Stephen Collins: Standing ovation for Zelenskiy is the easy part

The enthusiastic response from almost all the members of the Dáil and Seanad to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s powerful address certainly reflected the mood of the country but the standing ovation was the easy bit. Politicians and people will face hard choices in the months and years ahead as the fallout from the Russian invasion affects their lives.

The Government’s decision to facilitate a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees was the correct response to the humanitarian crisis on the other side of Europe but it will come at a cost. The arrival of so many destitute people into the country will put a strain on resources and will inevitably add to the pressure on an already difficult housing situation.

Zelenskiy put his finger on it when he said in his address that Ireland had not remained neutral in the face of the Russian invasion of his country

Yet regardless of the costs there is no arguing that it was only right and fitting to offer sanctuary to people who have lost everything and suffered the trauma of war. As a wealthy country far from the firing line it is the least we could do and the sacrifices that may be asked us are trifling in comparison to the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

On the political front the war has also prompted a long overdue reassessment of an Irish sacred cow – neutrality. Zelenskiy put his finger on it when he said in his address that Ireland had not remained neutral in the face of the Russian invasion of his country.

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As well as opening our borders Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his Government have led the charge in attempting to persuade the EU to adopt the strictest possible sanctions on Russia. However, when it came to providing weapons we opted out and sent helmets and protective gear instead.

Independent TD Cathal Berry spoke for many when he pointed out in his response to Zelenskiy that in the Curragh camp there are hundreds of anti-tank rockets nearing the end of their shelf life that could easily be transferred to the Ukraine defence forces. “I urge the Taoiseach to send protective, defensive weapons to Ukraine in order that we stop the Russian advance,” said the former soldier.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has called for an honest rethink on neutrality and it is long past time that it happened. For one thing the ludicrous “triple lock” which gives Russia, China and the US, for that matter, a veto on Irish military deployment never made sense and should be abandoned without delay.

The only sour note in Leinster House on Wednesday was the refusal of the People Before Profit/Solidarity group to applaud Zelenskiy, but this should have come as no surprise to anybody who follows politics.

Ireland was one of 11 EU states that have come together to call for action on renewable sources to make western Europe independent of Russian energy supplies

One really important lesson the Russian invasion has spelled out clearly and unambiguously is that Ireland along with the rest of western Europe needs to end its dependence on oil and gas and develop its renewable energy resources as quickly as possible.

This was already a requirement to meet our climate change targets but the war in Ukraine has made it an immediate imperative. Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has been pushing for action on renewable energy, particularly from offshore wind, and moves are already under way for a massive development of the sector.

Hopefully, the obvious need for the rapid development of electricity from offshore wind will temper the inevitable and often frivolous planning objections which in the past have delayed vital projects for years. Is the energy security of the State to be subject to the whims of wealthy residents of Killiney in south Dublin who object to the prospect of a glimpse of wind turbines on the horizon?

A new regime for maritime regulation has been approved by the Dáil and should make it easier to proceed with offshore wind projects which have been in the pipeline for the past decade or more. Seven large offshore wind farms with the capacity to power three million homes are set to be fast-tracked as part of a multibillion investment programme and should come on stream by 2027. Under the new system the projects will be able to obtain consents from the Minister for Energy enabling them to go directly to An Bord Pleanála for consideration.

In the longer term Ryan is committed to co-operating with other EU states and the UK to develop the northwest of Europe as a base for massive expansion of wind energy. Ireland was one of 11 EU states that have come together to call for action on renewable sources to make western Europe independent of Russian energy supplies.

The more immediate challenge is how to end that dependence quickly. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said that while Brussels is giving Ukraine €1 billion in aid it is paying Russia €1 billion a day for energy to fund its war. Ending that process soon will be painful for EU consumers and industry, but it has to be done.