Press release
Government Statement on Ukraine - 22 March 2022
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
The government met today to consider the ongoing serious situation caused by Russia’s illegal and immoral war on Ukraine, and Ireland’s co-ordinated humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis.
The war is inflicting incalculable suffering on the Ukrainian people, with continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Russian forces.
The government, along with the international community, remains resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine, and reiterates the call on Russia to cease all hostilities immediately and to withdraw from Ukraine unconditionally.
The government considered the ongoing humanitarian response. Ireland is providing €20 million in humanitarian assistance, which is supporting the UN and the Red Cross to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. The HSE has provided medical supplies through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Rapid Response Register has been activated, making skilled humanitarians available at short notice to the UN system.
Given the current circumstances in Ukraine, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise Irish citizens there to shelter in a secure place, and only to consider leaving Ukraine if they judge it safe to do so.
The government also considered a number of challenges facing the economy, notably the impact on households, businesses, agriculture and industry of rising energy prices. Russia’s war on Ukraine has sparked further energy price increases and brought unprecedented volatility to energy markets. This is feeding through to retail price increases for all consumers. The impact on low income households is a matter of particular concern for the government and it will continue to examine what measures may be taken to manage the impact of rising energy prices.
The government agreed a temporary, targeted intervention package for the tillage sector to the value of €12.2 million in response to the impact on farming on the crisis in Ukraine. The package will support the production of more native grain and protein crops, and crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser, which will contribute towards the expected deficit in these crops and help farmers to deal with challenges related to the availability and price of animal feed and fertilisers.
The government also reviewed the very significant work being carried out across the public sector to provide a humanitarian response for the many thousands of people from Ukraine who seeking protection here. The support of the Irish Red Cross and many other charities and NGOs is an essential part of what is a national effort. It is anticipated that many more people from Ukraine will arrive here and the government will continue ramp-up this humanitarian response in order to provide accommodation and other essential supports rapidly and at the scale needed.
This necessary response to a crisis of this scale presents challenges, notably in terms of finding sufficient and suitable accommodation for the Ukrainian families arriving here. In addition to hotels and other serviced tourist accommodation, and drawing on the generous accommodation pledges made through the Irish Red Cross, the government is identifying State-owned or Local Authority properties which may be suitable for immediate and longer-term accommodation needs. There is also ongoing engagement with the religious communities and others to seek to identify potential properties that might be used.