Labour leader Bacik calls for tougher sanctions on Russia

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called for further sanctions on Russia as Vladimir Putin continues to wage its “illegal and devastating war” on Ukraine.

In a statement, Deputy Bacik said that the Irish Government should support and introduce stricter sanctions on Russia.

“As the brutal Russian invasion of a democratic European country continues, reporters in Ukraine have been providing evidence of utterly ruthless attacks on civilians and showing the devastation caused to people’s homes and cities throughout the country.

“The emerging reports about the carrying out of war crimes in Bucha, Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities now show the need for an escalation in our collective response,” she said.

“While we welcomed the expulsion of diplomatic staff from the Russian embassy last week, it’s clear that greater sanctions are needed.

“Ireland must continue to show its strong adherence to international law and human rights by moving fast to ban oil and gas imports from Russia.

“In order to do that, however, we must ensure that we do not look to other fossil fuels by way of replacement energy sources.”

Bacik says that Ireland has an “over reliance” on oil and gas and instead we should be “looking at an urgent acceleration in the ramping up of our capacity to generate energy from renewable sources.

“Yet we are already seeing concerns being expressed by Wind Energy Ireland and others about how we can achieve renewable energy targets.”

“We need to listen to the experts and move Ireland rapidly into a space where we can become a world leader on sustainable energy. The expulsion of Russian diplomats from the Irish Embassy last week shows that Ireland can act unilaterally.

“Now I am calling on the government to push for harder sanctions before the European Commission returns with its proposals at the end of this month.”