Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements

The Taoiseach

I will participate in the March meeting of the European Council in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. The agenda will cover Ukraine, competitiveness, the Single Market and the economy, energy and migration. We will also discuss some recent developments including the Windsor Framework, the normalisation agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, and a donors' conference held in Brussels on Monday to assist those affected by the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. We will also discuss the situation in Belarus and condemn the recent long and unjustified prison sentences imposed on representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition.

On Friday, we will meet in Euro Summit format, where we will discuss the economic and financial situation. In his contribution this afternoon, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will discuss energy, migration and the response to the earthquakes. I will speak on all other issues.

Our meeting tomorrow will begin with an exchange with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. This will be an opportunity to share views on the most pressing of global issues, not least the violation of the UN Charter by Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the climate crisis and the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, report, and the urgent need to get progress towards the UN sustainable development goals back on track. The EU and its member states are strong supporters of the UN system, both politically and financially. Ireland has consistently promoted close EU-UN co-operation and effective multilateralism is a central element of our foreign policy.

Ireland has strongly endorsed the Black Sea grain initiative, brokered by the UN, which has allowed for the export of grain, foodstuffs and fertiliser through Ukrainian ports under Russian control. The UN Secretary-General has made extraordinary efforts to ensure its continuation. It has been crucial in mitigating the food security crisis stemming from Russia's actions. In recent days, agreement was reached to extend the deal by a further 60 days. This is welcome. This is a lifesaving initiative which we fully encourage and it is imperative that it continues as long as is needed. We must ensure full and effective implementation.

We will also discuss the wider situation in Ukraine. It is hoped that President Zelenskyy will be in a position to join us for part of our discussion via video. Ukraine continues to face immense challenges as a result of Russia's ongoing brutal aggression, which has included repeated indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. I spoke with President Zelenskyy earlier in the week, on Monday. I reaffirmed to him our continued solidarity with Ukraine for as long as it takes. He thanked Ireland for our ongoing support, including welcoming those who have sought refuge from the war here. President Zelenskyy also expressed his appreciation for our backing of Ukraine's application for EU membership and I paid tribute to the efforts Ukraine is making on necessary reforms despite the extraordinarily difficult circumstances. President Zelenskyy extended his wishes for a happy St. Patrick's Day to Ireland, and wished peace and good luck to Ireland and Irish people, and I am happy to convey that message here in the House.

The European Council is expected to reiterate our absolute condemnation of Russia's war of aggression and restate our unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its international borders. We will continue to provide strong political, economic, military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine. The European Council will also remain committed to playing an active role in the repair, recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, in co-ordination with international partners.

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor's office last weekend issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in respect of the unlawful deportation of children, which is a war crime. Ireland is a strong advocate for the independence and integrity of the International Criminal Court, ICC, and its vital work in investigating and prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity. We were one of about 40 countries that referred the situation in Ukraine to the ICC early last year, allowing the prosecutor to expedite investigations. We are also providing additional voluntary funding of €3 million to the ICC, which is without precedent.

The European Union is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The decision by the ICC can be seen as the beginning of the process of holding Russian leaders to account for the crimes and atrocities they are ordering, enabling or committing in Ukraine. Work is continuing on the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for the prosecution of the crime of aggression. A new international centre for prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine is being established in The Hague. This is an important practical step that can be taken while discussions continue on how to establish a credible, legitimate and effective tribunal to deal with this crime. I expect that we will discuss the need to increase our financial contributions to the European Peace Facility this year, so that we will have the resources needed to continue to assist Ukraine and other global partners in Africa. As has been the case to date, any increased contribution from Ireland under the European Peace Facility will go towards non-lethal equipment and provisions.

Russia's war has also had a significant impact on Ukraine's immediate neighbours, such as Moldova, and we will pledge our continued solidarity to the Government of the Republic of Moldova. As I said when I met with President of Moldova Maia Sandu in January, Ireland condemns Russia's destabilising influence on her country and stands with those defending democracy in Moldova. I look forward to travelling to Chiinu in June to attend the European Political Community meeting which she is hosting.

We will also discuss the situation in Belarus, where President Lukashenko's regime has reached a new low in its attempts to silence those who stand up in defence of democracy and fundamental freedoms. Opposition leaders were recently given long prison sentences in absentia. This is a clear political misuse of the judiciary.

Leaders will have a broad discussion of economic issues at this week's meeting. The celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Single Market this year is a natural starting point. Without doubt, the Single Market is one of the most significant achievements of the European Union. It helped to remove the hard border between North and South and between European member states. It gave us the right to work, study and do business freely as EU citizens in any EU country. It is now the cornerstone of the European economy and a driver of innovation and prosperity, reducing transaction costs, removing barriers and aligning regulatory standards and rules. It has opened up access to a market of more than 450 million people for our country. Membership of the euro, our common currency, also allows for a more seamlessly integrated Single Market.

I will be advocating for strengthening and deepening the Single Market as we look beyond the immediate crisis. We need to discuss concrete ways to improve the European Union's long-term competitiveness and productivity. To inform our discussion, the European Commission has published communications on the Single Market at 30, and on the long-term competitiveness of the European Union. The Commission has set out a long-term view of the European model for inclusive economic growth, based on sustainable competitiveness, economic security, trade and fair competition. It highlights the importance of the Single Market, research and innovation, developing education and skills and improving access to private investment by deepening the capital markets union and completing the banking union. The European Council will also review progress on different strands of action to make the European Union's economic, industrial and technological base fit for the green and digital transitions.

The European Commission recently updated state aid rules, and last week published new legislative proposals for a net zero industry Act and a European critical raw materials Act. Taken together, these developments aim to accelerate the green transition and to ensure sufficient access to the necessary materials. Leaders will have an initial discussion of these proposals. Detailed technical work on the legislative files will take place over the period ahead. I will emphasise safeguarding the Single Market and the level playing field between the member states on which it is built.

The European Council is also expected to hold a strategic discussion on the geopolitical aspects of trade and the contribution of trade relations to the European Union's competitiveness in an increasingly difficult international trading environment. The free trade agreements that the EU has provide a significant opportunity to strengthen the resilience of our supply chains, especially in strategic trade areas that are essential to the green and digital transitions, such as critical raw materials. Our national trade strategy has a significant focus on the implementation of free trade agreements in order to ensure the advantages that they generate are being maximised by companies.

The European Council will also consider progress made by European finance ministers on the review of the economic governance framework. Updating the framework, including the fiscal rules, is crucial for effective economic policy co-ordination and surveillance across the Union. This will help ensure, for all member states, the soundness and sustainability of public finances over the medium and long term. It will also promote sustainable economic growth and convergence, and help to deal with macroeconomic imbalances.

Leaders will also meet in Euro Summit format on Friday, when we will be joined by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, as president of the Eurogroup, and by the president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde. We will discuss the broader economic impact and financial situation, including recent developments in the banking sector, inflation and interest rates. Our exchanges on the economic outlook for the eurozone will be informed by the most recent monetary policy decisions adopted by the European Central Bank, and by the statement on fiscal guidance for 2024 adopted by Eurogroup finance ministers on 13 March.

Given the renewed uncertainties and risks, we need to remain agile and flexible in our political response to current circumstances. I look forward to constructive exchanges with leaders to this end. During our meeting, we will also take the opportunity to welcome the agreement on the Windsor Framework and to call for its early implementation. A meeting of the EU-UK joint committee is also expected to take place on Friday in London.

As I said at the outset, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will speak about energy and migration in his wrap-up statement later this afternoon. I will update the House again next week in follow-up to the meeting of the European Council.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Cormac Devlin)

We will now move to Deputy McDonald who I understand is sharing time with Deputy Brady.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

The agreement struck between the European Commission and the British Government on the protocol last month represents a real breakthrough and preserves protections for Ireland that were very hard won. The agreement safeguards the all-Ireland economy, preserves access to the European Single Market, protects the Good Friday Agreement and guarantees that there will be no return to a hard border on our island. It shields Ireland from the sharpest edges of Brexit. The deal is grounded in workable, durable solutions that are good for business and trade, for growing jobs and opportunities, and for attracting investment. It is a positive outcome for our people, for our peace, for our political stability and for economic success.

In the immediate aftermath of agreement on the protocol, our message was that we needed to keep the positive momentum going. The upcoming meeting of the European Council presents an opportunity to do just that and to press home Ireland's interests with our European partners. Yesterday, EU member states endorsed the deal. The Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Jessika Roswall, who chaired the sitting of the General Affairs Council, said:

The agreement on the ... Framework is a truly positive achievement ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It will benefit people and businesses in Northern Ireland and should allow the EU and the UK to open a new chapter in our relations.

It is now expected that the agreement will pass through the legislative process at Westminster. This paves the way for legal ratification of the deal at the meeting of the EU-British joint committee scheduled for Friday in London, to which the Taoiseach referred.

After years of impasse, progress is finally happening. A way forward has been found. It is now the responsibility of everyone in political leadership to make the benefits of the agreement real for people. Moving forward together must mean the immediate restoration of the Executive and the Assembly in the North. Sinn Féin and the First Minister designate, Michelle O'Neill, stand ready today to lead an Executive for all. It will be an Executive that will focus on seizing economic opportunities and creating new jobs. It will work to better people's lives and it will work for everyone. Therefore, Jeffrey Donaldson's statement today, reiterating a refusal to enter government, a refusal to establish the Assembly and a continued boycott of the political institutions, is unacceptable. The people of the North have been without a government for nearly a year and have endured the impact of an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.

In truth, there now exists no excuse for the blocking of the formation of an Executive. People in the North are entitled to have a government that works for all communities, delivers health services and supports workers, families and business through a very challenging time. The vast majority of people in the North see that agreement on the protocol is very positive and they want the parties around the Executive table. They want a government up and working for them and dealing with the issues that affect their lives. From the floor of the Dáil, I again encourage all parties to join us and get down to the crucial business of delivering for people. This is an opportunity to renew the spirit of progress and partnership. We can deliver a good power-sharing government for people on the basis of equality, respect and parity of esteem. Martin McGuinness made it work. Ian Paisley made it work. I believe we can move on together and make power-sharing a success once more. We can make politics work for everyone if we choose to do so.

This must be the vision as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month. The very best way, the only way really, to mark this historic milestone is to have a functioning Executive and Assembly up and running. This is a time for ambition, for hope and for progress. Our European partners played a vital role 25 years ago in the success of the peace process and the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement. They have stood unwaveringly by Ireland during the turbulent years of very difficult Brexit negotiations. We thank them for that. I have no doubt we will again have their support as we seek to restore the North's political institutions, and that together we can chart a course for a better future for all our people.

Deputy John Brady

Within the next few weeks, we will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the antecedents of which lie in the early efforts of Gerry Adams and John Hume. At the time, their efforts were much maligned and vilified by members of the establishment who failed to grasp the significance and potential of the early peace process. The Good Friday Agreement represents one of the most enduring and successful attempts at conflict resolution in the world. The roles of Irish America and of the Clinton Administration were pivotal to the development of the peace process. I welcome the planned visit by US President Joe Biden to Ireland to mark the anniversary of the agreement, and the continuing role that President Biden has played as a guarantor of the agreement.

The recent attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell reminds us of the need for constant vigilance, the need to make politics work, and the need for political leaders to act as a bulwark against those criminal elements who, if they could, would drag the North back into a tragic cycle of senseless violence.

The current alignment among Westminster Tories of rampant English nationalism and blatant political opportunism highlights the importance of the role of the international guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement in the EU and the US.

I also want to highlight the case of Bernard Phelan, an Irish citizen being illegally detained in Iran. He was recently sentenced to six and a half years in prison in Iran on trumped up espionage charges. Bernard Phelan is not guilty of espionage. He is an Irish citizen, with serious health issues, being held as a political hostage by a government intent on leveraging his detention to wrest political concessions. The Irish Government needs to force the EU to prioritise his release on humanitarian grounds immediately.

In a polarised world, with emerging great power rivalries, global hunger and the need for humanity to meet the threat of climate change, the EU has an enormous moral, political and strategic role and responsibility to act as a catalyst for human rights and justice. It must ensure that these issues and the values on which the EU purports to operate are foregrounded in the arena of global affairs. If the EU fails to apply these values unequivocally, it forfeits its moral standing and undermines its capacity to impact international affairs to its full potential.

Nowhere is the attitude and approach of the EU found more wanting than in its approach to Palestine. The Government will come back and say that attitudes in the EU towards Palestine have changed and that the inclusion of a number of eastern European states has led to a more pronounced pro-Israel shift within the EU, but that is simply not good enough. It is a stark political reality that leadership always finds a way. If the will and the commitment are evident, the means to achieve an objective can and will be found. To suggest otherwise is to concede a failure of politics. The apartheid policies of the Israeli state towards the Palestinian people are catastrophic for Palestinians. The inertia of the EU's response serves to undermine the moral fabric of the political structure of the EU and, I dare say, of Ireland. The inflammatory statements of the current Israeli Government continue to inflame tensions within the occupied territories. Members of the Israeli Government would deny the very existence of the Palestinian people. They call for Palestinian villages to be completely wiped out. Only yesterday they overturned legislation that ordered the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank over 15 years ago. The occupied Palestinian territories are at the point of implosion. The stated Irish and EU position in support of a two-state solution is fast becoming an impossibility. Europe can and must do more.

A war crime is a war crime and all perpetrators must be held to account; otherwise what meaning does international law hold? The EU must treat the apartheid Government of Benjamin Netanyahu as it would any other band of war criminals. Ireland must be a catalyst in Europe to ensure that the International Criminal Court investigation receives full support and is expedited to hold Israeli war criminals to account.

Deputy Brendan Howlin

I have just five minutes to talk about this very wide agenda before the European Council.

Of course, the agenda, quite understandably, is dominated by the ongoing war in Europe, the ongoing illegal assault on Ukraine by the Russian Federation. A number of issues will be discussed at the Council. As for additional support for Ukraine, what specifically will we do? The Taoiseach talks about increasing non-military aid from Ireland. It would be interesting to hear what specifically is proposed. My view is that this is now a pivotal stage of the conflict. It is quite clear that the Russian Federation intends to launch a major assault to consolidate what it wants to consolidate on the territory of Ukraine to ensure that, if there are peace negotiations, they will be on the basis of Russia's occupation of a considerable portion of what is sovereign Ukrainian land. What supports will we provide, and what further pressures, another agenda item tomorrow, will the EU put on Russia to stop this absolutely appalling aggression?

Accountability of the perpetrators is certainly a welcome initiative. The decision of the International Criminal Court to indict both Putin and Russia's commissioner for children, Maria Lvova-Belova, is a very important and significant step. It is a signal, at least, that there is a forensic analysis of the crimes being committed by the Russian invaders and that there will be an accounting for them, if not today or tomorrow, then sometime in the future.

The unlawful deportation and dislocation from Ukraine of Ukrainian children is absolutely shocking. The notion that children, victims of war already, are dislocated and brainwashed into a different identity, a different nationality, is something we have not seen in Europe since the Second World War. These matters deserve the strongest attention. I hope that when the Taoiseach comes back next week, we will have very detailed explanations of the specific measures the European Union will take to bolster the ability of Ukraine to resist what is coming and to make known in the clearest terms that those who are the perpetrators of this shocking aggression, carnage of a people and destruction of property and infrastructure will be held to account.

I wish to touch on another issue in the couple of minutes I have, and that is the competitiveness and the Single Market agenda. I have raised before with the Taoiseach the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States on the European economy. Most major manufacturing facilities and companies across the European Union have indicated that they will struggle to continue manufacturing and processing in Europe when $500 billion in new spending is planned on the third of the legislative proposals to bolster the economic output of the United States. The Biden Administration is to be commended for what it is doing to cement in its own industrial base and to draw production back into America, but that will have an enormously deleterious impact on us. I note that the Taoiseach mentions the new legislative proposals for a net-zero industry Act and a European critical raw materials Act. The timescale for those and the resources that will be put behind them will be pivotal if we are not to haemorrhage jobs and basic research on the green agenda to the United States. I hope that that will form a very clear part of the discussions that will take place at the Council.

I will touch briefly on two other items in the few seconds I have left. We had a very constructive interaction with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs on the current situation in Israel and Palestine last night during Question Time. I have said that it is my belief that the very foundation of the long-held view of a two-state solution is now being fundamentally undermined - deliberately - by a government that is beyond the pale. Some of the utterances, certainly those by the finance minister, have been racist in character, tone and content. Europe must be very clear on that; otherwise we will, I think, have protracted violence there for a very long time.

Unfortunately, I do not have time to speak at length about the fourth item, but I hope that progress will continue to be made on the Windsor Framework on restoring the institutions in Northern Ireland.

Deputy Cathal Crowe

I have been following this for a number of weeks and I know that Ukraine once again will dominate the agenda next week when the Taoiseach is in Brussels. I will make a few points in that regard on the domestic front first of all.

Ambassador Filatov continues to be an enemy of the Irish State, not just of the Ukrainian state. He is an enemy of our State and has been for many months. His conduct and his disdain and disrespect for the bodies of State in this country are absolutely deplorable. I know the Government took the view ten or 11 months ago that it was important to keep diplomatic links open and that he should be allowed to remain here.

There is a certain logic to that but I would like the Minister of State, when he responds to this round of discussion, to outline how Ireland Inc is engaging with ambassador Filatov at this time. Is he invited to or, more importantly, excluded from State functions? It is important that it is made very clear to his embassy and staff that they are a negative force at present, and that their illegal, unlawful and barbaric invasion of Ukraine, which is seeing many young people killed there, is something this country absolutely condemns.

I believe the Black Sea grain initiative, which has been a vital corridor for exporting Ukrainian-produced food items through solidarity lanes, will be discussed next week. I hope that initiative can be further expanded on. It was quite successful last year, in particular as regards winter feed for farmers. When I studied geography for the leaving certificate, Ukraine was known as the breadbasket of Europe. It is where most grain cereals come from. We need to ensure, for food security alone, there is safe passage for freight and cargo ships taking grain and Ukrainian produce. I hope there can be a more expansive view on that because at the previous European Council meeting, it was a subheading in a larger debate. It needs to have more prominence. The people of Europe and, indeed, Ireland are experiencing unprecedented prices at the supermarket and food security will again be key as we work our way through 2023.

On the home front, the country is very proud of the role it has played in taking in so many Ukrainian refugees. I made the point during Questions on Promised Legislation that, at present, approximately 3.5% of the entire population of County Clare are refugees. They have fled the war in Ukraine or are seeking international protection here. They are very welcome. Although it has been a strain, the communities and public of County Clare and of Ireland have, in general, been very warm and receptive. The point I made, and I hope the Minister of State will take this up with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is that the co-ordinating body for all of this - the international protection accommodation services, IPAS - has dropped the ball in recent weeks. It has not paid hoteliers, in some instances, since as far back as November. I know of one hotel in County Clare that had Irish Water technicians arrive at its door yesterday and shut off the water because the hotel owners were unable to pay their bills. They do not have any other revenue stream. The hotel is not hosting weddings at weekends and does not have a tourism trade. The owners have a hotel full of refugees for whom they are providing a high level of care. That is their only room occupancy and, ipso facto, their only revenue stream at this time. To not have a single red cent of income coming in since November is quite unforgivable. This is an administrative flaw. There is somebody in the Department who needs to sign off on these payments. This needs to be moved on.

I am hearing, loudly and clearly, that some hoteliers along the west of Ireland will very quickly pull out of these contracts and not for all the reasons people speculate on. It is not all about refugees versus tourism. Of course, that comes into play, certainly as we head into the summer season, but it will not just be for that reason. It will be because so many of them are left out of pocket, are floundering and are having their utility services cut because the State has not reimbursed them for the services they are providing. I hope there will be a certain expediency to resolving that.

The next two issues I will raise deviate from the issue of Ukraine, which will of course dominate the agenda. The first is that of farmers and nitrates. Many Deputies have been invited to on-farm briefing sessions over the past number of days hosted by the Irish Farmers Association, IFA. The IFA and the farming community in general are saying a pause button needs to be hit regarding the nitrates directive. A certain body of research is being undertaken at present in Ireland, which is being led by Teagasc at its Johnstown Castle facility in County Wexford. That research is not yet complete but, time and time again, policy seems to be outpacing this issue, so much so that we are seeing full-time farmers revert to part-time farming and part-time farmers leave the sector entirely. Ireland has the capacity to be self-sufficient in the provision of food but the more we squeeze and pillory farmers, and make them the scapegoats for climate change, the more they will exit the system. That would be a very retrograde step, not just for the landscape but for food security and the whole supply chain of rural Ireland that feeds off farms.

The farming lobby is quite strong in Ireland but, to give the Minister of State an example, the farming lobby in the Netherlands is so intense and powerful that the new Lelystad Airport outside Amsterdam, which has been built for a number of years and is ready for aeroplanes to take off, has not opened because the farming lobby has said that enough is enough, that it cannot always be pitched against other sectors of the economy and that it must be given certain protections. I am not saying we should get to such a high level face-off in Ireland. I do not want to see that but we need someone in the Government pushing back and saying enough is enough. When the Government goes to Europe, it should not allow the entire agenda to be dictated by some countries that have no knowledge of the Irish farming system. It is a grass-based system, and is environmentally friendly, animal friendly and climate-change friendly. Cows, cattle and ruminants have existed on this planet and on this island for many thousands of years before there were any humans, double decker buses or jet planes in the sky. The farming community cannot always be the fall guy. I ask the Minister of State to take a stand for farmers and ensure they are protected. For the record, I am a farmer and, since 1 January, have switched to organics. We are all willing to make changes. I have started cycling to Leinster House, along with taking the train. Everyone is making changes. At this stage, everyone in Ireland is green, with a lowercase g. A small cohort with the uppercase G sit in this House. Most people have gone a little greener in how they see the world and how they react and engage with it.

Energy security also seems to be a constant feature of European Council meetings. When there are summits and discussions, energy security has to be in sharp focus, and more so now that we are still in a war situation with Ukraine and Russia. The phased development of offshore floating wind farms along the west of Ireland is illogical. Time and time again we have seen surveys that prove the best wind corridor in all of Europe is that along our western shores on the Wild Atlantic Way. That is the best wind corridor. It is far superior to anything Norway, Scotland or Wales can boast. We have the best wind coming in, which can be lucrative. It can generate not just enough electricity for Ireland but enough to export, for a decent tariff, to mainland Europe vis-à-vis an interconnector.

The approach at present is a phased one. A large offshore area off the coast of County Donegal has been earmarked. It does not make sense why that is one of the priority zones, while others are sacrificed. There is no high-powered kV cable system from County Donegal. It is a very important county but in terms of EirGrid and our national grid, and carrying a very high voltage of electricity throughout the country, it is peripheral to the existing network. The best network in place comes from Moneypoint in west Clare and runs across the middle of Ireland. That is the kind of system we need to have. However, we have seen the Department put a zone off the coast of County Clare that is far too small. The worry is that all these investors who are lining up to invest along the west of Ireland will clear off and invest in other countries. To quantify that, at present projects to the value of €76 billion are just off the west coast of Ireland. They are not going anywhere near the coasts of counties Wexford and Dublin; they are all on the west coast. The real worry is that if policy does not shift quickly and embrace what they can offer, these groups, including Equinor, which left two years ago and went overseas, or Shell, will all leave. This can be lucrative for Ireland and important in achieving where we want to be on climate change. However, if the policy is not right, the whole thing crumbles.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

We have had sight of the proposed reform of the EU fiscal rules and governance framework. The Government had not prioritised this but the Joint Committee on Finance attempted to engage with the process of reform. The new proposals will take time to work their way through different stages at EU level before they become law but, having now seen them, it seems to be a case of the new rules being just like the old rules.

I am flabbergasted that there is no change to the 3% rule, which provides that member states must keep their deficit within 3% of GDP. This rule is completely arbitrary and is not grounded on any kind of empirical evidence. It is not some kind of equilibrium rule that states that a 4% deficit is unsustainable whereas one of 3% is. The finance committee got to the origin of the rule. A low-ranking French bureaucrat working at the French treasury came up with it more than three decades ago. His rationale was that, at the time, France was running a deficit of approximately 1.8% or 2%, which was a little too close for comfort and 3% gave a bit more breathing room. That was simply it. When we cast our minds back to the austerity period when Fianna Fáil- and Fine Gael-led governments fell over themselves to make cuts in order to get the deficit below 3%, this was all because of a completely arbitrary rule.

This is known as the debt rule where a member state should not have debts exceeding 60%. It was widely expected that this should be increased to 100% at the very least because of all the pandemic spending but that did not happen. The vast majority of member states have debts above 60% of GDP. Besides that, the quantum of debt is a poorer measure of sustainability than borrowing costs. There is no change to the investment clause, which could have exempted green investment from deficit and debt considerations, and this was a very poorly missed opportunity, especially, as was mentioned earlier, in light of the US introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows for major subsidies to both US companies and even European ones. That is why so many sensible experts have been concerned about the risk of de-industrialisation to the EU economy, as companies will flock to the US.

There has been the removal of the structural deficit calculation, which is welcome given the fact that it had become so complicated as to have become unworkable but, for the most part, the EU Commission has decided to keep to its usual modus operandi of muddlling through. This was a missed opportunity. It is quite unfortunate and is something that the Minister of State might also take a look at.

Deputy Gary Gannon

I appreciate that there is so much going on in the world, particularly in respect of Russia's inhumane invasion of Ukraine and the migration crisis, which I hope to get to shortly, but it is impossible to avert our gaze from what is occurring in Palestine right now. I find it quite lamentable that the Taoiseach did not mention it in his opening address and I would like to understand that a little more.

Last year was a deadly year for the Palestinian people. According to the UN, 2022 was in fact the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2006 when it first started to keep records of the depravity being imposed upon the Palestinian people by the state of Israel. Some 171 people were killed by the Israeli forces, including 30 children, and 9,000 Palestinian were injured during that same time.

This year has already proven to be even worse. Up until mid-March, 80 Palestinians had been killed, 17 of whom were children. In this same period, 13 Israelis, including five children, have been killed. The EU has to demonstrate its interest in getting involved here. Emboldened by a new extremist government, settler violence has intensified to its most extreme so that Palestinian peoples and the NGOs on the ground there are making terrifying comparisons to the Nakba of 1948. Surely, the Government, in concert with its EU partners must have something more substantial than words to invoke when a minister within the Israeli Government, Mr. Bezalel Smotrich, who having just been giving sweeping powers over the West Bank, expressed his horrendous view that “The town of Hawara needs to be [erased]". He went on: “...the State of Israel needs to do it, and not, heaven forbid, private [citizens].” The so-called private citizens working alongside the Israeli army had just at that particular time rampaged through the town of Hawara injuring 409 people and killing others. This is incredible. Surely, when a minister of a government the EU views as an ally, invokes a call to decimate a people and a place, it is time for actions, not just words or mealy-mouthed condemnation, which we have seen up to this point.

I fully understand Ireland's and, indeed,the EU’s desire for a two-state solution, in theory, to this conflict, as defined under the 1993 Oslo Accords, yet no steps have been taken to bring this about. The impunity granted to Israel is writing the obituary for the two-state solution. There is no peace process. Palestinians face the constant theft of their land and resources, increasing violence from out-of-control settlers, and are forced to listen to international politicians talk about a two-state solution they now regard as an impossibility. In contrast, Israel faces only occasional condemnation for its constant and determined project to remove, isolate, surround and control millions of Palestinians, and deny them their most basic rights. No meaningful action has ever been taken by Ireland or the international community, to make it clear to Israel that this situation must end. I cannot comprehend how that is not on the agenda for this EU meeting.

If we cannot do this alongside our partners in the EU, Ireland will have to lead and that starts by accepting this tragedy for what it is, which is a cruel, unjust system of apartheid being enforced upon the Palestinian peoples by the state of Israel.

The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Government as a whole have gone on record as saying the Government would not use the term "apartheid" in describing Israel’s policies against the Palestinians. Again, this is not, and should not just be, about the terms used. In the past year the Amnesty International report provides evidence that makes it very clear that, as a matter of law, the crime of apartheid is being perpetrated. That is not a glib term or phrase. All NGOs, including Amnesty International, which employ the term "apartheid" do not do so as a matter of phraseology. It is about law and respect for the rule of law, respect for human rights and the dignity of millions of Palestinians, which the international community has failed to protect for decades. As we equivocate, we make ourselves complicit in that. As we equivocate further, the situation on the ground in Palestine is getting worse.

The Amnesty International report provided a variety of recommendations. It called on Ireland as a member of the UN Security Council to "impose targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes, against Israeli officials most implicated in the crime of apartheid". It called on Ireland to support action to "impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel", which we can do in concert with our EU allies. The embargo should cover the "direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer, including transit and transshipment ... of all weapons, munitions and other military and security equipment, including the provision of training and other military and security assistance".

We have much work to do here and Ireland should, and has to, take a lead. If it is not done in concert with our EU partners, we need to stand forward to demonstrate leadership on this because the style of diplomacy on this issue to date has failed. We need a very different approach.

Deputy Seán Haughey

As regards the brutal war in Ukraine, there is no sign that this will end any time soon. It is becoming as protracted as ever. In recent days we have seen fierce fighting and a huge loss of life in Bakhmut. In addition, there have been more missile strikes on several cities. Of particular concern are strikes in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant. This plant has been damaged on a number of occasions and the threat that this poses cannot be overestimated. The International Atomic Energy Agency must be given the time and space to undertake its important work in this regard. There needs to be an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to protect the plant from further attacks.

Russia needs to be held accountable for its violations of international law. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. He stands accused of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Putin needs to be arrested and to stand trial in The Hague for his actions. A recent UN-backed investigation has found that Russia has committed many other war crimes, including murder, rape, torture, as well as attacks on civilians and energy-related infrastructure. I welcome the fact that Ireland has supported the ICC financially in its work in this regard. I wish it well in the work it is doing and is trying to achieve.

The state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia is ominous. We are told that the two countries reaffirmed their close ties. This comes after the ICC issued its arrest warrant. The peace plan put forward by Mr. Xi has been rightly rejected by the EU given that, inherent in it, is an acceptance of Russian territorial gains to date. The Chinese President’s visit to Russia puts in sharp focus the ongoing battle between democracies and autocracies as outlined by US President Biden previously.

The EU has now announced a tenth round of sanctions on Russian to coincide with the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. This package includes enforcement measures and additional reporting requirements. These sanctions need to be fully implemented by EU member states.

In addition, I believe that the Russian assets should be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine and I welcome the fact that this objective is now being examined by the EU.

Ireland has not been found wanting when it comes to support for Ukraine. President Zelenskyy acknowledged this when he spoke to the Taoiseach again earlier this week.

So far, we have contributed €121 million under the European Peace Facility, involving the provision of non-lethal equipment and support. We have also agreed to participate in the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine. Given this is a significant development, the Oireachtas needs to be kept fully updated as to how this mission is proceeding and the role Ireland can play in it. Ireland has said it supports President Zelenskyy's peace plan, and the EU is of the view it is up to Ukraine to determine the terms, conditions and timeline for any peace agreement. Work now needs to begin on how Ireland can contribute to this peace plan and, again, I hope the House can be kept updated on this. We must continue to strongly support Ukraine's application to join the EU and to overcome any obstacles that could delay this process.

Turning to recent developments regarding the UK Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the proposed new electronic travel authorisation, ETA, scheme, the original proposal would have required non-Irish EU citizens living in Ireland to apply for an electronic travel authorisation when crossing the Irish Border. This would have included a requirement for biometric and fingerprint data. The plan was rightly opposed by the Government and human rights groups as well as tourism interests in Northern Ireland. Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and the British Government has dropped the proposal. People who are legally resident in Ireland and do not require a visa to visit the UK will not now need an ETA when crossing the border. This exception for legal residents in Ireland will apply throughout the common travel area. As we know, many non-Irish and EU citizens living in Ireland cross the border every day for all sorts of reasons, and this can now continue without the need for an ETA. However, a problem remains. Non-Irish EU citizens and people needing a visa to travel to the UK will still be required to obtain this ETA. This will be a big problem for people in this categories who are tourists, and a way will have to be found to facilitate them. Many visiting tourists cross the Border and they will be affected by these measures. I hope the Government will continue to lobby for a solution to this problem and support Northern Irish tourism interests in this regard.

On rule-of-law issues, Hungary under Viktor Orbán is still the problem child of the EU. He has introduced new laws discriminating against the LGBTQI+ community. Many EU states have rightly condemned these measures. Ireland, in particular, has taken a strong stand on the issue. The then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, told Viktor Orbán face to face that the new legislation will harm young people and suppress their rights. The European Commission is taking a case on this to the European Court of Justice, and I understand Ireland is going to join the Commission in this action. Moreover, I have heard in recent days that the European Parliament is also going to be part of the action. This is a new development and I fully support it. I would welcome an update from the Minister of State on the matter, given it will be a first for Ireland to be part of a legal action such as this.

In regard to the Windsor Framework, the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, has linked the restoration of the Northern Irish institutions with a solution to the Northern Ireland protocol issue, but they do not need to be linked. We await the DUP's deliberations from its expert panel as its studies the Windsor Framework, but in the meantime, I hope efforts to restore the Northern Irish institutions will continue and I hope the DUP will come on board in due course at the end of the month, when it may, as I understand, may make a decision on this. As I said, the two issues do not have to be linked, even though the DUP has linked them and, therefore, every effort should be made by the Government to restore the Northern Irish institutions as we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday-Belfast Agreement.

Deputy Chris Andrews

I am sharing time with Deputy Ward. On 17 March, the International Criminal Court, ICC, took the brave step of finally issuing an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, and I commend the speed at which the ICC operated on this case. It took less than four weeks for these arrest warrants to be issued by the court. At its heart, the Rome Statute of the ICC clearly states the international crimes the court has jurisdiction to investigate, including crimes such as deportation or the forcible transfer of population, torture, persecution, apartheid, murder, cruel treatment and sentencing or execution without due process. As I read this list, the apartheid State of Israel comes to mind in respect of each and every one of those crimes.

Over the weekend, the death toll of Palestinians rose again. One Palestinian was executed with a single shot to the head at point-blank range as he lay face down on the ground. In the middle of the day, in the middle of a busy street, he was murdered by undercover Israeli agents. When will arrest warrants issue for those who are responsible for these brutal crimes being inflicted on the people of Palestine? Over the weekend, the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, stated, “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people." This Israeli Government has done away with all pretence that it wants to engage in diplomacy. It is now the case that Ireland believes we should hold the Russians to account but allow apartheid Israel to kill away and build illegal settlements. When will enough be enough? We have a two-tier approach to international law.

Deputy Mark Ward

I too want to talk about the situation in Palestine and the ongoing immoral and illegal landgrab by Israeli settlers. Since 1967, Israel has established approximately 140 settlements on Palestinian land, accommodating more than 500,000 settlers, and groups of settlers have also built scores of other illegal outposts on Palestinian lands. I had the privilege to visit Palestine last year. The people are wonderful, welcoming and very resilient. When people think of settlers, that may conjure images of travellers on wagons roaming across the prairies, but the reality is very different. Armed Israelis, accompanied by the army, enter Palestinian homes and forcibly remove families. They steamroll in with heavy machinery and demolish Palestinian homes. They build armed compounds, claim the land as their own and settle, and that is the reality. I have seen these compounds at first-hand.

Yesterday, the Israeli Parliament paved the way for Jewish settlers to claim four settlements in the occupied West Bank. The EU, in fairness, has condemned this decision as counterproductive to de-escalation efforts and as a clear step back from a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but words are cheap. As I have said previously, condemnation without sanctions is futile. This needs to be raised at the European Council and affirmative action must be agreed.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

I am sharing time with Deputy Barry. The barbarism and criminality of Vladimir Putin is plain to see and he should be investigated and prosecuted for his undoubted war crimes and crimes against humanity. Of course, an incredible irony is at work when Joe Biden also suggests that is a good idea, given he represents a country that refuses to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC, possibly because that country might then have to issue arrest warrants for US political and military figures in respect of the same crimes against humanity and war crimes that were committed by the US in Iraq. At least one of those actions that should be a war crime was the use of depleted uranium weapons, which poisoned the water and land and led to widespread increases in cancer and genetic abnormalities among young Iraqi people.

Now the British Government intends to sell those same depleted uranium weapons to the Ukrainians to use in the Russia-Ukraine war but there is not a word of criticism. The credibility of Western condemnation of the undoubted war crimes of Putin in Ukraine is simply non-existent when those countries do not immediately call for the arrest of Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister of Israel, Itamar Ben-Gvir, its national security minister, and, for that matter, Benjamin Netanyahu.

An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach (Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor)

The Deputy should be careful naming names.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett

They are the leaders of the Israeli Government and they should be arrested for war crimes, which Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have rightly said are crimes of apartheid and illegal occupation, and for the crime of passing new laws yesterday to re-legalise illegal settlements, as well as the fact that the Israeli Government has committed to more illegal settlements of Palestinian territory, the illegal transfer of people under occupation and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza. There are no sanctions or arrest warrants, however, or calls for the ICC to investigate the Israeli Government - none at all. In fact, Ireland continues to support the Israeli Government. The European Union continues to give Israel favoured trade status. Major powers in NATO, such as the US, UK and France, continue to arm the Israeli regime to continue its crimes against the Palestinian people. Condemnations by the Government, EU or US Government of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Putin are completely lacking in credibility. It is hypocrisy and double standards to the nth degree because they will not apply the same condemnation, criticism or calls for sanction when it comes to the daily ongoing crimes against humanity, war crimes, apartheid and brutality that are being visited by the Israeli state, which is now waging a genocidal conflict. Essentially, it is calling for the removal of the Palestinian people, but nothing is done.

Deputy Mick Barry

Karl Marx once said that France was the country where the class struggle was most usually fought to a finish. It is early days but what held true in the 19th century may well turn out to be the case in this century too. Tomorrow will be the eighth national mobilisation in France against attacks on workers' pension rights by the Macron Government, which is trying to increase the pension age from 62 to 64. It did not put its pension proposal before the French Parliament for fear of losing the vote. Rather, last week it invoked the completely undemocratic Article 49.3 of the French constitution, which allows the French Government to pass a measure without a vote. It is government by decree. I express solidarity with the hundreds of protests that spontaneously took place on that day. Some of the protests involved tens of thousands of people in towns and cities. I support those taking strike action across the country, including those who are blockading seven oil refineries and the port of Le Havre. I condemn the use of violence by the French police against the protests. We should bring down Macron's pension proposal, President Macron and Prime Minister Borne. There should be full support for this struggle, its escalation and continuing strikes. The Macron Government should not be replaced with another right-wing government, however. Rather, it should be replaced by a government that is not based on the capitalist market and its diktats but is based democratically on this mass movement from below.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

I am about to do something I do not generally do, which is to quote the remarks of the Tánaiste. This follows on from some of the conversation on Palestine and the brutal actions of the racist and apartheid Israeli regime, which no longer even bothers to put up a pretence. He stated:

I am conscious that there is general consensus in the House about having a two-state solution and of the concern that Members have about this particular Israeli Government, with its very-far-right members who are articulating outrageous and racist comments in respect of Palestinians which, in themselves, represent an incitement to attacks on Palestinians and almost an endorsement of what happened in Huwara with the appalling attacks on Palestinian citizens there.

That is fairly straightforward but we have to get to the point of the Government accepting that we are dealing with an apartheid state. That has to be called out. All present accept that annexation is occurring and that this is a modern-day plantation of Palestinian lands. We know Israel is even rowing back on agreements made previously regarding illegal settlements but that is hardly shocking; it is what colonialists and planters do. We need to take action. Everyone in the international community pointed out apartheid South Africa as an apartheid state. I agree with the many previous speakers that we all welcome Vladimir Putin being called out as a war criminal. That is a necessity. If we are talking about the European Union, the international community and a rights-based system, however, we need to be sure we are fair across the board and that international law is not just for some but for all. We have to be clear. I have no problem with trying to create circumstances where agreement can be reached. We are not going to get full agreement at EU level, however, so there will be a necessity for the Government to be far braver than it has been previously.

As I stated, there was an acceptance in this Chamber that what the Israelis are at is annexation. Members heard what the Tánaiste said yesterday regarding a vile right-wing government. We know what is happening in the context of the murderous campaign being undertaken by Israel. We know the action that was taken against apartheid South Africa. We have to be part of starting that. The fact is that Israel does not care about a minor rap on the hand or whatever. It must be made to feel as it ought to feel because it is an abhorrent and racist apartheid state that is involved in downright murder. What else can be said? We are not accepting such action from Russia, and rightfully so, and there is no way we should accept it from Israel. What can Ireland do? It can deal with those in Europe who are willing to deal with us. It can be as strong as possible and send out the signals. We all know what we cannot do but it is about what we can do. We need to recognise the state of Palestine and enact the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. I do not need to hear about difficulties and obstacles relating to the Attorney General. There are some things we need to do. We need to do the right thing and we need to do it now. We will work with the European Union where necessary but we have to be a hell of a lot braver than we have been previously.

Deputy Cathal Berry

I am grateful for the opportunity to comment in advance of the EU summit meeting tomorrow and Friday in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the Swedish Presidency. I very much approve of the agenda. It is only right and proper that Ukraine dominates the agenda, for obvious reasons. It is the burning issue in Europe at the moment, both literally and metaphorically, unfortunately. I join colleagues in welcoming the decision by the ICC to indict Vladimir Putin and issue a warrant for his arrest on the basis of the unlawful deportation of children. That decision is entirely appropriate from an accountability point of view and as a deterrent. It is unlikely that Putin will present himself or be presented to The Hague. However, we would have said the same about Radovan Karadži and Slobodan Miloševi from the former Yugoslavia. History tells us otherwise in that regard. I very much welcome the decision of the ICC.

I condemn the most recent missile attacks in Ukraine, which again targeted civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in the past 24 hours. I note that President Xi Jinping has been in Russia in recent days. It does not appear that Mr. Putin got too much out of the Chinese President. If China is genuinely in favour of a peaceful resolution, I hope President Xi communicated to Mr. Putin the futility of what he is trying to achieve in Ukraine and that the only viable course of action is an immediate ceasefire and imminent withdrawal unilaterally. I am sure Ukraine would reciprocate and respond in kind immediately.

As regards EU support of Ukraine, it is good that President Zelenskyy will remotely address the conference in Brussels.

I am also very pleased that the UN Secretary General, Mr. António Guterres, will be present. I hope that Ireland communicates in as clear a way as possible our gratitude to the UN Secretary General for brokering numerous Black Sea grain deals. I very much welcome the extension of the deal by an extra 60 days. A delegation from the Turkish embassy, which was with us recently, communicated to us that this deal involves more than 1,000 vessels per week. That is the ballpark figure for the number of vessels that pass through Istanbul every week. Ireland is benefiting from that both directly and indirectly from the point of view of fertiliser and food. The deal is saving the lives of millions of people and preventing malnutrition in hundreds of millions of people as well.

I welcome that the prisoner swaps are still ongoing directly between Ukrainian armed forces and Russia. They are exchanging, unfortunately, the remains of soldiers and civilians but also live prisoners of war. While Ireland has been forceful in support of EU membership for both Moldova and Ukraine, we should do as much as possible over the next few days to hammer that message home. We really need to get Ukraine and Moldova into the EU orbit, which is where they want to be voluntarily.

The events of the past few years with Brexit have hammered home to us the importance of the Single Market, which is hugely beneficial to Ireland. I welcome that the Windsor Framework has been signed off and approved by most of the parties at least. There will not be a border on this island and Northern Ireland will get dual market access. For me, more than anything, the deal means that politics really is the art of the possible. It is probably the best possible outcome Ireland could have hoped to have achieved. Had it unravelled or had there been a major problem, it would have been catastrophic for this jurisdiction and even worse for Northern Ireland. I very much welcome this agreement. I was in County Fermanagh recently and the mood music is good. My sense is that a deal is on. We should continue to be supportive. While one party needs a bit more time, I am hopeful the Assembly will be up and running as soon as possible. We should certainly be supportive from that point of view.

I will make a few miscellaneous points. The deal between Serbia and Kosovo normalising their relations is very important. There was a major escalation of violence only two months ago and it looked like matters were moving in the wrong direction. It is good that we are at least stabilising the situation in the region.

I hope Ireland will be as generous as possible at the donors' conference for the post-earthquake efforts in Turkey. I know we always are. It was a particularly large catastrophe, however. We should not forget the humanitarian situation in Syria either. Obviously, ease of access is much more difficult in Syria but money can be provided to appropriate agencies to make sure the aid gets to where it is needed.

The Euro Summit on Friday is very important. I look forward to the backbrief from the Taoiseach next week. We know what is happening in the United States with regard to regional banks. We saw what happened in Credit Suisse only recently. Irish people of a particular age can feel exactly what is happening in Switzerland in the moment because we have been down those tracks. We probably know what will happen next over there as well. I am very keen to get a backbrief from the Taoiseach regarding what is said at that conference, in particular about the resilience of EU banks and financial institutions, including most certainly our own.

In summary, I welcome the agenda and wish the Irish negotiating team well in its deliberations.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

It is amazing how we can wander all over the world. One would think we were a powerful superpower in that we can welcome the International Criminal Court warrants for President Putin. There are horrible things going on there and it is a horrible war. However, we must also look at the Ukrainian President and other regimes' actions with their minority populations over the past. We will not see that at all, however. That cannot be mentioned in the narrative. We want to ignore Israel and what goes on there, the Iraq war and what happened there and everything else. We are very selective here. Then we have people stand up in this Chamber and attack Prime Minister Orbán. I met Mr. Orbán and know his regime. He has been elected now four times. Are we a democracy? Do we want to dictate to other democracies? Prime Minister Orbán is attacked here because of his policies. We want to run headlong into policies just to be ahead of everybody else and be great people. We attack Prime Minister Orbán, who has been duly elected to government by his people, for his policies. He has been returned four times in succession, which governments here have failed to do. It is a bit rich of us to lecture about what is going on there.

As regards how the European Central Bank, ECB, and the current financial trouble, the ECB has put up interest rates several times in the last six months and has not given any certainty that it will not do so again. It tells us this is to combat inflation. It is playing mind games with the people. We are near enough back where we were with the crisis in 2008, and we saw the help the ECB gave us then. I am not too sure it is ready, willing and able to help, as the American Federal Reserve did when it supported and looked after the creditors and people who had money invested in a bank there. European colleagues forced us to look after the senior bondholders, which had insurance policies.

Have we learned any lessons? Are we making our point known widely and loud and clear? No, we are not because we want to be the cheerleaders for Europe, the best boys in the class. We want proper meaningful support for people's finances and deposits, not for the bondholders and especially not the major bondholders. We are the best boys in the class and we want to criticise people as if we were a major superpower. As I said, we are welcoming the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants and ignoring everything else. We are ignoring what has gone on unabated in Ukraine since 2010.

Deputy Carol Nolan

The upcoming European Council meeting will discuss, among other issues and items on the agenda, the ongoing war in Ukraine and energy prices. We know the energy price crisis here is ongoing despite the recalibrated temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. I also know from replies to parliamentary questions I submitted to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that the recently announced €350 million cost of purchasing temporary generation turbines will add approximately €40 to the average domestic bill over the next billing year. This is a direct result of the lack of forward planning and, indeed, forward thinking by Government, and the reckless ruling out of indigenous energy resources such as oil and gas exploration and liquified natural gas, LNG terminals. We have backed ourselves into a corner. It is, however, in keeping with EU policy of forcing through a greater reliance on renewables.

As the Minister of State will know, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine recently recommended that it should be a target of Government to ensure that every appropriate farm building has solar panels installed in support of our 2030 emission reduction targets. Farmers should be incentivised to do this because so far it seems to be just punishment all the time. The committee also recommends that the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environment, Climate and Communications enter into dialogue with electricity companies and financial institutions with a view to identifying whether a scheme can be devised whereby all of the up-front costs of installing solar photovoltaic, PV, on farm buildings can be offset.

The committee also recommends that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage proceed as a matter of urgency regarding proposals to exempt solar panels on farm buildings from requiring planning permission with a view to enacting an exemption without delay. This should be done. If Ireland wants to play its part in implementing EU energy policy, initiatives such as these will have to be adopted. Farmers need to be supported and incentivised instead of being dictated to and punished every day of the week through the green policies that are coming down the tracks. I ask that these issues be considered at the European Council meeting.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Before I came into the Chamber, I listened again for the third time to a promotional video by the Government. It is relevant to the discussion. I do not know if the Minister of State has seen it. It is a wonderful video on Ireland which shows beautiful landscapes. It gives us 100 years of history in two and a half minutes. It tells us that 100 years ago, we took our place among the nations of the world and ever since, we have stood for peace, democracy, justice and human rights. It goes on to tell us that we stood for peace with the League of Nations in 1923 and with the UN from 1955 onwards and that we have remained unwavering in our 65 years of unbroken peacekeeping. It also celebrates the global Irish family of 70 million people and our cultural diversity.

The video goes on to talk about the EU project for peace in 1973, which has clearly changed, and so on. I wonder if this is a classic case of cognitive dissonance because this most wonderful video tells us what we stand for, that we can be very proud and we are a voice for peace in the world, yet the actions are diametrically opposed to that as this country, through our leaders, goes to Europe on a regular basis to try to be the best boys in the class.

I absolutely condemn the war. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. As has been said by other speakers, Ireland's credibility is at stake if we just do that and we ignore other wars, bullies and warmongers. Palestine is a case in point. I listened carefully last night to the many replies to Deputies from the Tánaiste with regard to Palestine. He said he stands firmly with the people of Palestine. The Government has failed to respond to the Amnesty report, which was published over a year ago. It has failed to do anything about the six human rights organisations designated as terrorist organisations. Then we have Sadaka, on behalf of the Palestinian people, telling us that the international community, including Ireland, pays constant lip service to a two-state solution, as defined under the 1993 Oslo Accords, yet has taken absolutely no steps to bring that about. The impunity granted to Israel is writing the obituary of the two-state solution. I want my leaders to stand up for peace in the world.

Deputy Marian Harkin

I listened to the Taoiseach's presentation. This European Council will cover a wide range of topics, all of which are important. However, because of my limited speaking time I can only highlight one or two issues that I am concerned about. As far as economic issues are concerned, the EU will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Single Market. In my opinion, apart from the initial setting up of the European Coal and Steel Community, the Single Market has been one of the most important achievements of the EU. We can take it for granted but it is definitely the oil that greases the wheel of economic progress and stability in the EU.

I notice also that the European Council will be discussing state aid rules. While we do not have time to discuss it in any detail today, it is crucial that the Government maximises the opportunities provided by the temporary relaxation of state aid rules for certain eligible areas. I have with me a map produced by the European Commission which outlines the areas that will be eligible for relaxed state aid rules. We can see it shows every single county in the Border regions and the west as well as parts of counties Wexford, Waterford, Clare, Tipperary and Kerry. This picture tells the story of where the greatest need is. I am sorry the Taoiseach is not present. If he was, I would emphasise to him that this is the European Commission telling the Irish Government the action it needs to take.

One of the other matters that will be dealt with at the European Council is how to address high energy prices, which feed in to the inflation cycle. Yet, in yesterday's Finance Bill we saw that by the end of October, we will have an extra five cent per litre on marked gas and oil, 16 per litre on diesel and a 21 cent increase per litre of petrol. There is no sense in going to a European Council meeting to talk about addressing high energy prices and then increasing them at home.

We never discuss the European semester in this House, yet it is the recommendations from the European Commission to this country as to certain actions to be taken. I will only pick one. The Commissions asks us to increase the supply of social and affordable housing. We should listen.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Burke)

I thank Deputies for their statements. I will focus my remarks on energy and migration issues. Before doing so, I will briefly acknowledge the significant anniversary this year as Ireland marks 50 years of its membership of the European Union. Over the last 50 years, close co-operation with our European partners has been transformative and has accelerated Ireland's emergence as a modern, open economy and society. Ireland's membership of the European Union has had an overwhelmingly positive effect. Working with others through the European Union has helped make us all safer, stronger and more prosperous. Ireland has been proud to contribute strongly to the shaping of today's European Union. To mark the anniversary the Government has co-ordinated an extensive programme of events over the past year and further events are planned around Europe Day on 9 May.

In his remarks the Taoiseach set out explanations for the economic discussion at the European Council, which will focus on competitiveness and the Single Market. The meeting, in Euro Summit format, will discuss the economic and financial situation. European governments remain committed to close co-ordination of economic policies and to increasing the resilience of our economies. European economies have entered 2023 on a healthier footing than previously expected, despite the challenges posed by inflation and high energy prices. The most pressing issue facing citizens has been the very high cost of energy, which arises not least as a result of Russia's immoral war in Ukraine. Governments across the European Union have implemented substantial measures to ease the burden on families and businesses. At European Union level, significant steps have been taken in response to the use of energy as a weapon by Russia.

At this week's European Council, leaders will discuss energy issues and take stock of progress made over the past year and the actions taken to phase out dependency on Russian fossil fuels. These resolute actions have served to underpin security of supply, reduce energy usage and mitigate the impact of dramatic price increases that have been seen by businesses and consumers. Significant progress has been made phasing out EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels and there is a renewed focus, including through Europe's REPowerEU plan, on investment, innovation, interconnection, efficiency and renewables. Leaders will also discuss the preparation for winter 2023-24. There will be a particular emphasis this week on making use of the joint purchase of gas, which will help with refilling gas storage facilities before next winter and make use of member states' and firms' collective buying power.

Leaders will also take the opportunity to discuss deeper reforms of the energy market. Last week, the European Commission presented a proposal on the structural reform of the European Union's electricity market, which is intended to make the market fully fit for a decarbonised energy system and facilitate the uptake of renewable energy. Work on this important file will be progressed over the months ahead.

Leaders will also receive an update on migration. Irregular and forced migration continues to pose significant challenges. Recent tragic events in the Mediterranean Sea highlight once again the need to deal with migration in a comprehensive and holistic manner. The European Council will consider progress made in implementing the conclusions adopted at the special meeting of the European Council in February. The focus of the meeting was on co-operation with third countries, strengthening the European Union's external borders and more efficient return of those without a right to stay in the European Union. The European Council called for operational measures to be strengthened and accelerated. It also condemned attempts to instrumentalise migrants for political purposes, particularly when used as leverage as part of hybrid destabilising actions. The European Council also asked for work to be taken forward to address trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants.

More broadly, co-operation and partnership with countries of origin and transit are crucial to addressing the wide range of issues faced by member states and third countries. Further progress is also needed to address the root causes of migration. A comprehensive response includes looking at resettlement and legal pathways for migration. Ireland is committed to continuing to work with our EU partners to ensure that humanitarian and legal obligations continue to be met. The European Council also called for work to continue on the legislative files in the European Union's proposed pact on asylum and migration. Ireland supports the ongoing work to advance negotiations on the suite of proposals. Migration is a complex issue that demands a multifaceted response and the European Council will revert to this issue at future meetings.

The European Council will also note the outcome of the Together for People in Türkiye and Syria international donors' conference, which I attended in Brussels on Monday, at which some €7 billion was pledged. The conference was co-hosted by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Sweden representing Sweden's current EU Presidency. It involved more than 60 national partner delegations, including EU member states, the UN, international and European financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other relevant stakeholders. Monday's conference sought to mobilise support for the people in Türkiye and Syria after the devastating earthquakes in February and to co-ordinate the response in the affected areas in both countries. Ireland is providing €10 million in direct humanitarian assistance for the people in Türkiye and north-west Syria. The funds will be allocated to the United Nations Syria cross-border humanitarian fund, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies and non-governmental organisations, including Concern and GOAL working on the ground.

The Taoiseach contacted President Erdoğan to express sincere condolences for the loss of life and the destruction. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the earthquakes and their aftershocks. The situation in Syria is of particular concern following 12 years of war in that country. Ireland and the international community will work through the UN to ensure the speedy provision of aid.

I thank Members for their active participation in this debate. The Taoiseach will report to the House following this week’s European Council summit.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 3.30 p.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 4.40 p.m.

Sitting suspended at 3.30 p.m. and resumed at 4.40 p.m.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 22 Mar 2023

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 2023