'Always possible' Irish troops could be sent to border of Ukraine conflict, says Taoiseach
Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 'We stand ready to help neighbouring countries in terms of humanitarian crises in terms of logistics along the border between Poland and Ukraine.' File Picture: Julien Behal
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is “always possible” that Irish troops could be sent to the border of the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking on his arrival at an informal summit of EU leaders, Mr Martin said Ireland “stands ready to help”.
He said that Irish involvement would require a triggering of the 'triple lock' mechanism of Government approval, Dáil approval and UN resolution.
“That's always possible," he said.
"You know, we have the triple lock basically means Dáil approval, Government approval and UN resolution, which then enables Irish troops to serve either in peacekeeping or peace enforcement.
"And as you know, we have served the European Union peace enforcement missions in the past.
“We stand ready to help neighbouring countries in terms of humanitarian crises in terms of logistics along the border between Poland and Ukraine,” he said.
Mr Martin said Ireland is seeking flexibility in terms of the levels of VAT which are applied to energy prices.
“We believe there should be flexibilities in terms of the application of that framework, particularly in terms of historic derogations that we enjoy in relation to that, We don't want to lose those historic derogations which basically mean we're at a lower rate now,” he said.
He said that if the Government reduced VAT further when things went back to normal the rate of VAT would have to go higher than it is already.
He said that "we must keep the wheels of industry going."
"We are in a very, very difficult situation across the continent of Europe, because of this," he added.
The Taoiseach also condemned price gouging on fuel as "morally reprehensible."
Mr Martin was reacting to reports of price gouging in the petrol and diesel retail sector as anecdotes flooded the internet about forecourt prices that have risen despite the Government's cut of one-third in excise duties.
"First of all, in terms of price gouging that's morally reprehensible in the context of a barbaric war that's underway," Mr Martin told Irish journalists at the EU summit.
"It's exploiting the situation in a morally unacceptable way and that should cease," he said firmly He said the Government took its measures "to do what it could" in the current situation.
"We will constantly review the situation, and the consumer competition authority is also there to make sure that there's no price-fixing going on, or any cartels operating."
Mr Martin said people should make reports to the relevant authorities if there was any price gouging, "and if people have evidence."
"If they have, they should bring that evidence to the notice of the authorities."
Asked about possibly increased inspections by compliance officers to check against price-fixing, Mr Martin said it was a matter for the authorities themselves.
"But I've no doubt they are well aware of the situation."
Mr Martin said the gathering of leaders will be emotional in the sense that all prime ministers are very well aware of the enormous human impact of this war on the people.
"There's also huge anger at the atrocities that have been visited on people in their towns, in their cities. It's beyond belief that such atrocities are occurring. We pay tribute to the journalists of the world who are bringing those photographs to us, risking their lives to get in behind the scenes,” he said.
He also paid tribute to French President Emmanuel Macron for keeping the channels of communication open with Vladimir Putin to “get this war ended, and that's the most important, to get the war ended.”
Asked about the escalating spat between Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Kilkenny TD John McGuinness, who presented the minister with a baby’s soother, the Taoiseach sought to play down the discord.
"In the context of everything's going on, I wouldn't describe that as an acceleration of a spat, in the presentation of a baby soother.
"It is an unlikely escalation of a spat, I would have thought,” he said.
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