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LAST UPDATE | 23 Feb 2022
THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR to Ireland has been summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs with Minister Simon Coveney saying he will underline this country’s “strong views” on Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Speaking in the Dáil this evening, Coveney said that Russia’s recognition of two separatist regions of Ukraine was a “severe breach of international law” and has prompted sanctions that were “clearly warranted”.
Amid claims the Ireland’s IFSC was being used as a “funnel” for Russian oligarch money, Coveney said that this State would “ensure that all EU sanctions are implemented here, including in respect to financial services and the IFSC.”
Yesterday, EU sanctions were announced that targeted Russian parliament members who backed recognising the breakaway regions as independent.
The Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov has said that EU sanctions will result in ‘proportionate’ response from Moscow.
Coveney said today that Filatov would be summoned to Iveagh House this evening to express Ireland’s displeasure at his country’s actions in Ukraine
“The decisions which Russia has already taken this week to violate the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, stand as a severe breach of international law and international agreements. Agreements that Russia has signed,” Coveney said.
Together with our EU partners. We have urged Russia to reverse its recognition, hold its commitment, abide by international law, and return to meaningful negotiations and dialogue without delay.
He added: “I’ve instructed senior officials in my department to summon the Russian ambassador this evening to underline Ireland’s strong views on these issues.”
Responding to Coveney, Sinn Fein’s John Brady TD welcomed the Ukrainian Ambassador who was present in the chamber and said it was a “very, very difficult time” for Ukraine.
“It is very difficult to overstate the significance of what is actually happening in Ukraine and of the dangers that Russian aggression holds for international peace,” he said.
I want to take the opportunity to restate my party’s commitment to the principles inherent in the United Nations resolution 262 adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on the 27 March 2014. In relation to the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its sovereignty.
Dáil motion
In the Dáil earlier today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin also backed a call for the Dáil to vote soon to formally criticise Russia’s actions.
Martin was speaking in response to Labour leader Alan Kelly TD who pushed for a Dáil motion to condemn Russia’s “neo-colonial’ actions in Ukraine.
Kelly said that such a vote would be a chance for parties to ”show their colours” on the issue.
“I hope there will be cross party support for a motion and I’m formally asking you Taoiseach that you will put forward a motion to this house that we can all support. We want to avoid war but it is clear it is clear who the aggressor is,” he said.
Martin backed the call for the Dáil motion, saying:
Russia’s behaviour deserves the unequivocal condemnation of everyone in this house, and our support as a country for Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to choose its own foreign security policies is unwavering.
Kelly also said €118 billion was funnelled through Dublin to Russia between 2005 and 2017 and that Ireland risked becoming a channel to “funnel corrupt, dirty, Russian oligarch money”.
“If sanctions in the UK, US and EU lead to a clampdown on Russian billionaires, there’s a likelihood that oligarchs under shell companies, thousands of them, may seek to use Ireland to continue to funnel the money,” he said.
Also speaking in the Dáil, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald that criticised what she said was the “clear the breach of international law by Russia” which she said “cannot stand”.
“The mounting prospect of war in Ukraine, the potential for horrific loss of life, the clear breach of international law by Russia cannot stand, and sanctions are appropriate and absolutely necessary,” she said.
McDonald also raised “serious concerns” that sanctions against Russia would impact on “soaring cost of living”.
Speaking earlier today, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe ruled out further measures to tackle the rising cost of living before the October Budget, even if energy prices rise due to the crisis in Ukraine.
Russian money
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Donohoe was asked about Ireland’s role in implementing sanctions on Russia, saying ‘there is a level’ of Russian money traded here.
“If a country has a large financial services sector, and values that and we do here in Ireland – it’s a really big employer in the Irish economy – that does mean that we’ve international capital and international money in Ireland and, yes, there is indeed a level of Russian capital traded in and out of our IFSC,” Donohoe said.
Donohoe said that the government has already changed the law on tax, while also updating anti-money laundering legislation, in response to concerns.
Donohoe said that a war in Europe would have a detrimental impact on the Irish and European economy.
However, he once again ruled out further measures to tackle the rising cost of living before the October Budget, even if energy prices rise due to the crisis in Ukraine.
He added that he knew that companies were concerned about the impact of sanctions on business.
“I think it’s very understandable for companies that are involved in sectors that have particular links with either exports or imports that come from Russia, or go to Russia, are of course concerned about what a war or sanctions could mean,” he said.
“If you look at where our economy stands overall, our exports to Russia are approximately 1% of our national income. Our imports from Russia are approximately 0.5% of our national income. But inside that 0.5%, there are sectors that do have a little bit more of a reliance on Russia than other sectors would.
It’s understandable that they would raise concerns regarding what could happen, but we are making these decisions inside the context of the security and the ability of states to determine their own future being threatened by unacceptable and illegal behaviour. And Ireland does need to be part of the response to that.
- With reporting by Press Association
He needs to be replaced with a judge who will refuse to use the words “suspended sentence” and learn the words “life imprisonment”.
Same goes for his liberal colleagues.
H.S.B.C. 350 ?
I agree the Wayne O’Donoghue case was a particularly lenient sentence for a child killer – especially considering his actions after he killed young Robert. However Wayne seems to be enjoying his new life now in the UK so that’s a happy ending (not).
“Carney’s decision in 2006 to hand Wayne O’Donoghue a four-year sentence for killing his 11-year-old neighbour Robert Holohan was upheld by the Court of Criminal Appeal following an appeal for ‘undue leniency’ from the DPP.
In its 33-page judgement, the three-judge court said Carney’s ruling had been the correct one.
Prior to imposing that sentence, following a verdict of manslaughter, the judge had warned the victim’s mother to prepare herself – saying the sentence he would be imposing would be upsetting for her, before explaining the reasoning behind his decision.”
Judges need to be re educated. And get with the real word. From their privileged position and privileged past.they seem to live in a different world then the rest of us .
Judges also need to be replaced from time to time. There’s still no sign that an apolitical appointments process has been put in place.
“Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland, said he was “one of Ireland’s’ greatest ever criminal judges”.
“He did society’s dirty work,” Murphy added.”
For 24 Years!
Despite my original comment above, I wholeheartedly agree with Ken Murphy.
IMO, he was as inept as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. The entire judicial system in this country needs to be overhauled and brought into the 21st century. I know some of this may need referendums, well if that’s the case do it, stop putting the criminal first and the victim second.
A judge that would jail the person for not paying their bills but suspended sentence for the real criminals
The article focussed on the issues of controversy in the long career of a man who dealt with some of the worst crimes in the history of the State and with a cohort of vicious criminals. It did not focus on the many routine decisions made by the Judge. Any Judge dealing with the complex criminal cases this man dealt will inevitably attract criticism. Strangely the article focuses on appeals where his sentences were increased and not on the cases where his sentences were actually reduced on appeal; a source of public complaint by this Judge and a reason, ironically, why some of his sentences were subsequently perceived as lenient by the Appeals Court. This is how our judicial system works in common law countries with Appeal Courts often establishing the guidelines for sentencing. There is too much ignorant populist commentary on the Journal about Judges from people who clearly haven’t a clue how any judicial system works and don’t actually have any facts beyond newspaper headlines at their disposal. This man dealt with cases and sat though evidence which would most of us in prolonged psychotherapy. He deserves praise and not the ignorant criticism he is attracting from “the usual suspects”.
Agreed, to dedicate his working life to considering the details of the most savage acts to be committed in the state is indeed to do the state a great service. He could have simply lined his pockets and become a developer. Hope he enjoys his retirement.
Very well said.
He should take the judge, that sent the woman by taxi, from Donegal to Mountjoy, for not having a TV licence, with him.
The judge had nothing to do with the taxi
The judge should be informed enough to know that it would happen – that is the point !
Wasting tax-payers money while feeding from the same pot and all that !
Judges will become figures of ridicule when certain insider information is revealed within the coming weeks !
I was actually a juror on a murder trial Justice Carney presided over. He seemed fair and professional. I did, though, love his summing up where, as the defendant scowled in the dock, he reminded us that just because the defendant was an unpleasant, even despicable, person, it was not a basis for conviction of murder.
Was he found guilty?
Never knew there were so many legal experts on the Journal. The usual Journal commenters. Opinions on everything and answers to nothing.
I see no answers here either, just your opinion.
We’re all guilty.
The ultimate legislators in the State are the citizens – through the ballot – you should understand this Alan !
I’ve an answer. Stop giving out suspended sentences. You don’t need to be a legal expert to read the papers.
Judging by some of his judgement’s which is difficult to do because there may be thing’s he know’s and we don’t at the time ,he was pretty well off the wall with some of his decisions
Judge fudge
He was complete out of touch with the wishes of the people he was supposed to serve and protect. Good riddance.
Off course he made mistakes but thats part of the human condition. Let the man rest in peace.
-When anyone decides upon a career in the legal profession they must accept that in exchange for their 200k + salary and pension , prestige, security , short working hours and long holidays that there are some disadvantages.
-One such disadvantage is that they may have to listen and make judgement on some horrific cases.
-Another disadvantage is that they have a huge responsibility to dispense justice.
-another disadvantage is that they are in the public eye. If they consistently made bad judgements then the public will be outraged.
-Anther disadvantage is that if their peers and friends try to paint a picture of a great legacy of professionalism then just maybe some of the public will be outraged again.
-I don’t wish to dance on the man’s grave. If there is a maker up there then i expect he/she is judging him now not just for some good work but also for those outrageous decisions where he allowed rapists to walk free. A purgatorial sentence would be a fair judgement imo with no suspended sentence and no 100 euro bail.
Mistakes that had a huge impact on people (victims and their familys lives.) !
If Wayne O’Donoghue went through a proper justice system with a competent Judge he’d be in a small grey cell somewhere now in my opinion. Carney was born and died an utter idiot, I never read of court proceedings he had a bizarre hand in without feeling shock and dismay – this passing is no loss to Irish Society…..
a three judge court ruled that it was a correct one .
For those eager to pile on to Carney on the basis of the couple of worst decisions he’s made, this article from a couple of years ago probably gives a better, rounder picture of his achievements and faults over a quarter century on the bench.
A judge is supposed dish out justice every time presides. His bad decisions have ruined lives.
A judge is simply a banker for the court corporation.
He wasn’t exactly a ‘hanging judge’. Let’s hope his replacement has a pair! I note there was no mention of him criticising Joe Duffy when callers to the live line criticised his sentencing of O’Donoghue!
Good riddance
A Woman’s Worth …. reporting and sentencing of violent crimes against women.
Judge Paul Carney RIP was also the Patron of VSAC…..victim support at court. This is an organisation run in the main by volunteers….and these volunteers give support to victims of crime during their time in court. Wonderful organisation much needed and appreciated by Victims of crime.Judge Paul Carney called these volunteers an empathetic benevolent group of people.We were at his funeral Mass today.RIP Judge you’ll be very missed.
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