Christopher O'Sullivan
Ceist:1. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the COP27 summit. [57372/22]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the COP27 climate change conference. [57447/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the COP27 Climate Change Conference. [57450/22]
Bríd Smith
Ceist:4. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the COP27 Climate Change Conference. [57479/22]
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:5. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the COP27 conference. [57546/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the COP27 Climate Change Conference. [57933/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.
I participated in the world leaders summit at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh on 7 and 8 November. On 8 November, I delivered Ireland's national statement to the plenary session, taking the opportunity to set out Ireland's climate ambition and the Government's commitment to supporting vulnerable countries which, despite having contributed least to climate change, are bearing the brunt of its impact. While the situation is very serious, I was clear that it is not too late to act and that it is realistic for our legacy to be a sustainable planet.
I engaged in a number of high-level events and round-table discussions, including on food security and on the sustainability of vulnerable communities. I joined the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, at a high-level event on “The Global Shield Against Climate Risks”, where I announced that Ireland will contribute €10 million to the initiative for 2023.
I also availed of my visit to COP to hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Vanuatu and had the opportunity to engage with a number of fellow world leaders over the course of the two days. I heard first-hand from the Prime Minister of Pakistan and others of the devastation caused to their countries by the devastating impacts of climate change.
While at COP27, I also met with the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnes Callamard, a number of Irish youth climate advocates, representatives of humanitarian NGOs, and international delegates supported by Irish Aid. I also met with a number of academics and students from UCC and UCD, second level students, and with a representative of the EPA.
In my engagements, I highlighted Ireland's ambition to see progress on the issue of loss and damage and on the implementation of commitments to take action to mitigate climate change, and to deliver upon climate finance promises. Ireland has committed to more than double our climate finance provision to at least €225 million a year by 2025.
I welcome the historic agreement reached at COP27 to establish a special loss and damage fund to pay for climate-related damage suffered by vulnerable nations. This will mean that millions of people whose land, water sources and livelihoods are being eroded every day because of the impacts of climate change, can begin to look forward to targeted and strengthened support and protection from the global community. While the overall agreement does not go far enough on the issue of mitigation, the commitment of the conference to keep “1.5 alive” is important and welcome. The European Union will continue to work to keep the ambition of the Paris Agreement within reach.
The climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis are intrinsically linked. The Taoiseach is well aware that we have a biodiversity crisis. Some 60% of our birds are on an endangered list. The condition of many of our marine and land habitats is worsening. Our record of upholding EU biodiversity and climate law has not been good and certainly needs to improve. The Citizens’ Assembly voted overwhelmingly, with 87% in favour, to insert protecting biodiversity into our Constitution. I want to get the Taoiseach’s thoughts about a referendum on giving biodiversity and habitats that constitutional protection.
The Egyptian authorities arrested 1,540 Egyptian people in the weeks just before COP to prevent them organising protests. Thousands of people have been imprisoned and detained. Even when they get judicial orders for their release, they disappear. Alaa Abd El-Fattah has been imprisoned for five years for “spreading fake news”, by which it is meant that he utters words critical of the El-Sisi regime. Did the Taoiseach even raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities, never mind question whether it was appropriate to go to a conference held in a country whose regime is so brutal that it crushes even the mildest voices of criticism of the El-Sisi regime?
The Taoiseach said we are keeping 1.5 alive, but there is no evidence of that. The world is on a trajectory of perhaps 3.5°C warming, if not worse. There is no greater illustration of the failure of COP27 and the failure of this capitalist system to address the climate crisis than the absence of a commitment even to phase out fossil fuels. The failure to recognise that and include it in the text speaks to the power of the fossil fuel lobbyists, 636 of whom were present at COP27, and the commitment of governments to protect the interests of big oil and gas. We have the same text as came from COP26 - efforts towards the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Now we have reference to an increase in low emission and renewable energy, which could mean anything, such as nuclear power, coal with carbon capture and storage, or fossil gas. Here, the Government plans to keep Moneypoint open, fuelled by oil and ramped up because of all the electricity required for the data centres.
Today, a young man from UCD Ronan Browne is taking the drastic action of a hunger and thirst strike to force some action on climate change. I support that young man. The behaviour of the Irish State has not inspired the young generation who are extremely worried about the future. There is a glaring contradiction between what the Taoiseach says and what he does. I previously asked him about the stance Ireland took on the directive on corporate sustainability and due diligence. The Taoiseach reported that he campaigned for it, but that he needed to strike a balance. I asked him if those directives would require finance companies to be as responsible as the rest of us are meant to be over the climate. This morning I got a letter back from the Taoiseach in which he said that he wanted to strike an objective balance but did not say what that balance is.
Does that mean that finance companies have the right to make profits over and above the enforcement of corporate sustainability in the climate? Could the Taoiseach please clarify?
The issue of a commitment to a rapid transition from fossil fuels was sorely lacking in the COP27 text. What is the position of the Taoiseach and the Government on Ireland's continued membership of the Energy Charter Treaty, ECT? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, has clearly flagged that the ECT is a barrier to climate action and that it is being used by the fossil fuel industry to delay decarbonisation and to leave the public with the bill for their stranded assets. The ECT secretariat is actively seeking oil and gas-rich countries in the global south to join. Therefore, the continued membership of Ireland is legitimising this predatory behaviour. A number of EU countries, including most recently Germany, have indicated their intention to leave. Will Ireland do the same?
Many have spoken about the difficulties surrounding COP27 and about what the people have not signed up for. We want to make whatever moves we can away from fossil fuels. District heating can be one of those solutions. I once again bring up the issue of communal heating systems that are now being powered by gas. A feasibility study has already started around geothermal in respect of Carlinn Hall, Dundalk. None of this will work in this shift, however, unless we have a grant scheme in place to facilitate this in communities, for example in the areas of geothermal or woodchip. Beyond that, we will need mitigations. I thought the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, could have been a means by which we facilitated those residents who are under severe pressure. That is an opportunity that has been missed. We need a bespoke solution to get people through this winter. Thereafter, we can help them to switch to a better system and we can get that all-round improvement.
Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan raised the issue of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. It is my understanding that it made a recommendation for a referendum. I have not yet received a full report but I look forward to receiving the report from the citizens’ assembly. We will give consideration and examination to all the recommendations.
In the first instance, my main focus is on actions now to dramatically improve our performance in biodiversity. Already, the Government has radically changed the landscape, excuse the pun, for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, enabling an agency within the Government to be established, with its own internal board to direct the affairs of the agency. We are also doubling the funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service and increasing its resources even more to enable it to work across Departments and across the country in respect of the restoration of biodiversity and preservation of biodiversity. Also, we will require more resources to be allocated to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to deal with the huge issue of the forthcoming European Union directive in respect of the restoration of biodiversity, both urban and rural, between now and 2050 with interval years. This will be extremely challenging and it has not really received much attention in the House or across the board. We have put together Departments now to develop a negotiating position on that. In other words, I think we need to keep the balance between a focus on immediate actions and on resourcing the practical operational needs right now, because we are coming from behind. We are coming from a service that was across different Departments for too long. For approximately over a decade it was residing in different Departments. We want to give permanency and security to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and increased budgets that will make a difference in relation to biodiversity. Again, we will have to look at the full implementations of any recommendations for a referendum. What exactly will it mean? What will the proposed wording look like? We will have to examine all of that.
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of human rights in Egypt. Concerns about human rights is a real issue and we have raised it on a continuous basis with Egypt, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums. We have raised issues including freedom of expression, space for civil society, digital freedom and treatment of human rights defenders.
At the UN Human Rights Council in March 2021, Ireland co-signed a statement expressing concern about human rights in Egypt, including its use of terrorism legislation to detain human rights defenders and civil society activists. The protection of human rights defenders forms a key part of Ireland’s foreign policy. I understand Alaa Abd el-Fattah has paused his hunger strike and that his family was allowed to visit him on 17 November. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has raised this issue and other human rights issues in his discussion with the foreign minister, Mr. Shoukry, when they met recently at COP27. No one should be detained for exercising their basic human rights or for defending the rights of others. We consistently raise that.
On the issue of going to COP27, on one level it was important that it was held in east Africa, because Africa is a continent that at times feels excluded from the debate. It is particularly important in terms of the loss and damage fund and climate finance. That is an issue that is important to Africa in particular. All of the COPs cannot be held in Europe or in the US all of the time. They must be hosted in locations that may not suit everybody at any given time. That is the reality. That is a challenge but it is important that world leaders meet on this issue on an annual basis. That is my view, because if they do not then momentum could slip. Ireland is not responsible for the entire world and we have to look after our own affairs first. We have a democracy here but we cannot change the entire world on our own. It is by being members of multilateral fora that we can help to shape the world to a better place. Ireland does that well through its aid programmes and through its foreign policy more generally.
Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue that the capitalist system, as he described it, has failed. He does not see any evidence of keeping the 1.5 alive. There are many countries with whom we do not see eye to eye on their policies. The big oil producers such as Russia, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the OPEC countries obviously want to retain as much oil and gas as they can. That is why we must develop alternatives as quickly as we can, such as more wind energy, more offshore wind energy, solar power and other alternative sources of energy. That is the big challenge that is facing us. The European Union has probably made the most advances in relation to these areas and others. Those big challenges will come but it is not the role of Europe, or indeed of Ireland, as the Deputy suggests, to look after big oil and gas. That is not the case.
I did not say that it was.
We are now reducing for example our dependency on Russian oil and gas, because of the invasion of Ukraine-----
We look after the data centres and big agriculture.
-----which is a significant reduction.
In terms of Deputy Bríd Smith’s points, I do not think that people should go on hunger and thirst strike. It is very damaging to them. Advocacy and raising issues is the preferable way to go in respect of the climate issue. As I said, we endeavour to shape all directives that come before the European Union in order that good legislation emerges from Europe. We are participants in that debate. It is not a question of passive acceptance of anything that comes through the Commission. By definition, it has to be engaged with and we are supportive of that directive. Striking a balance means just that-----
Sorry, I asked the Taoiseach about Ireland’s stance. He said that he is happy to strike a balance-----
Yes, we support-----
-----but he has not illustrated what that balance amounts to.
In the letter I sent to Deputy Bríd Smith, and she did not quote all of it,-----
It does not say.
-----it does say that we support the directive.
It says that the Government supports a balance.
Finance.
We support the directive.
It says they support it through finance.
Yes, finance. They are balancing the needs of finance and the needs of the planet. How do they balance that?
It is not as stark as the Deputy has put it. That is not what we are talking about.
Deputy Darren O'Rourke raised the issue of the Energy Charter Treaty. Again, we will keep that under review but he should be in no doubt as to our mission, which is to end our dependency on fossil fuels and to develop alternatives through wind energy, solar and other mechanisms. That is clear in our strategies. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, that is our position. I put it to both Deputies that their position on how to deal with the price increases would have been to give a blank cheque to the fossil fuel companies. It would probably have been very damaging to the economy if we had implemented their proposal of the energy cap, which the energy companies would have benefited from. We need a bespoke approach on district heating. I will come back to the Deputy on that and I have said it to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan.
Ukraine War
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:7. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Ukraine will next meet. [54592/22]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:8. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [57658/22]
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:9. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [57731/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [57886/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [57889/22]
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:12. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [58892/22]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:13. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [59149/22]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:14. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [59160/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:15. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Ukraine will next meet. [59218/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 15, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on accommodation and supports for Ukrainian refugees, which I chair, oversees the whole-of-government humanitarian response to supporting people from Ukraine who have sought temporary protection here. Membership of the Cabinet committee includes the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport; the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the Minister for Social Protection; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Other Ministers and Ministers of State attend the Cabinet committee as required.
The numbers of people seeking temporary protection in Ireland as a consequence of the horrific war in Ukraine is unprecedented in the history of the State. Ireland has never seen so many people arrive in such a short timeframe and tens of thousands are receiving assistance. Since the start of this terrible war, over 65,000 people arriving from Ukraine have availed of temporary protection in Ireland. This equates to more than 1.2% of our population and compares very favourably with other European countries, demonstrating our solidarity with Ukraine and the rest of Europe in dealing with the crisis.
This level of response is challenging and absolutely unprecedented in the history of our State. Nevertheless, the Government is clear that, in the face of further arrivals, an approach that will bring greater consistency to the State's response and ensure equity for all those who rely on State supports is needed now as we continue to meet our obligations to those seeking protection here in Ireland. With this in mind, the Government agreed in October to the following measures: a doubling of the tax-free recognition payment from €400 to €800; a €50 million community fund to recognise local efforts; an expansion of rapid-build and accommodation refurbishment programmes; allowing for dormitory-style accommodation to maximise places; a new State-led call for vacant homes and a focus on future trends and planning for sustainable supports.
I will now outline the measures currently being progressed by the Government in order to provide additional accommodation. The property refurbishment programme is being expanded and accelerated and the process of compiling a searchable database of accommodation is beginning. The rapid-build housing programme has commenced with the first order of units already under way with the installation of 500 rapid-build homes by February and March 2023, providing accommodation for 2,000 people at a number of sites across the country. The new local authority-led Offer a Home campaign was successfully launched last week. This involves a doubling of the recognition payment to €800, irrespective of the nature of the offer of properties and accommodation.
The Government has also allocated €5 million to the Community Foundation for Ireland for the Ireland for Ukraine campaign. This is providing 50% of its funds to aid charities providing support on the ground and 50% to provide grant aid for Irish charities and community and voluntary organisations assisting people who have fled from the war to this country.
I acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by local communities in welcoming people from Ukraine. In recognition of such local, community-led solidarity, the Government has committed to a €50 million programme of supports, as I have said. Detailed proposals are currently being developed to provide additional resources at local level to ensure that access to public services and community centre facilities for local communities are maintained and expanded. Ireland's humanitarian response will continue. Policy work by various Departments is also continuing on an ongoing assessment of the sustainability of the initial emergency response. This work is also looking to the medium and longer-term issues. The Cabinet committee will meet again on 12 December.
It was reported in The Irish Times yesterday that Dr. Catherine Day believes the Government's commitment to end direct provision by 2024 will not be met due to the pressures on emergency accommodation arising out of the war in Ukraine. It was also her view that the targets set out in the Housing for All plan need to be significantly increased to take into account the increase in population. The expert group headed up by Dr. Day has submitted a report to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, recommending that the State build two reception centres on State-owned land by May and another four by the end of next year. Will that happen? Does the Taoiseach still believe that the Government will end direct provision by 2024 as currently committed to? Will the Housing for All targets be increased as Dr. Day has recommended?
Obviously, we all are in complete support of looking after those fleeing war or torture, whether from Ukraine or other places, which can be hellholes, throughout the world. We all accept that we must put serious effort into streamlining the means by which accommodation is made available. We need to ensure that communication is improved if we are to avoid repeats of some of the incidents that have taken place, including in Carlingford. People from outside have jumped on this issue, which is utterly reprehensible. These are things we need to fix. We have long had a serious issue with regard to direct provision and our processing. A great deal of streamlining needs to be done. This is what we have to do if we are to deliver for people.
The Taoiseach knows that we are completely opposed to Ireland's participation in the so-called military assistance mission of the EU to train the Ukrainian army. Training one side in a military conflict is a breach of military neutrality. This is part of a drive to integrate Ireland into a process of European militarisation and align Ireland with NATO. It is a full-spectrum military training mission whose purpose, according to the European Council, is "to contribute to enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces". The Taoiseach has been at pains to emphasise that the Irish Defence Forces will be involved in de-mining training. However, during questions to the Minister for Defence last week, I asked for a guarantee that the Defence Forces would only be involved in de-mining and nothing else. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, repeatedly failed to give me that guarantee, saying that the details had not been finalised. Will the Taoiseach give me a guarantee that this is all he is sending Defence Forces troops to do?
It is pretty clear that the Government is using the appalling war Putin launched in Ukraine, which we all condemn, to move us ever closer to NATO. Last week, I asked why NATO assessors were assessing Irish troops in County Cork-----
That is right.
-----in recent weeks and I still have not heard an explanation. These assessors were headed up by a military commander of the US Navy. This follows on from our participation in the Ukraine defence contact group which, according to the US Secretary of Defence, is part of NATO and whose first meeting was held on a NATO base in Germany. It is absolutely clear that the Irish Government is disregarding this country's neutrality and the commitment of this majority of people in this country to that neutrality in order to align us with NATO to the extent that we now have NATO commanders assessing our troops in County Cork.
As of yesterday, there were 3,459 Ukrainian refugees in County Clare. This represents approximately 3% of our county's entire population. In the early days, when refugees arrived in places like Doolin and Lisdoonvarna, they were given personal public service, PPS, numbers and staff from Intreo services and the Department of Social Protection came out to assess their skill sets, language skills and so on. This resulted in some getting into employment but there are many more who are hungry to work in Ireland. I met some of them yesterday. To give an example, we have several Ukrainian dentists in County Clare. Their qualifications do not align with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, requirements so they cannot practice. It is the same with some nurses and doctors. We have a labour shortage in Clare, although it is hard to believe. I know of one butcher who had to apply for a work permit for a South African guy to come to work in his shop. There is more that can be done to activate these workers. I ask that, through this committee, the Taoiseach engage with Intreo and those providing accelerated training in reading and literacy skills to these Ukrainians to activate that labour force. They are hungry to work and contribute.
I call on Deputy Haughey.
I am not scheduled to speak on this grouping.
I beg the Deputy's pardon; I am mixed up. I thank him for pointing that out. I have jumped from one to the other.
I believe I am next. As of today, 65,660 refugees have been granted temporary protection. We also have 12,347 applicants for international protection. We had 24 refugees at the airport facility last night. There is no sign of any levelling off. My concern relates to the accommodation situation, which is very challenging. This week, we have seen county councils appealing for unused houses to meet this need. Has a plan been put in place with local authorities to provide for staffing to get this work done?
Another issue, which I bring up constantly, is the quick build or the modular build, which would be across all local authorities and for everyone across the board. What are we doing on this? Housing and accommodation need is critical now.
Almost every week the Taoiseach tells the Dáil that the State is not politically neutral but is militarily neutral. I wish to quote from an article in the journal.ie earlier this month:
For decades Irish soldiers have trained on the high uplands of Kilworth ranges, located just off the old Cork to Dublin road between the towns of Fermoy and Mitchelstown. ... The laughs and banter of the Irish accents were mixed with foreign voices on the day The Journal visited. There are a host of European uniforms from Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and other locations and even a US uniform mixing with the various men and women. ... [There are] yellow vest wearing soldiers taking notes with a distinctive patch on their arms. These are, uniquely in an Irish setting, NATO assessors. ... One of those assessors is US Navy Commander Sam Mason [on loan from the US military] as part of the European command of NATO.
Ireland is not politically neutral but is militarily neutral. I do not think they were talking politics up there in Kilworth. The Taoiseach might care to explain to the Dáil exactly what is going on here.
First, Deputy O'Rourke referred to direct provision and the targets. It is going to be extremely challenging now. It is 2022 and many people in direct provision are in a position where they are now legally resident in the State and can leave direct provision if they wish, but they are staying in it at the moment. Obviously, the wider housing issue is probably a factor in that but it is a significant point nonetheless. I stand to be corrected but I believe there are some 1,800 people who could potentially leave. They are free to leave but choose to stay. That has been the position for quite some time, even before this crisis erupted.
Examination will be given to Catherine Day's report. There are two broad issues here. A decision was taken by the Government - at the very beginning of this Government - to reorganise migration policy and action from justice to gender and equality, and that happened. That clearly has implications in that nobody anticipated the level of crisis that has subsequently occurred with the war in Ukraine and the very significant increase in those seeking international protection. This has gone way up in contrast with the previous reports we have received. We were talking about an average of 3,500 in the last report but that has all changed because of conflict in the world and a whole range of issues, from Syria, Ethiopia, climate change and so forth.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been working flat out with the Housing for All programme, even to get to the targets we have set ourselves. This is a whole-of-government approach and has been a whole-of-government approach from the beginning in dealing with this issue.
Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of communications, and it is a fair point. We will continue working on that to try to enhance and improve that.
Deputy Paul Murphy raised the European Union military assistance programme in Europe. I take exception to the assertions by Deputies Murphy, Boyd Barrett and Barry that somehow, the war is being used by the Government as an excuse to join NATO and to work with NATO. That is a fairly sick allegation to make.
What were they doing in Cork then?
This was an unprovoked war by Russia on Ukraine that nobody wanted. Many countries that are members of NATO spoke to Putin and asked him to stop and not to do it, including President Macron and Chancellor Scholz. I do not know why the Deputies are so anti-Ukraine but they are anti-Ukraine. It is very clear-----
Will the Taoiseach answer the question?
I am answering. This is how I am answering the question.
The Taoiseach should stop bluffing and answer the question.
I am answering the question, if the Deputy would leave me, but he does not like what I am saying. The Deputy boycotted the one minute silence on the Holodomor.
The Taoiseach is waffling on and he is not answering the question.
The Deputies opposite deliberately boycotted that event today-----
What was NATO doing in Cork?
-----and I will say that in respect of the allegations the Deputy has made, this country is not a member of NATO.
Answer the question.
I am answering the question.
The Taoiseach is not-----
We have never participated in any military campaign with NATO-----
The Taoiseach is running around it.
Deputy, please.
I was not up in Kilworth eavesdropping on what they were doing but I was in Lebanon.
Kilworth. The Taoiseach must stop waffling.
Who were we with in Lebanon? Ireland was with the Polish army.
The Taoiseach is waffling.
We were peacekeeping with Poland and we engage in peacekeeping with other countries that are members of the United Nations. There has to be interoperability.
In Kilworth, Taoiseach.
I presume that any work we do with other troops is interoperability in respect of peacekeeping missions-----
With NATO.
-----that the Irish Army is engaged in. The Deputy is asserting a complete untruth. Every time it comes to Ukraine, every other Deputy in this House today-----
What Ukraine-----
Every other Deputy in this House, including Deputy Crowe, and I will deal with Deputy Crowe's issue-----
Answer the question I asked.
I will.
I put down a question as well. The Deputies opposite cannot just dictate everything here.
I will. Deputy Crowe put down a question as well, which is in stark contrast-----
Through the Chair-----
Every time there is a debate on Ukraine-----
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
Every time there is a debate on Ukraine-----
Please, Taoiseach, just a minute.
My apologies.
Please Deputies, who is the Chair? We are way over time and are out of time. There are at least four questions to be responded to and we are way over time and out of time. I ask that the Taoiseach would respond, uninterrupted.
Every time there is a question on Ukraine, and especially to do with refugees and humanitarian issues, the three Deputies opposite bring it back to NATO and the Russian argument. It is the same argument used by Russia last week, when it named a lot of Irish politicians on their list.
Kilworth. Answer the question.
(Interruptions).
You guys are acting like puppets for Putin's regime.
What was NATO doing in Cork?
What the Deputies are at is a disgrace. I have watched it now for months.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Stop bluffing and answer the question.
That is all you do. You are puppets for the Putin regime. I will revert to Deputy Crowe with a reply.
Will the Taoiseach answer the question? Will the Taoiseach give a guarantee that they were just doing de-mining? Can he give a guarantee? Why can the Taoiseach not give a guarantee?
They cannot dictate-----
Will the Taoiseach give a guarantee about de-mining? Or is it going to be the same as with the Minister, Deputy Coveney? Please answer the question about de-mining.
Friends of the Kremlin. Not one of them on the blacklist.
The Taoiseach has finished the questions.
He said he was going to answer. He said it just two minutes ago.
The Deputies are on Putin's Christmas card list; we are just on the blacklist.
Will the Taoiseach guarantee they were just doing de-mining training?
Could we do this through-----
We are on the blacklist; the Deputies are on the Christmas card list.
I doubt that.
Deputy Crowe, please. Could we have just a tiny smidgeon of respect? I am moving on to the next questions.
Will the Taoiseach answer the question?
He cannot.
I am moving onto the next round of questions. There is not actually-----
The Taoiseach is deliberately holding onto the question and he avoided all of them, and instead we got just bluff and nonsense.
There is not 15 minutes left for the next round of questions now. I will check what is left and we will stick to the time.
Departmental Strategies
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [54593/22]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [57659/22]
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:18. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [57734/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [57885/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [57888/22]
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:21. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [58893/22]
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:22. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [59006/22]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:23. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [59158/22]
Brendan Smith
Ceist:24. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [59159/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:25. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the strategic goals of his Department’s Strategy Statement 2021-2023. [59219/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 25, inclusive, together. The priorities set out in my Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023 reflects the role of the Department to support me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s programme and to build a better future for Ireland and all her citizens.
My Department continues to work at the centre to ensure that policies developed support the Government's commitment to develop Ireland in a sustainable way, which supports economic development and social progress. It achieves this mainly through the Cabinet committee structure. Through the work of the 11 Cabinet committees, supported by my Department, a range of cross-Government work has been advanced under the direction of this strategy statement, including: delivering a fair and progressive budget providing €11 billion in measures to help families and businesses cope with the impact of rising prices; co-ordinating the work across Government on Ireland’s humanitarian response for over 65,000 people who have arrived from Ukraine and have availed of temporary protection in Ireland; protecting Ireland’s economic recovery through continued job creation and transitioning towards a decarbonised and digital economy; driving delivery of the Government’s Housing for All plan to increase the supply of housing and to provide a sustainable housing system into the future; supporting Ireland's role in Europe and the world, including through my participation in the European Council, Ireland's seat on the UN Security Council and with respect to continuing European Union-United Kingdom discussions on the Northern Ireland protocol; continuing to advance peace, prosperity and reconciliation on the island of Ireland including driving the delivery of our commitments on a shared island on a whole-of-government basis, through the shared island unit in my Department and the shared island fund; supporting the development of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the Climate Action Plan 2021, which are key elements of a suite of measures introduced to fundamentally alter Ireland's approach to climate change; ongoing work of the citizens' assembly, including the two citizens’ assemblies on biodiversity loss and a directly elected mayor for Dublin, which are nearing completion; continued work across my Department on a range of initiatives such as implementing Harnessing Digital - The Digital Ireland Framework; progressing Ireland’s well-being framework, developing the Government’s approach to social dialogue, implementation of the future of policing plan and work on Civil Service renewal.
My Department will continue to provide progress reports under the six strategic priorities set out in the strategy through the normal annual reporting cycle.
Last Friday marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the beginning of this year's 16 days of activism. The campaign continues the theme of ending femicide. As the programme for Government acknowledges, there is an epidemic of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. One of the programme's tools to tackle that epidemic is a commitment to legislate for the introduction of domestic homicide reviews. When will that happen? The Taoiseach will understand from his engagements on the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and with family members of victims that reassurance is now needed that the Government will deliver on its commitment to legislate for a system of independent domestic homicide reviews.
Are we any closer to a date for a citizens' assembly on drugs? We know the issue we all have, particularly in deprived communities that are absolutely ravaged by drug gangs and drug debt intimidation. Not only should we have a citizens' assembly; I would like to think that there are also conversations going on at European level about this matter. We all accept that Ireland, whether on a 26-county or 32-county basis, is very small. Some of the solutions we will consider are the Portuguese model and necessary interventions at community and family level. We might need some sort of agreement on doing this at a wider level than just an Irish level.
The strategy refers to the need for citizen-focused communication. In that context I raise the case of Frank Mulcahy. As the Taoiseach will know, he was the CEO of Irish Small and Medium Employers and a victim of an incredible campaign to blacken his name by people wrongly suggesting that he was involved in fraud. The Taoiseach was the Minister in the relevant Department at the time. He stated in reply to a question from Ciarán Cuffe in November 2004: "I am satisfied that no evidence or documents relevant to the allegations made by the organisation were withheld." The Taoiseach, then Minister, subsequently closed the file. That statement was incorrect. I raise the matter now to give the Taoiseach an opportunity to correct the record. I will list just some of the very many documents which were withheld: the Department's note to file, dated 26 April 1999; the memo to the Minister, dated 5 March 1999; the interdepartmental memo, dated March 2002; the Department's small business operational programme closure report 2002; and the Arthur Anderson report of March 1998. I could go on and on. Multiple documents, evidence, were withheld. I ask the Taoiseach to correct the record.
One terrible aspect of the absolutely dire housing crisis over which the Government is presiding is that people with very serious medical conditions are looking to gain medical priority but waiting months for their cases to be looked at, even though they are in dire situations, clearly because of lack of resources for medical assessment in local authorities. Something needs to be done about it urgently. I will give the Taoiseach a few examples: a 73-year-old with a very severe spinal condition who is couch-surfing with family members and being asked for more and more reports; a man of 66 receiving cancer treatment who was sleeping in his van, has made several attempts on his life and has still not been properly assessed; a woman who was for nine hours on a dialysis machine and who submitted medical forms in November of last year; and a 68-year-old man who is epileptic and facing the possibility of eviction, having submitted his stuff in September. The list goes on. Something urgently needs to be done about vulnerable, unwell, mostly elderly people not having their housing needs assessed quickly and efficiently.
There are 17,000 aircraft on order by Irish aircraft leasing companies. We have a position of world dominance in this regard. More than half of all aircraft in the world are Irish-registered, and there are assets of €130 billion or thereabouts registered to Irish-based leasing companies. This is a colossal sector. Bearing in mind that 17,000 planes are on order, and just like Ireland pursued the biopharma, smart tech and social media sectors and there was a strategy to get them to come to headquarter here in Ireland, we should also now, as we look to the new year ahead of us, start looking at strategically trying to entice aircraft manufacturing. There is precedent here. The Turkish Government some time ago had a massive order of Turkish Airlines aircraft coming in. It insisted on Airbus basing some of its manufacturing sites in Turkey based solely on the quantity of orders coming into the country. I would love to see a strategy on not just maintenance and repair of aircraft but also the manufacturing of some components of aircraft.
The strategy statement of the Department of the Taoiseach refers to the need to offer objective and evidence-informed advice to the Government. It refers to a deep-rooted public service ethos of independence, integrity and impartiality. In that context I ask the Taoiseach about the Romanes lecture he gave to the University of Oxford earlier this month under the heading The Centre Will Hold: Liberal Democracy and the Populist Threat. It is clear the Taoiseach is concerned about populist offerings and simplistic solutions to complex problems and the portrayal of experts as part of some sort of elite conspiracy. We are all aware of a recent call for the sacking of the chief economist at the Department of Finance. Of course, our Civil Service should be open to reform, but how important is it, does the Taoiseach think, in today's world, with all the threats to democracy, for a democratic system to have an impartial Civil Service giving objective information on the policy issues of the day?
Parents of babies whose organs were sent abroad for incineration without their knowledge or consent received the long-awaited report into the scandal from Cork University Hospital on Friday. These parents should not have been forced to wait until the report's release to find out that their babies' organs had been incinerated in Denmark and not, as they previously had been told, in Belgium. Does the Taoiseach agree that the holding back of this information was very wrong? It appears that Cork University Maternity Hospital might have been in a position to deal with the organs in a far more sensitive way but that the parents were not asked or contacted. Does the Taoiseach that this was extraordinary and that it raises questions as to whether the left hand knows what the right hand is doing at Cork University Hospital management level? Will the Taoiseach clarify whether the human tissue Bill, which came before the Cabinet earlier, will make disposal of organs and tissues without consent illegal in future? It should do.
Deputy O'Rourke raised the issue of femicide and the broader issue of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. A great deal of progress has been made on that matter under the Cabinet social affairs committee and the work of the Ministers for Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputies McEntee and O'Gorman, respectively. Various reports on this issue are coming, and a broad range of issues are covered under the strategy, including the independent reviews. I will come back to the Deputy with the detail of that.
Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of the citizens' assembly on drugs. I hope we will be able to start that early in the new year because I think the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss is coming to the end of its work, although it has asked for a bit more time. I understand that the Dublin Citizens' Assembly has sent in its report. A citizens' assembly on education is next. The Deputy referred to the island of Ireland. The shared island dialogue is the way to go in that regard. We now have 2,500 people involved in the dialogue on a range of different issues. The research we are doing under the shared island unit is the most comprehensive of its kind and the most systematic ever undertaken. It is very valuable research. Productivity is the most recent issue that has emerged through the Economic and Social Research Institute. I refer to the school completion services sector north and south and the healthcare and primary care systems. That is very good research which points to pragmatic issues we have to deal with and in respect of which both our jurisdictions can learn as to where some issues are strong in one jurisdiction as opposed to the other.
There is also general investment on projects such as that relating to the Narrow Water bridge, which I visited with the Deputy. That project is a good example of how the shared island initiative is working. On the Ulster Canal, the Government again approved more funding . That is the way to go in the context of mutual understanding and building reconciliation.
Deputy Paul Murphy referred to Frank Mulcahy and raised certain matters. That is a long-running issue which predated my arrival into the relevant Department. I am not prepared to affirm or confirm what the Deputy said out of the blue. There is a long-running issue in that regard. I have dealt with these matters in the past.
Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to the housing crisis and those with dire medical conditions. Again, there are provisions for local authorities to deal with people with very severe medical conditions in terms of access to housing. People do benefit from allocation of houses in such situations.
There is a massive backlog.
The key is to get more social houses built. I think we will have a record number of social houses provided this year between build, lease and acquisition.
I am talking about medical assessment.
I know, but we will do whatever we can there.
Deputy Cathal Crowe referred to jobs for Ukrainian refugees earlier. I did not have the chance to respond but I will take the matter up now. I do think we should move faster. In some cases, the qualifications authorities are working to accelerate people being enabled to work in certain professions.
The Deputy also referred to aircraft leasing and aircraft manufacturing. It is a huge endeavour. Airbus was a partnership between the UK, France and Germany. It was a massive project that took over 30 years. We could evolve our maintenance and manufacture component parts of aircraft because we have a lot of skills in that area in Ireland and we should build on that. By the way, most of these companies in the end will become technology companies just as the car industry will shift to a technology industry. We have lots of skill sets in that regard.
I agree 100% with Deputy Haughey on the need for objective advice from the Civil Service. I was concerned by suggestions that civil servants should be sacked because they had points of view on various issues. That suggestion was subsequently retracted and an apology issued, which I welcome. The Deputy's basic point is that democracy requires an impartial public service that gives its view. The view does not always have to be agreed, with but it is important.
To respond to Deputy Barry, the HSE has accepted that what happened was wrong and should not have happened. The maternity hospital should have been consulted on these issues. Great hurt has been done to the parents concerned.
And the human tissue Bill?
The general scheme of the human tissue Bill has been agreed by the Cabinet.
And would what I referred to be illegal?
Yes.