Second Anniversary of War in Ukraine: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2024-02-20
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Seán Ó Fearghaíl (CC), Kildare South

Before I call the Minister of State, I join in the words of welcome to Her Excellency, Ms Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. I am acutely aware that, as a proud representative of her country she feels deeply about what is happening but she has the added reality of the fact that her parents and family are living through the hell that is currently the order of the day in Ukraine.
On Thursday, we will have the opportunity to stand for a minute's silence in memory of all those innocents who have lost their lives over the past two years. We pray to God there will not be a third anniversary and that there will not be others whom we will have to commemorate.
As we debate this matter and as I hand over to the Minister of State to wrap up in a sovereign parliament, it is appropriate that we would say something to that other puppet parliament in Moscow, that we would say to the 450 people who sit there and who purport to be elected representatives of the people of Russia, where is your courage? Where are your voices? Can you take the example from that incredible man, Alexei Navalny, who over several years demonstrated the most extraordinary courage in standing up to a dictator? Surely to God, among 450 people there are a small number of people who have the moral courage to identify right from wrong and call on Putin to stop.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2024-02-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:52:41+00:00
Sitting date: 2024-02-20