Offaly TD opts not to attend address by Ukraine President Zelenskyy to joint session of Houses of Oireachtas

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has said she believes that “no additional funding should be allocated to Ukraine from hard pressed Irish taxpayers without first subjecting such potential funding to a vote of the entire Dáil.”

Deputy Nolan, who opted not to attend the address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a joint session of the Houses of the Oireachtas this week, said that ongoing concerns around systemic corruption at the highest level of the Ukrainian administration have confirmed her in her view that “it is time to apply a far more rigorous level of democratic scrutiny to where Irish taxpayers is going.”

The Offaly TD’s remarks come as Government confirmed that to date, Ireland has provided €340 million in financial support to Ukraine, including over €173 million in humanitarian supports, and €166 million in non-lethal military assistance.

During yesterday’s visit by President Zelenskyy, it was also confirmed that a further €100 million in funding for non-lethal military assistance, and another €25 million to help Ukraine support its energy system has been sanctioned:

“My clear sense from talking to people is that they have reached the end of their generosity in terms of Ukraine. Indeed, there is a growing discontent around the fact that there seems to be an endless pot of money for Ukraine while our own people can’t even get an energy credit to cover their rip off bills. This, at the same time that the Ukrainian energy system can get €25million overnight without any input from elected representatives, or any opportunity to debate the issue,” said Deputy Nolan.

“Only in the last few days we have witnessed reports of how senior Ukrainian government figures, including two ministers, a former deputy prime minister and a one-time business partner of President Zelensky's were accused of misappropriating $100m from public projects in the energy sector. The same energy sector that we have just handed €25million to. It beggars’ belief.”

“I am aware that any Dáil vote on gifting Ukraine another couple of hundred million would pass, but that does not mean we should avoid critical scrutiny. Put it on the Dáil schedule; let the people have their say. Government may be surprised what it hears back from the Irish taxpayer,” Deputy Nolan concluded.

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