Thomas Byrne urges Ireland to ratify Claims Commission for Ukraine
Thomas Byrne addresses the Dáil on ratifying the Council of Europe Convention to establish an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. He explains why voting Tá is a step toward accountability, reparation and responsibility for the damage caused by Russia's invasion.
What he proposed
Thomas Byrne set out a case for Ireland to ratify the Convention creating an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, calling the vote an opportunity to say no to Russia's unprovoked war and yes to justice and accountability.
Witness to the conflict
Drawing on his visit to Kyiv in March, Byrne described the human cost of the war: destroyed infrastructure, displaced families and the relentless attacks that have left Ukraine without sleep. He stressed the resilience of Ukraine's people and the need to prepare for post-war recovery.
How the Claims Commission works
Byrne clarified that the Claims Commission would assess and determine claims for damage, loss or injury inflicted by Russia, but would not itself make compensation payments. He emphasised that ratification does not make Ireland liable for reparations; the mechanism is intended to support future accountability and claims processes.
Why it matters
Ireland, Byrne noted, was among the states that signed the Convention and should be among the first to ratify it. Ratifying the Convention, he argued, sends a political message in support of the Council of Europe's steps to deliver accountability, and helps establish systems to hold Russia to account when the war ends.
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Today, Comhairle, as we pursue a constitutional obligation to ratify an international agreement, we have an opportunity to say no by saying yes, by voting Tá. We have an opportunity to say no to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression. We have an opportunity to say no to death and destruction with impunity. We have an opportunity to say no to rewarding Russia for stealing Ukrainian land and for the forcible removal of Ukrainian children. No to inflicting unspeakable suffering and damage without consequence. And by saying yes, Tá, to justice. Yes, Tá, to consequences, responsibility, reparation. And above all, yes, Tá, to accountability. During my own visit to Kiev in March, I witnessed first-hand the strength and endurance of Ukraine's leaders and people, as well as the reality on the ground of a country at war, of living with the relentless presence of war and Russian violence as part of everyday life. The reality of living with constant fear, unpredictability and of course, devastating loss. 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. That's 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, untold damage has been caused to civilian property and infrastructure. But 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 there for Ukraine to flourish when this terrible conflict ends. And of course, the people in Ukraine look to the day when peace returns and that they can build a brighter future. And when that day comes, when the war finally ends, it's 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, in this case by the Council of Europe, not the European Union, towards delivering accountability. In the coming weeks, we will vote in favour of a resolution of the Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Chisinau to advance the establishment of the Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. And now we have the opportunity to ratify the Convention, establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, an administrative body that will assess damage, loss or injury inflicted by Russia on Ukraine. It is worth reiterating that the Claims Commission will not be responsible for making 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 those 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 states to ratify it and to 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 upon Ukraine, its people and its communities by the Russian Federation in the course of this war. But it is nonetheless incumbent on us, along with our international partners, to put in place a system that can hold Russia to account when the time comes.
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