Delegates at Fórsa’s national conference unanimously backed a motion that called on the union to maintain its practical humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine. The conference also pledged to continue working with Irish and international organisations to resist attacks on democracies and to support a just and peaceful resolution in Ukraine.

The union’s recent Ukraine appeal raised €500,000 for humanitarian aid.

Moving the emergency motion, Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said the war would have profound and long-lasting effects on its victims.

“There are no excuses for Russia’s invasion. There are no excuses for the war crimes. There are no excuses for the senseless loss of life, and there must be no hiding place on earth for those responsible,” he said.

He said it was up to the Ukrainian people to decide what their future should be. “Whatever they decide they must have our support. They have stood up against impossible odds and made such sacrifices to defend their country and they been clear that they want to live in a free, independent Ukraine that is safe from Russian aggression,” he said.

Andy also said the Irish welcome extended to Ukrainian refugees should be the model for the State’s approach to all asylum-seekers.

“We have seen how our society can welcome Ukrainian refugees, so there can be no excuses for not applying the same standards of solidarity, compassion and humanity to all other refugees fleeing war and persecution. They should be welcome here regardless of their race, their ethnicity, or their religion. We must now apply the same compassion and the humanity to all who need it,” he said.