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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Dan Grennan

Dublin City Council calls for Russia to be blocked from the IFSC

Dublin City Council have called on the Irish Government to block Russian state bodies from using the International Financial Services Centre in Dublin to avoid financial sanctions.

It is estimated there €34 billion held by Russian-linked shell companies registered at the IFSC.

The Government has been criticised in recent days for failing to take more severe sanctions against Russian-linked money in the IFSC in the face of the invasion of Ukraine.

Sinn Fein's Daithi Doolan brought forward the "Solidarity with Ukraine" motion which was passed unanimously.

Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan's motion to twin Dublin with the Ukraine capital, Kyiv, also passed.

Cllr Doolan said: "Tonight saw Dublin City Councillors from all parties stand united in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

"Sinn Féin also tabled an Emergency Motion supported by The Labour Party, Green Party, Social Democrats, Fianna Fail and the Independents. Many issues divide political parties, but on this important issue we speak in one strong voice.

"Dublin City Council calls on the international community, particularly the EU, to show active solidarity with the Ukrainian people and calls for the strongest possible sanctions to be taken against Vladimir Putin and Russia.

"Dublin City Council calls on the Irish government to take action and ensure the IFSC is not used by Russian state controlled controlled companies for the purposes of evading sanctions.

"As a state that is militarily neutral and not a member of any military alliance, we believe the Irish government can play a positive role in the EU and on the UN Security Council, against this war and for a negotiated settlement based on self-determination and international law."

Cllr Geoghegan said his motion was "an act of solidarity" with the people of Kyiv and Ukraine.

He said: "We are for a free and independent Ukraine and we want to do whatever we can to show the Ukrainians that are currently here and the Ukrainians that are coming to seek refuge in our country that they are welcome."

The motions passed at Monday's meeting of Dublin City Council where Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland revealed there will be a Ukrainian segment leading this year's St Patrick's Day parade.

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