Democracy is important, but it is now in recession and is receding vis-à-vis authoritarianism.  Europe wants to defend its Single Market, its economy and the quality of life of its people.  There are no warmongers that I have ever noticed in Europe or in the European Union that I have seen-----

----- in the past number of years.

I was there as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Europe’s predominant role is an interventionist one which is trying-----

Of course it is shocking because it does not fit the Deputy’s world view.

The immediate focus of the Deputy’s approach is always to attack the European Union and not the aggressors, the despots or the authoritarians.

That is his response all of the time.  He attacks the war by Russia but suggests it is all the European Union’s fault. That seems to be the Deputy’s fallback position.

That is the essence of the Deputy’s presentation.  Europe goes to great lengths to intervene to prevent conflict and, where there is conflict, to provide humanitarian assistance. The EU is probably the biggest provider of such assistance in the world to less developed states and to areas of conflict.  Enormous sums of money are allocated. Similarly, the recovery and resilience facility coming out of Covid-19 is providing enormous sums of money. For the first time ever, Europe has collectively borrowed and has given…

Yes. An Garda Síochána must follow through and hold those people to account if people’s money has been taken from them in respect of products.

I will talk to the Department on this because it is very bad for the individuals concerned. Their money is being stolen and they are not getting what they thought they would be getting.  It is very bad for the country’s reputation also. On the financial services issue raised by Deputy Mairéad Farrell, I gave figures last week in the Dáil in respect of the overall story of those Russians. I do not have the figures here with me now.  I have only about one minute left and I do not want this to be portrayed as the Gove…

More generally, the financial services sector in this country grew from the late 1980s and the 1990s. Approximately 50,000 people are working in that sector now.

That is never said in this debate. The implication in all the assessment is that somehow the Government wants to excuse bad behaviour because of the 50,000 staff. That is not the case. We have no truck with anybody who wants to abuse, in any shape or form, either the IFSC or any tax framework. We have no truck with that whatsoever.

Regarding section 110, anyone who takes funding out of those funds is taxed in that respect. My point is that when the crisis breaks out in Ukraine, the assertion and the immediate focus of attention is that suddenly the financial services are covering for or hiding people who engage in bad behaviour.

That is not the case. We have no interest and we do not want it to be a haven for anybody who is enabling the Putin regime.

I know, but we did-----

Yes, of course. I have no issue with that.

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this very important issue. I wish everybody a happy International Women's Day. We are all agreed that our thoughts are with the women of Ukraine who more than anybody have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of the most enormous of challenges and the most impossible of choices as they bring their children to safety, leaving their husbands and partners apart. We salute the women of the Ukrainian Parliament for resolutely defending democracy, staying in Kyiv, defendin…

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Government has been very actively considering the country's response to the unfolding crisis and the consequences of that crisis. That is across a whole range of areas, some of which I outlined in terms of our humanitarian response. Suffice it to say that the impact of the war will be very serious and significant for all nations across the European Continent and it will be a long haul in terms of our response to it. What we would normally do in normal times will no longer b…

First, I thank the Deputy for raising this key issue and his comments on a number of issues that spring from it. I mentioned earlier the bravery of journalists. Without journalists in battle, we would not have any picture at all of the atrocities and war crimes that are being committed by an evil regime that has clearly targeted women and children. I mentioned Lynsey Addario's photograph that captured the family that was mowed down as they were leaving a war zone. We have to continue to shine a light on such atroci…

On the question of the numbers at the Russian embassy, I have not asked about the numbers there. Be under no illusions. We have about six in Moscow, including three diplomats. Any actions mean reciprocal actions on the other side. We judge it necessary to retain diplomatic channels right now in terms of protecting and having channels to help Irish citizens in particular situations. The Deputy has just mentioned the young student, Racheal Diyaolu, who is endeavouring to flee from Ukraine. Channels must be kept open …