With over 6,000 Ukrainian refugees already in Ireland the State needs to make enormous efforts to ensure that they can be speedily integrated into local communities and the workforce.

Many refugees with poorer English will need help in finding opportunities where they will be able to take advantage of their skills and talents. With so many of the refugees being women, childcare will be a serious problem for those who seek to work while they are here.

Recognition of professional qualifications (such as childcare certification and drivers’, including HGV, licences) needs to be accelerated.

Government need to resource the Garda vetting service to ensure that people who are here can be facilitated in finding work as quickly as possible.

Speaking at the meeting Ambassador Gerasko said:

“I would like to express my gratitude to Irish people and firms for their support in these dark times for Ukraine.

“The war against the Ukrainian people is fuelled by the trade that businesses carry out with Russia.

“I want to ask all Irish businesses to cease trade and investment in Russia. We are also asking that all firms reassess their supply chains to ensure that they are not relying on Russian Firms.

“Ukraine is calling on all nations to Boycott trade with Russia, to close their ports to Russian shipping and Russian goods and encourage all commercial bodies to divest themselves from Russian assets.

“We would also encourage Irish businesses to consider how they can provide employment opportunities to Ukrainian citizens arriving in Ireland, many of whom have excellent language and technical skills.”

The Embassy calls for medical aid to Ukraine

Given the relentless bombing of civilian areas and hospitals medical necessities are in very short supply. Organisations which can donate medical resources to International and Ukrainian organisations that are active on the ground are urged to contact the Ukrainian embassy for local organisations.

Speaking after this morning’s meeting with Her Excellency Larysa Gerasko, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said:

“Putin’s horrific war on Ukraine is an international calamity. No one can look on the plight of the people fleeing that violence without wanting to help. For help to achieve its aim, help must be practical.

“For many people the first instinct is to organise local charity drives, but that doesn’t consider the difficulties involved in getting collected goods and food to the conflict zone, and then getting them to the right people.

“It is most practical to donate money to the organisations that have the capacity to deliver help where it is needed, and at the scale that is required. With millions already fleeing the warzone, un-coordinated piecemeal efforts cannot make a substantial difference.”

For others who want to help, but do not have the kind of medical supplies that are of urgent need and do not have an existing partnership with a charity active in the field, Chambers Ireland suggests making monetary donations to:

UNICEF: https://www.unicef.ie/donate/ukraine/#1

The UN High Commission for Refugees: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/ukraine-emergency

The Red Cross: https://donate.redcross.ie/