Peadar Tóibín
Question:11. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [6341/22]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2022
Questions (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7680/22]
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Paul Murphy
Question:13. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7683/22]
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Seán Haughey
Question:14. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7863/22]
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Brendan Smith
Question:15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7864/22]
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Alan Kelly
Question:16. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States. [7921/22]
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Mick Barry
Question:17. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent communications with the President of the United States of America. [7957/22]
View answerOral answers (13 contributions)
I propose to takes Questions Nos. 11 to 17, inclusive, together.
The relationship between Ireland and the United States is deep and long-standing. It is important to the country in many ways, not least politically and economically. It is one to which I attach the highest value. I have had a number of contacts with the President of United States. Most recently, I spoke to him by telephone on 14 November last year. I also had the opportunity to speak to him in person last November in the margins of the world leaders summit at COP26, when he reaffirmed his full commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement. I expressed my appreciation for the strong position he has taken in that regard.
Last September, I participated remotely in the global vaccine summit that was hosted by President Biden at an event that coincided with the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. I also participated in the virtual summit for democracy that was hosted by President Biden in December. I look forward to continuing to work co-operatively and closely with the Biden administration, as well as with representatives of both parties in Congress, to deepen Irish-American relations, to strengthen European Union-US relations, to co-operate on global challenges and to support to many Irish people who have made a home in the United States.
It was also a pleasure to welcome the new United States Ambassador to Ireland, Claire Cronin, and her family to Government Buildings on 10 February. I wish her every success during her time in Ireland. As the House will be aware, it was not possible last year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the traditional way, with most events moving online. I am hopeful that in the change to more positive circumstances in which we now find ourselves, it will prove possible to return to more in-person events this year.
St. Patrick's Day is an important opportunity for us as a country to renew and celebrate our connections around the world. On 8 February, the Government announced our hope to undertake an increased programme of events around the world, where public health considerations allow. For my part, I hope it will be possible to resume at least some of the events in Washington DC that have traditionally marked St. Patrick’s Day.
I think we are all glad to see some signs of de-escalation over the Ukraine, with Russia withdrawing some troops from the Ukrainian border. Our Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, are very quick to be critical of a possible attack by the Russians on Ukraine, or the massing of troops on the Ukrainian border, both of which are totally unacceptable. Yet there is not a single word of criticism of NATO and of the United States for its role in cranking up and in escalating this situation, particularly through its eastward expansion of NATO. It was promised after the Cold War that this would not happen. Indeed, they never criticise the United States for its other support for authoritarian or brutal regimes. Yes, if the Government wants to criticise Putin for sideling up to Ukraine, that is good. However, will it criticise the United States for arming Saudi Arabia to the teeth, so that it can bomb the hell out of Yemen? There is no criticism. The Government criticises the Russians for planning to do military exercises in our exclusive economic zone. Will it now say it is unacceptable for the Americans or the British to do the same thing in our exclusive economic zone? Indeed, would it go even further and say United States military is not welcome in Shannon Airport when it is en route to conduct military operations elsewhere in the world?
As we know, Ireland enjoys a close relationship with the USA. The Taoiseach said that it is deep and long-standing. This relationship has been further enhanced with the election of Joe Biden as President. President Biden never misses an opportunity to proclaim his Irish roots. It is important for the Irish Government to engage with the US administration, with President Biden and with members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. We need to engage on a number of issues, including the need for their ongoing support for the Northern Ireland peace process and the issues associated with that, which include Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol. We also need to continue to foster US investment in Ireland. Finally, there are the matters of concern to the Irish community living in the US, in particular to the undocumented Irish.
I hope the Taoiseach will travel to Washington for St. Patrick's Day and will meet President Biden. In the event that this occurs, what issues does the Taoiseach hope to raise with him? I presume these would be national, bilateral and international issues. Just as important, where stands the long-standing invitation to President Biden to visit Ireland? There have been press reports that he will be coming in July and that he will address both Houses of the Oireachtas. I presume that is speculation. Any information the Taoiseach could give us in that regard would be appreciated.
I hope that on his visit to the United States the Taoiseach’s will be able to again raise with President Biden the need to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland. Obviously, the issue of the undocumented Irish, to which my colleague, Deputy Haughey, referred, is of extreme importance to probably about 10,000 Irish citizens in the United States.
This would be an opportune time for the President of the United States to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland. In the past, very eminent persons, such as Senator George Mitchell, held that role. It was an important one. It adds an additional conduit for bilateral relations on a political, economic, social and trade basis. We are fortunate that members of Congress and of the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, as they say, have constantly taken an interest in and have passed resolutions in both Houses to endorse the Good Friday Agreement, as well as to express their concerns with the protocol. They have done this since 2016 regarding the adverse impacts Brexit would have on these islands. The appointment of a special envoy would again send a clear message to Ireland and to Britain about America’s strong relationship and its particular interest in ensuring that we have stability in the long term in Northern Ireland. At any time the Taoiseach has direct access to the US Government is extremely important for all of our island.
I am totally opposed to any attempt by the Putin regime to organise a Russian invasion of Ukraine. I am opposed to war and to conflict here. However, I am also opposed to the continuing expansion of NATO into eastern Europe. The Irish Government should support neither Washington nor Moscow. However, the Taoiseach’s Government is supporting an increasingly pro-NATO position. It is facilitating the build-up of NATO troops in eastern Europe. It is allowing the US war machine to refuel at Shannon Airport on its way to eastern Europe. When the Taoiseach meets the US President next month, will he tell him that Ireland is not a supporter of imperialism and of militarism, and that the refuelling facilities at Shannon Airport will no longer be made available to the US war machine?
A motion before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee today has been signed by 34 Members of Congress. It calls on the British Government to withdraw its amnesty Bill. Relatives for Justice, the Wave Trauma Centre, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, CAJ, and Geraldine Finucane are among some of those who will give evidence at today's hearing. Resolution 888 opposes any attempt by the British Government to implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations or prosecutions committed during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday.
All of this takes place against the background of the latest police ombudsman report into 27 loyalist murders and attempted murders in south Belfast between 1990 and 1998. Has the Taoiseach discussed the British legislation with President Biden? Will he raise it when he meets the President next month? State involvement in the killings of democratically elected representatives and civilians must be investigated and the people involved must be charged to face due process.
Tá sé dochreidte go mbeadh gá dúinn é seo a rá agus tá sé inghlactha go bhfuil Rialtas na Breataine tar éis teacht aniar-aduaidh ar dhlí, cirt agus cóir sa tslí seo gan náire. Tá na híospartaigh, teaghlaigh, páirtithe polaitiúla agus eagraíochtaí cearta daonna go hiomlán ina choinne seo. Does the Taoiseach agree it is time to address the legacy of the past by implementing the mechanisms agreed at Stormont House in a humans rights compliant manner to ensure truth and justice for victims?
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the Russia-Ukraine crisis. He and Deputy Barry said they would be critical of a possible attack by the Russians on Ukraine.
That is self-evident.
I welcome that. However, the point is that I do not see that the roles of NATO and Russia are comparable. Some 130,000 troops amassed on the border is a fairly intimidating prospect for any country and it is not justified. There are security issues that Russia can justifiably seek assurances on and dialogue is the best way to do that. There are well-worn international mechanisms for such dialogue, particularly in respect of the overall security architecture in Europe. The amassing of such a large force is very worrying in terms of basic security, basic peace and the ability of a country like Ukraine to carry out its business for its citizens with self-determination and freedom and without that enormous pressure over them. I would welcome any moves to de-escalate. It should never have gotten to this stage. Perhaps the Deputy should talk to some of the Baltic countries, countries like Poland and other countries that feel they need a presence given their history. They do not feel secure and that is just the honest position. If you talk to people in many of the eastern bloc countries that became democratic and joined the European Union, they are very fearful and feel vulnerable. We saw that only recently in Belarus, when the authoritarian Lukashenko regime orchestrated migrants from the Middle East and forced them over the borders into Lithuania and Poland in a brutal manner. There was brutal exploitation of migrants in order to undermine neighbours which were calling him out on the hijacking of a European plane in Belarusian airspace. This type of authoritarian behaviour is unacceptable. It needs to be called out-----
Call it out for Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
-----and should not be equivocated on either. There are issues in eastern Europe. We have the luxury of telling them how they should live and protect themselves but they are entitled, as democratic states, to organise their protection. They have fears and genuine vulnerabilities because of past experiences and we should acknowledge that. That said, sensible people should sit around a table. I pay tribute to President Macron for the work he has been doing and to the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who is engaging and talking through the issues. With those kinds of talks they are hopefully facilitating a de-escalation on the Russian side. The US Government has also engaged in a serious way in respect of the Russian security dimension and has put proposals on the table. That has now been acknowledged. We await those results and earnestly hope the conflict will be avoided, for the sake of the citizens of Ukraine who do not deserve to be living under such a threat.
Deputy Haughey is correct. We will hopefully get the opportunity to discuss with President Biden the situation in relation to Northern Ireland, the peace process more generally and the protocol. That is very important. We have a good relationship with the President and with Congress and we have maintained that. They and the President's office have been well briefed on the legacy issues, the proposals from the UK Government in respect of an amnesty and our position on that. The European dimension and the US-Europe relationship is also important and we will add our voice to that, as well as to the issue of the undocumented Irish and other initiatives. There is a standing open invitation to President Biden to visit Ireland, although that would obviously have to fit in with his schedule. Nothing has been arranged but I have invited him to come to Ireland and he would love to come as President of the United States.
Deputy Brendan Smith raised the matter of a special envoy, which is worth consideration and we will give it serious reflection. On the broader issue of stability in Northern Ireland, I think there is a genuine interest from the United States and its President in the protocol issue and how it is impacting on Brexit, the peace process and stability in Northern Ireland. We will take the opportunity to brief the US President on that as well.
On Deputy Barry's point in respect of the US and Russia, I would make the same points I made to Deputy Boyd Barrett. For all of what he might consider its faults and so on, politically Ireland is with democracy and we are fundamentally against authoritarian regimes. That is our broad position.
The Taoiseach has nothing to say about Saudi Arabia then.
I do. My view is that, generally speaking, the United Kingdom is our nearest neighbour and so we should get on with the United Kingdom and have a good relationship with it. Thankfully, in the last 30 years we have transformed relations with the United Kingdom, which is very positive.
With regard to Deputy Ó Laoghaire's point, there is a long history with the UK and Ireland. We are good neighbours and we should maintain that good neighbourliness and co-operation across the board. When Ireland was hit with a massive cyberattack the UK Government was helpful to us, as was the Polish Government because it had experienced one just before that. We are a member of the European Union. We have politically signed up to the European Union in that regard and we should also factor that in. The legacy issues have already been raised with the US President and his team and they are well aware of our position on that.