleep. Since the Russian Federation launched its full scale invasion in February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed, 41,000 have been injured, millions have been displaced and untold damage has been caused to civilian property and infrastructure. I also witnessed the tenacity and commitment of the Ukrainian people. I was humbled by their ability to maintain a functioning state and administration in the face of invasion. It underlined for me the real potential for Ukraine to flourish when this terrible conflict ends. Of course, the people in Ukraine look to the day when peace returns and they can build a brighter future. When that day comes and the war finally ends, it will be vitally important that preparations have been made and mechanisms put in place to ensure that Russia can be held to account for its actions. The establishment of the claims commission is one clear step that we can take in preparation for that. It is a relatively small step from a practical perspective but politically it sends an important message. Ireland ratifying the convention is Ireland continuing to lend its unwavering support to Ukraine. It is Ireland continuing to support the principle of accountability and continuing to support the important steps being taken, by the Council of Europe, not the European Union, towards delivering accountability. In the coming weeks, we will vote in favour of a resolution at the Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Chișinău to advance the establishment of the special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine. We now have the opportunity to ratify the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine, an administrative body that will assess the damages, loss or injury inflicted by Russia on Ukraine. It is worth reiterating that the claims commission will not be responsible for making any compensation payments. Instead, it will assess and determine claims for compensation. Ratifying the convention does not make Ireland liable for those costs. Russia should pay these costs through reparations. When the convention opened for signature in December of last year, Ireland was among the 36 states or bodies that signed it. Now, let us be among the first of the states to ratify it and take another step towards putting the principle of accountability into action. It goes without saying that no award or amount of financial compensation will change or even make good the devastating damage and destruction inflicted on Ukraine, its people and its communities by the Russian Federation in the course of this war. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on us, along with our international partners, to put in place a system that can hold Russia to account when the time comes.

Sentiment score: -0.12