Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [7688/22]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Departmental Bodies
Paul Murphy
Question:2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [7691/22]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:3. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [9275/22]
Alan Kelly
Question:4. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international unit of his Department. [9493/22]
Peadar Tóibín
Question:5. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [10078/22]
Mick Barry
Question:6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [10111/22]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:7. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [11437/22]
Seán Haughey
Question:8. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [11728/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.
The international section of the Department supports my work at international level, beyond the European Union, to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and to maintain and develop strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the section provides me with advice and briefing on bilateral and multilateral relations and on international issues generally, including international peace and security, overseas development assistance and international human rights. The section co-ordinates my international travel, including my engagement with Heads of State and Government and with other senior international figures and organisations.
The international section oversees the implementation of the Global Ireland 2025 strategy and assists the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in its work co-ordinating whole-of-government efforts to implement the UN sustainable development goals. The international section will support me and the Government in managing the international dimensions of Covid-19, including on the global availability of vaccines and therapeutics, future pandemic preparedness, international travel and progress towards economic recovery.
The Taoiseach has rightly referred to crimes against humanity and against international law committed by Vladimir Putin. Tonight in the Dáil, we will discuss the Amnesty International report entitled, Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians: A Cruel System of Domination and a Crime Against Humanity. The report asks European governments, including the Taoiseach's Government, to condemn Israel for ongoing, systematic crimes against humanity. Is the Taoiseach going to endorse that report and its recommendations regarding the referral of Israel to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, a total arms embargo against the state of Israel, and targeted sanctions against Israeli officials who perpetuate the system of apartheid, very similar to the sanctions the Government has just agreed to against members of the Kremlin and Putin's coterie for crimes against humanity? If the Government does not do those things, it will be guilty, as will the European Union, of gross double standards in supposedly opposing crimes against humanity and breaches of international law.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach about his position on the newly published draft corporate sustainability due diligence directive from the European Commission. We desperately need laws ensuring corporate accountability throughout the supply chain, regarding human rights, labour rights and environmental rights, but it appears the Commission has gone for the lowest common denominator position, with loopholes to carve out the vast majority of corporations in this country and across the EU. For example, 99% of Irish businesses would be excluded because the proposed legislation will apply only to companies with an annual turnover of more than €150 million and with more than 500 employees. That would exclude, for example, the Dublin-based Coal Marketing Company, which sells coal from the infamous Cerrejón mine in Colombia, from where communities nearby face pollution of their air and water. Another loophole would allow companies to offload responsibility through a contract onto their suppliers. Will the Taoiseach work to strengthen this proposal?
I send my solidarity to the Ukrainian people and their families in Ireland and commend those who are doing so much on the ground in our communities to organise relief, collect money and show support. Two people in my town, Tanya, who runs Tanya's Kitchen, and her mam, both of them Ukrainian, will run a fundraiser tomorrow, while Ollie, who runs The Snug, is collecting money as well. So much work is being done and we have much to be proud of. I hope yesterday's Dáil statements demonstrated our collective support for Ukraine and our deep opposition to Russia's morally bankrupt and illegal war.
In light of Ireland's military neutrality, our seat on the UN Security Council and our position as an EU member state not aligned with NATO, we have a unique and important role in supporting Ukraine, making the case for peace and holding Russia to account for its war crimes. As for sanctions and, specifically, the targeting of Russian oligarchs and their financial entities located in Ireland, just three of the 34 of these special purpose entities will be impacted by the current round of sanctions. I am concerned there appears to be no intention to pursue the remaining 31 entities. Will the Taoiseach clarify the position?
Over the past two years, my party colleague Deputy Mairéad Farrell has raised a special purpose vehicle provision in section 110 in Ireland's tax code that is used by these Russian entities and others to avoid regulation and tax. Does the Taoiseach accept it is finally time to reform how the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, and our tax code are used, how our financial regulation performs and how our rules on transparency of company ownership work?
The Currency has an article today on its website that indicates it has tracked about €13 billion domiciled in the IFSC by sanctioned Russian firms. The Irish Times has stated that about €34 billion is held in opaque Russian-linked shell companies registered in the IFSC. Colm Keena published a report in 2020 that showed a network of bank accounts allowing Russia to funnel money into the West. Cillian Doyle and Jim Stewart have carried out research that shows that €118 billion has been moved by Russian companies through section 110 trusts based in the IFSC over a 12-year period.
All the rhetoric we use in this House will come to nothing if we do not show Ukraine that we mean business by ensuring these sanctions are not circumvented through the IFSC. What will the Taoiseach do to make sure that is the case?
Yesterday in this House, I questioned the Taoiseach about reports of people of colour fleeing Ukraine, being discriminated against at the Polish border and being turned away. In his reply, he stated, "we neither support nor have any evidence ... of any racist approach to facilitating migration into Poland". There is plenty of evidence now. Ignorance was not really an excuse yesterday, given a Government Deputy, Deputy Higgins, raised the matter in the Dáil yesterday evening, but it is certainly no excuse today. This has been reported by the BBC, CNN, Reuters, France 24, The Guardian and others. I give the Taoiseach a second opportunity to join with me in voicing opposition to a racist border policy at the Polish border with Ukraine and to call for equal treatment for everyone fleeing this humanitarian crisis.
There has been significant solidarity with Ukraine and against the war criminality of Vladimir Putin. We all agree we need to hurt the Russian and oligarchs' war machine financially. We need to deal with the section 110 companies and the various means by which money can be filtered that have enabled these people. There has been great success regarding people who have contacted us about medical supplies, particularly insulin. This was facilitated, but many people are still talking about the community response.
The EU Commission is talking about this becoming a major part of dealing with migration into the future. People have approached me in Dundalk and I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach could lay out for us what the process will be for people who are willing to take those who are fleeing war-torn Ukraine.
I am glad to learn more about the international unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. It is obviously doing important work.
As we all will be aware, international affairs are dominated just now by the horrific Russian war on Ukraine. The Taoiseach has engaged with a number of Heads of Government in this regard in recent days. Can the Taoiseach give me a sense of where world leaders are at on this? I think, in particular, of the Taoiseach's formal visit to Germany last week and his meeting with the German Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz, just prior to the invasion. It seems, after some initial apparent hesitation by the German Chancellor, he has now become one of the strongest supporters for harsh sanctions on Russia. For example, he has cancelled the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Is the Taoiseach aware of any new initiatives by EU leaders as we witness the horrific scenes taking place in Ukraine?
Finally, in his exchanges with President Biden for St. Patrick's Day, what will the Taoiseach be saying to him in this regard? Have the Taoiseach's plans for his visit to Washington been finalised at this stage?
I thank the Deputies for raising the issues. In respect of Deputy Boyd Barrett's question in terms of the Amnesty report, Amnesty International is a respected NGO. I value the role it has played and the role other civil society organisations have played in relation to the Palestinian question. The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently examining the Amnesty report in respect of the plight of the Palestinian people.
I have consistently opposed the policy of successive Israeli Governments in relation to Palestine. It is my view that a two-state solution is the optimal solution to what has been a very long-running conflict. It is unacceptable how Palestinians have been and are being treated and the discriminatory practices that have been deployed towards them on a regular basis by the Israeli authorities.
Apartheid.
We have raised this at European Union level and at United Nations level. Indeed, the Secretary General of the United Nations has commended Ireland - he said it to me personally-----
Sanctions?
-----in terms of its consistency in raising the Palestinian question as a member of the UN Security Council.
Arms embargo?
That remains the case. Other colleagues across Europe have different perspectives on Palestine - the Deputy knows that well. Some are for historic reasons and others have different perspectives.
There go the double standards.
I do not accept the "double standards" jibe. By the way, I do not accept the juxtaposition of the two either. I want to make that point because I had this terrible feeling that-----
They are just Palestinians, not Europeans.
-----there are many formulaic responses to Ukraine and then the Deputy very hurriedly wants to move on to other issues. Anyway, I will say no more than that.
Deputy Paul Murphy spoke about the corporate sustainability due diligence EU directive. We support greater corporate accountability. The European Union has done far more than most across the world in terms of corporate sustainability policies and directives, as well as accountability and holding people to task. Through the various layers of both legal and judicial agencies within the European Union, that has been seen on an ongoing basis in terms of companies being brought before European courts or the Commission and being tackled in relation to a range of issues. I do not accept the criticism of the European Union, which is a consistent theme of Deputy Paul Murphy and others-----
It is criticism of the draft directive.
-----notwithstanding the fact that of all international bodies, the European Union has by far been the most progressive in terms of holding companies to account on environmental issues and on a range of other issues as well. It is a draft directive. It will go through change as it goes through the various Councils and so on.
In response to Deputy O'Reilly in relation to Ukraine, I have been raising this issue since the invasion of Crimea. I am on the record in this House, and was sometimes a lone-enough voice because people, including the Deputy's party, were not as exercised about the invasion of Crimea back then, unfortunately. That was a pity.
Section 110.
I just want to make the important point that once the violation of a country's integrity happens, it is creeping then and now we have an all-out war.
Unless it is Palestinian.
There could have been, in my view, greater opposition to the invasion of Crimea at the time all round. I merely want to say that.
In relation to section 110 entities, I made my position clear on that. With regard to authorised investment funds, the Central Bank has advised that total Russian assets held on 31 December 2021 is estimated at €11.4 billion or 0.3% of the total Irish fund assets of €3.8 trillion, and this is evenly split between equities and bonds. In terms of the special purpose entities, there were 3,000 Irish domiciled special purpose entities. The Central Bank has undertaken an initial review of those and any links with Russian counterparts. Some 34 of these entities have a Russian sponsor, meaning that they were established on behalf of a Russian company. By the way, it does not mean they are all illegal. Of these 34 entities, three have been identified as being directly linked to individuals or financial institutions covered in the 23 February round of EU sanctions. Work is ongoing in respect of the subsequent sanction rounds. I have given the figure in terms of the €11.4 billion, which is 0.3% of the €3.8 trillion.
I would make the point that a breach of a financial sanction, and this is in response to Deputy Tóibín as well, is a criminal offence. Accounts, funds or other assets must be frozen without delay in order that they cannot be made available, directly or indirectly, to the sanctioned person, entity or body, and all natural and legal persons in the State are obliged to comply with European Union sanctions.
We are obliged to move on to Question No. 9.
How is it being policed?
The community response.
We will do everything we can.
The Polish border.
First, on Deputy Ó Murchú's point, the implications of this are potentially enormous for the country and for the Continent in terms of migratory flows and people needing support. We have already provided an initial €10 million relief contribution.
We need to move on.
It will mean the energising of many community-based responses, as well as official responses to Ukrainians coming into Ireland to help them.
On Deputy Barry's point, we would be totally opposed to and would condemn any racist practices in terms of facilitating people who are freeing a war zone such as Ukraine.
Departmental Functions
Alan Kelly
Question:9. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [7923/22]
Peadar Tóibín
Question:10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [10079/22]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:11. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [10081/22]
Mick Barry
Question:12. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [10112/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [11432/22]
Paul Murphy
Question:14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [11435/22]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:15. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [11089/22]
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:16. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [11572/22]
Joe Flaherty
Question:17. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic division of his Department. [11729/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 17, inclusive, together.
The economic division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy to support sustainable economic development in areas such as job creation, housing, climate action, digital issues and well-being. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of the programme for Government and issues that cut across multiple Departments. The division supports the work of the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment, the Cabinet committee on housing and the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change, as well as associated senior officials groups and other cross-departmental structures. The division also includes a unit which supports strengthening of social dialogue, including the Labour Employer Economic Forum.
I wanted to raise something with the Taoiseach in relation to a report that was delivered by Down Syndrome Ireland, DSI, in the past couple of days. It relates to the fact that services delivered to people with Down's syndrome have radically fallen over the past couple of years. Of those surveyed by DSI, 65% have received no speech and language therapy sessions in the past year, while 44% have received no therapy of any kind in the past year. Some parents responded that they have received no therapy sessions at all over the past three years. Moreover, 40% stated they received no communication from the HSE in the past 12 months and nearly 25% of children with Down's syndrome under the age of five have received no therapy services in their whole lives. Of young children, only 49% have had a speech and language therapist, while 22% have had access to occupational therapy.
This is an abandonment of a whole section of Irish society. This country flies the flag of inclusion but, unfortunately, in real terms, too many people with disabilities are being excluded.
The Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, policy is a gateway that gives specific rail and road transport infrastructure, routes, ports and airports exclusive access to the Connecting Europe Facility, CEF, fund. It also represents the individual member states' priority rail and road transport corridors, ports and airports. The latest 2021 CEF transport call under the 2013 TEN-T map is for proposals to make €7 billion available to support infrastructure projects across the EU. Why is the west and the Atlantic economic corridor excluded from the TEN-T core status when it is critical to provide investment certainty and to match EU and State investment in the infrastructure there? People in the west need to know why they are being excluded and why they do not have the vital infrastructure that would create the opportunities that are presented by renewable energy and related industries in the west.
Breaking news, Eurozone inflation is 5.8%.
I said that this morning.
Wow. It is 5.8%. The Taoiseach may have said it this morning, but it is breaking in the past hour. There are big cost-of-living increases on the way that are not included in those figures. The Russian invasion of Ukraine moves the cost-of-living crisis to another level. The price of bread, groceries, heating and fuel will rise. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has already warned of a massive spike in heating costs. The Taoiseach is on the record as saying that there will be no new cost-of-living compensation measures for households this side of the budget in October. I put it to him that this is no longer a tenable position. I am for price controls on gas and electricity prices. I am also for an increase in the national minimum wage to €15 and for inflation-busting wage increases across the board. What new measures is the Taoiseach prepared to consider? What is his position, for example, on the idea that a €200 credit be introduced to offset rising gas bills?
What is also breaking news, is that the Department of Finance told me yesterday that on top of the current rate of inflation of 5.8%, the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions relating to it are likely to increase inflation by a further 4%. As a result, we are potentially looking at an inflation rate of more than 9%. Against that background, and because I did not make this point earlier, could I ask the Taoiseach to condemn what Aer Lingus and International Airlines Group, IAG, are doing in terms of demanding pay cuts? This from an entity that we subsidised during Covid. I commend the workers on voting overwhelmingly against those pay cuts, particularly - I did not make this point earlier - because IAG, simultaneously gave British Airways workers, the same staff, a 10% pay increase as a reward for what they had done during Covid. That is shocking.
What is the Taoiseach going to do to increase the minimum wage for low-paid workers? I met this week with private security workers who are on less than €12 an hour. Do they not deserve a decent pay increase?
I also want to talk about the Aer Lingus ground staff. They very decisively rejected a proposal to impose a pay freeze and cuts to allowances on them today, voting 85% against. Fair play to them. These are workers who have not had a pay rise since 2019, and the Labour Court was pushing to continue with the pay freeze for almost three more years when the cost of living is through the roof, as the himself has now pointed out. At the same time, IAG is now granting 10% pay increases at other airlines. Does the Taoiseach agree that a pay freeze is simply not fair during this cost-of-living crisis? Will he support these workers and oppose the attempts right across the aviation industry to use the pandemic to reshape labour relations in the interests of the bosses against the workers, for example, as we have seen at the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, where it got a significant number of workers to sign up for severance and has rehired people on substantially worse terms and conditions?
I want to ask the Taoiseach about the abolition of mandatory retirement. As he will be aware, Sinn Féin tabled legislation that was supported by his party in opposition in the previous Dáil and which we will be reintroducing in the coming weeks. This legislation, when passed, will give workers a choice to retire at 65 or to work on. Forcing workers to retire at 65, as his Government partners are finding out, when they are fit and able and may want to work on, especially where they cannot access the State pension rate of pay, is deeply unfair. Will the Taoiseach elaborate on any discussions that have taken place and any work done on this important worker's rights issue by the economic division of his Department?
This morning, Ms Patricia King, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, outlined deep concerns that she and ICTU affiliates have in relation to a complete lack of consultation on the right to request remote working. The matter is being referred to in industrial relations circles as the right for employers to say no to remote working. The lack of consultation led to deeply flawed legislation. We do not want to see that mistake replicated. What consultation and discussions have taken place on the abolition of mandatory retirement?
In response to Deputy Tóibín, I have not seen the report. His question related to the economic division in my Department. Suffice to say that throughout the Covid period there was, unfortunately, a retrenchment in services. We have provided additional resources to the HSE in respect of the hiring of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. I will discuss this further with the HSE and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability regarding the report on Down's syndrome and we will follow through on it. There is a need to provide far greater therapeutic services to children with special needs more generally. Additional funding has been allocated in successive years. I am not clear whether the allocation has been provided specifically to services on the ground. We need to interrogate a bit further the money that has been allocated. Record funding has been allocated to the HSE in respect of therapeutic services, in particular in terms of the progressing disability model it has been pursuing for some years.
Deputy Conway-Walsh referred to the west.
TEN-T funding.
I know. It was about TEN-T funding, but that is not the core funding. The core funding is in the national development plan in respect of roads and public transport. A sum of €165 billion is being provided over the next ten years for investment in infrastructure in the west. The Deputy referred to the development of renewable energy in particular. The western seaboard will receive considerable investment for renewable energy. The first phase is on the east coast and the west and south west will follow through. There is great potential in particular for offshore wind on the western seaboard. The potential is very exciting in terms of jobs and the economy in the future.
The ring road around Galway, for example, is a major piece of infrastructure that has been bogged down in planning due to objections right through the process. I understand it is currently subject to a judicial review.
What about the western rail corridor?
Yes, that has been included in the all-island rail strategy review that the shared island unit in my Department is helping to fund in order to identify the potential in that regard. There has been very significant investment in the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, programme by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in respect of many towns across the west. There is a whole range of investment vehicles from the State and the vast bulk of the investment is now generated by taxpayers and allocated through the various national strategies in terms of investment in the west.
In response to Deputy Barry, as I referenced this morning, there is a significant issue facing the country in the context of inflation. It is a global phenomenon. There are no easy answers. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, an illegal war, is going to add to inflation, in particular in respect of energy prices.
I said earlier that in 2020, the country spent approximately €3.4 billion on imported fuels. In 2021, it spent €6.2 billion. That gives an illustration. There was a €2.8 billion increase in the bill for imported fuels and that reflects the higher prices on the international markets. A year ago, a barrel of oil cost $64 on international markets. Today, it costs $110. Oil prices have risen by $14 a barrel over the past week. This is not the Government's fault. It is just the reality of the international situation in regard to energy.
How strange.
The Deputy got his chance. The same applies to natural gas, which costs 400p per therm today on international markets compared with 40p per therm last March. Gas prices have soared 220p per therm over the past week.
We are going to face a very difficult situation. I gave the figures on wages, which have increased over the past while. In terms of the Government's response, we have increased the fuel allowance from €630 to €1,039 since we came into office a little over a year and a half ago. If we add on the €200 electricity payment, that is €1,239 we are giving to low-income families. Basically, it is a doubling of support to low-income families in the context of fuel supports. We have also taken other measures to support families, either with medical costs or in respect of reducing transport fees from the end of April, which will benefit approximately 800,000 users, and by reducing school transport fees. The budget contained in the region of €1 billion in measures to support people on social protection and tax relief for workers of about €630 million.
We are and will be working with the European Commission in respect of the energy situation and energy prices. The European Commission will be coming forward with a further publication in that regard in the next ten days following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are facing a very difficult situation because of the war and because of President Putin's behaviour and activity. There is no question about that. There are no easy answers. It is pointless coming in and making ideological points or whatever. That is the point I would make.
Wait until October.
In respect of the situation in Aer Lingus, as I said earlier, the Government supported the workers in Aer Lingus through the employment wage subsidy scheme and supported the company, along with other companies in aviation. Many people in the House were calling for that and we did it. The workers should be treated fairly and, in my view, on a par with UK employees in the same overall company.
We are way over time. We must proceed to the next group of questions.
We support the end of mandatory retirement. The Pensions Commission has reported on that and it will come back to Government.
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Seán Sherlock
Question:18. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [8854/22]
Alan Kelly
Question:19. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [9491/22]
James O'Connor
Question:20. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [10089/22]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:21. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [9277/22]
Peadar Tóibín
Question:22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [11389/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [11433/22]
Paul Murphy
Question:24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [11436/22]
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:25. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the One Ocean Summit. [11730/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 25, inclusive, together.
I participated in the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, on Friday, 11 February. Around 20 international leaders attended in person for Friday's high-level segment hosted by President Macron. This event was held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the UN and in co-operation with the World Bank and other public, private and civil society partners. It feeds into a sequence of major international events on the oceans and seas in the first half of 2022, including a meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the second phase of the COP15 UN biodiversity conference and a UN conference to support the implementation of sustainable development Goal 14, which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
My contribution to the One Ocean Summit was on the theme of "an ocean of solutions to climate change". I took the opportunity to highlight the following: the vast potential of Ireland's renewable energy resources, including for export, and associated commitments in our climate action plan and programme for government; the new licensing and regulatory regime being established by the Maritime Area Planning Act, including establishment of the maritime area regulatory authority; and the launch this year of Ireland's new state-of-the-art marine research vessel, RV Tom Crean, which will make an important contribution to the Horizon Europe mission to restore our ocean, seas and waters by 2030.
The oceans comprise the largest component of the Earth's system that stabilises climate and supports life and human well-being. Given that our maritime area is seven times the size of our landmass, it also has particular significance for Ireland. I was happy to lend my firm support for this excellent initiative from President Macron to raise the collective level of ambition of the international community on marine issues. I pay tribute to President Macron for the enormous individual effort that he put into this conference, staying there for the entirety of it and contributing very significantly to it.
I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach attended the summit, which is to be acknowledged. Is the Taoiseach confident that Ireland can achieve the 5 GW of installed offshore wind generation by 2030, which is the Government's own target? Is he confident that upon the establishment of the maritime agency, the marine area consents that would give effect to the potential for offshore wind will be realised? There is a massive opportunity in our native Cork for sites like the Verolme dockyard to be staging posts to service that industry, particularly on the south and south-west coast.
I want to raise with the Taoiseach the delay in advancing the urgently needed legislation to identify and guard marine protected areas as required under the marine strategy framework directive. As the Taoiseach will be aware, Ireland has no legal tool with which to define, identify, designate or manage marine protected areas. As a result, many species, habitats and processes occurring in our extensive marine area have fallen outside the scope of area-based conservation, with consequent risks to marine biodiversity and ecosystem services that benefit people and nature.
These are not my words. This is the advice of a senior Department official to a recent meeting of an Oireachtas committee. It is also worth noting that under the directive, Ireland's marine protected area should have been identified and underpinned in legislation two years ago. Nearly three years have passed since the Dáil declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, yet numerous targets set out in the national biodiversity action plan have not been met. Again, the Taoiseach will know from his keen interest in biodiversity that international best practice dictates that the marine planning framework should have been delivered in tandem with the marine protected areas legislation. In addition to the marine biodiversity protection targets that Ireland has missed and has yet to meet, there are seven renewable energy legacy projects, as well as new planning applications, that will be dealt with in the absence of the marine protected areas legislation.
The Irish fishing fleet is to be gutted by one third and 60 trawlers are to be scrapped by the Government, which will leave 100 vessels in the fleet. Fishing ports such as Burtonport, An Daingean, Schull, Baltimore, Kilmore Quay and Killybegs will be hit massively. The Irish fishing quota has been slashed from 20% to 15% and the remaining 85% of fish caught in Irish waters will go to countries in the European Union. That is incredible. I would challenge the Taoiseach to name another Government anywhere in the world that has done such a wrong to an indigenous sector as has been done to the Irish fishing sector. Aontú’s Becky Kealy will host a meeting in Bandon this Friday night to fight for the rights of fishing families and Patrick Murphy from the Irish South and West Fish Producers’ Organisation will be there. The Taoiseach may not be too far away from the event and I would ask him, if he can, to go along to that event, listen to the needs of fishing families in this country and guarantee that their livelihoods will not be destroyed.
The big question in terms of our oceans is whether the Government is going to allow the privatisation of these natural resources in the interests of big multinationals and private developers, who are literally queueing up to cash in on the natural resources of this country, which are owned by the people. It might be worth considering that more than 50% of our gas, for example, comes from Corrib and that we can produce up to 80% or 85% of our own electricity, yet the prices are going through the roof. That is because we privatised it and we gave it away to for-profit companies. There are now developers and multinational companies literally queueing up to grab sites all around the country. They have identified the sites because the Government did not protect the marine areas as it should have, or only 2% of them when it was supposed to protect 30%. They are queueing up to grab our wind energy potential and our oceans. Will he acknowledge that when they develop that renewable energy, they will charge market prices for the use of those resources to the people of this country?
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report was described by the UN Secretary General as "an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership". The latest report talks of a "rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all". It says that up to three quarters of the world's population faces life-threatening climatic conditions this century due to extreme heat if we do not act to stop climate change. The IPCC chair, Dr. Hoesung Lee, warned that half measures are no longer an option. The report calls for 30% to 50% of our land, rivers and oceans to be conserved in order to maintain biodiversity, yet Ireland only has 2.4% of its seas covered by MPAs, MPAs. Will the Taoiseach act on the science when it comes to the devastation facing us. Will he act and agree to have 30% of our sea areas designated as MPAs?
I have spoken in this Chamber many times about the need to protect wildlife and habitats. Our oceans are the greatest habitat of all. Anja Murray writes in the Irish Examiner today that "The world’s oceans contain the last great wilderness on Earth". That is pretty powerful. It is true and we want it to remain true. I have often spoken of the abundance of whales, dolphins and marine wildlife off our coast. We need to introduce steps to protect that wildlife. There are two simple steps we can take immediately. First, is to support the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in his push to increase the six-to-12 nautical mile fishing zone exclusively for the Irish fleet to 20 nautical miles. That would be an incredibly positive step both for wildlife and the fishing sector. Second, as other Deputies have noted, we need to urgently introduce legislation around MPAs and get to that target of 30% of MPAs.
Hear, hear.
I would like to see a condemnation of the behaviour of the second biggest fishing boat in the world, the FV Margiris which dumped 100,000 blue whiting in the Atlantic recently and was then observed fishing off the coast of Mayo. We need to stop that practice.
Hear, hear.
On Deputy Sherlock's point, I do think that we can reach the 5 GW by 2030. The Government has been in office for about a year and a half or a bit more. In that time, the marine planning framework has been published. The Maritime Area Planning Act has been enacted. There have been very significant developments, particularly in respect of the development of wind energy to give certainty to investors. Unlike Deputy Boyd Barrett, I welcome investment in wind energy off our coast. I do not think that the State on its own will be able to develop wind energy. We will have to agree to disagree on that. There is tremendous potential. The sea is seven times the size of our land mass.
There is a lot of money to be made.
We have a very ambitious goal to have 80% of renewable electricity by 2020. That is Ireland's goal in the climate action plan. That depends on harnessing offshore wind in particular. It is at approximately 43% of electricity generated now. In that context, the development of a new regulatory consenting regime for the offshore renewable sector in Ireland, including the introduction of maritime area consents provided for through the Maritime Area Planning Act, a route to market for future offshore wind projects through offshore renewable electricity support options. The Department of the Environment is working on all of this and has a very extensive work programme involving the development of a framework for offshore electricity transmission systems, updating the offshore renewable energy development plan and a cross-departmental offshore renewable energy delivery task force has been established to capture wider economic and business opportunities for offshore renewable energy, particularly in coastal areas.
We are very concerned with regard to the issue raised by Deputies Christopher O'Sullivan and O'Reilly in respect of the need to protect ocean eco systems for sustainability purposes, to protect fisheries as a natural resource and to ensure fishing opportunities for future generations. That matter is constantly under review and is being developed in the context of fisheries policy.
Deputy Tóibín's points are not valid because it is not the Government that did what he outlined; Brexit did it. That is the bottom line. Had we had a no-deal Brexit, it would have been far worse. The Deputy just made a presentation that was a classic of spin and distortion. He said that the Government is doing this. The Government wants to do nothing of the sort. Brexit caused this.
It is a good idea and important to develop maritime protected areas. We have to consult with all of the stakeholders because otherwise Deputies will be back in with me saying not to do it here or there for various reasons. It is extremely important. Ireland was one of the first countries to become a whale and dolphin sanctuary, for example. It was the former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey, did that. He was ahead of his time in the context of marine biodiversity. However, we need to do more - and we need to do it faster - to protect our ecosystems because the IPCC report is very worrying indeed.
He was good on planning.
I will work with the Ministers involved in the extension of the nautical limit. The practice the Deputy identified of the dumping of so many fish at sea is shocking.
Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke of the privatisation of our resources. I am not clear. Is he saying that the State should collect all the offshore wind itself? Is that what he is basically saying?
Ideally, yes.
I do not think that the State has the capacity to do that.
I do not think you can nationalise wind.
But you can privatise it.
There is a lot of expertise out there. We have to have partnership between the State and the private sector. ScotWind has really moved quickly in harnessing wind energy off Scotland. We want to get to 5 GW before 2030-----
Will we be paying market prices?
-----and we want to become a major exporting nation after that.
We need more consents. If we line up more consents then that would -----
I know that. It is being worked on. There is a whole-of-government delivery system being created. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is developing that.
It is going to be like the gold rush.
Well, I hope it does yield jobs and benefits, the biggest being to climate. I am not clear what the Deputy is proposing as an alternative. I have not heard that.
That it be publicly owned.
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Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 2.07 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 3.09 p.m.
Sitting suspended at 2.07 p.m. and resumed at 3.09 p.m.