Alan Farrell
Ceist:6. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [4000/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 February 2024
Ceisteanna (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Mick Barry
Ceist:7. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [5336/24]
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Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:8. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [5112/24]
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Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:9. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet [5276/24]
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Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Ceist:10. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6208/24]
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Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:11. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6661/24]
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Paul Murphy
Ceist:12. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [6663/24]
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Seán Haughey
Ceist:13. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [7794/24]
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James Lawless
Ceist:14. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [7796/24]
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Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:15. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [8091/24]
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Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [7938/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (10 píosaí cainte)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 16, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments and considers policy matters in relation to the European Union and international issues. It most recently met on 4 December, when it looked ahead to the EU-western Balkans summit which took place in Brussels on 13 December and the meeting of the European Council on 14 and 15 December.
As I have reported to the House, the December meeting of the European Council discussed a wide range of issues including the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, EU enlargement and the future strategic agenda for the European Council.
The EU-western Balkans summit was an important opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the EU perspective on the countries of the region and to urge them to continue with the reforms necessary for membership. The summit also discussed how to better integrate western Balkans countries economically, including through the western Balkans growth plan. It is expected that the Cabinet committee will next meet on 4 March, ahead of the March European Council meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels on 21 and 22 March.
I thank the Taoiseach for his response. I would like to quote a part of his letter which he wrote with the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, with regard to the events and the war in Israel in the occupied territories:
Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe posed by the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, and given what has occurred, and continues to occur in Gaza since October 2023, including widespread concern about possible breaches of IHL [International Humanitarian Law] and international human rights by Israel, we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship.
Has the Taoiseach received a response to that letter? Does he believe the actions of the European Union can make a difference in convincing the Israelis to stop this slaughter?
Israeli war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, said on Sunday, "If by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue to the Rafah area". Ramadan begins this year on 10 March. That is the start of the week in which the Taoiseach presses his shirts and packs his bags to fly off to the United States for a celebration with President Joe Biden. Has the Taoiseach considered the fact that the most bloody episode of the Israeli state's entire genocidal campaign might now coincide with him providing a bowl of shamrock to a man who, despite cautioning against a ground invasion of Rafah, has been Israel's main provider of finance and weapons? Does he think this is an appropriate moment for a celebration with this man? Does he think it is an appropriate moment for a present of a bowl of shamrock? Does he not think it is time to reconsider his plans for 17 March?
Representatives of the Midleton flood campaign came to Leinster House today to present 14,500 signatures to the Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW. They did so because four months ago, we had a horrendous flood in the Midleton area. Some four months later, most of the families are still living in a catastrophe. We have an incredible situation that many families are still not back in their homes. There is a bureaucratic nightmare in trying to get the funds to be able to fix homes and even when they manage to go through that bureaucratic nightmare with the State, people were told they could get only 50% of the money that was necessary to fix their homes. Threats to their lives are hanging over these people because of the horrendous nature of those floods. One man does not go to sleep if it is raining. He is a human water gauge, watching the river to see if it will inundate the homes again. One of the points the flood campaigners mentioned was that on the day in question, there was no warning system. The European Flood Awareness System supports preparatory measures to provide warning systems when floods are about to break. That still has not been put in place in Ireland. Why is that the case?
UN agencies are warning of an explosion in child deaths in Gaza, on top of the situation we have seen already. This is an explosion on what has been already the unmitigated slaughter of the Palestinian people. We know Rafah is under threat as Israel makes its preparations. While we may welcome that the language of the United States has improved somewhat, I agree with many others that the likes of the US, Germany and Britain could put on some pressure by stopping the delivery of weapons to the Israelis. It is about what we can do in that regard. We obviously welcome the letter written to Ursula von der Leyen by the Taoiseach and Pedro Sánchez. When can we make moves in relation to recognising the state of Palestine if we do have other takers who are willing to do that? Are there any other moves we can possibly make to put any sort of pressure on Israel and its allies?
I understand this is the Cabinet committee that discusses our approach to matters at the UN. In September this year, we will have the UN Summit of the Future. At the committee meeting of 4 December, the zero draft text for that UN summit had not yet been finalised. There is a significant opportunity here if we pay attention to this process and get our spake in early. I know the ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies has talked about the possibility of having an executive vice president for future generations in the European Commission. The example of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales is strong and powerful. It is an example from which we could learn an awful lot. What is the Taoiseach's view on the possibility of having a commissioner for future generations in the Irish context? What position are we going to take at the UN Summit of the Future later this year?
It has been reported that Ursula von der Leyen is to seek a second term as European Commission President, the most powerful political position in the European Union. Politico sums up her pitch as, "More military might, less climate talk". This is the Commission President who went to Israel to give a green light to the genocide that is now under way and continues to support that genocide. This is the Commission President who called for an accelerated process of militarisation, calling for an EU defence Commissioner. It is also reported that the Irish Government is to back Ursula von der Leyen. Is that accurate? If it is, that means not just that a vote for Fine Gael is a vote for a genocider to continue as European Commission President but also that votes for Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in the European elections are also votes for the continuation in office of a supporter of genocide.
On a recent visit to the EU institutions by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, we were informed that security and defence were becoming matters of increasing concern in Brussels. This first emerged following the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago and has been added to by Donald Trump's recent remarks about NATO and the defence of Europe. I commend the Taoiseach on defending Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality at the Munich Security Conference last week when he stressed the importance of peacekeeping and the need to resolve international conflicts through multilateral diplomacy. Obviously, there should be no question of us joining NATO. Would the Taoiseach agree that we need to be fully engaged in the ongoing debate about the EU's common security and defence policy, given the current global situation?
Last year, the EU Commission published guidelines on biodiversity and friendly afforestation. It provided recommendations on biodiversity and friendly afforestation projects at a local level. Forestry should deliver for the environment, economy and local communities. The response to the inability to meet afforestation targets has been to invite in investment firms with solely commercial interests. Last year, we saw the disastrous deal between Coillte and a British investment firm. Craggagh community, between Kiltimagh and Balla, has rallied in response to plans by a French investment company to plant an enormous plantation of Sitka spruce forest in the area while at the same time, young people cannot get planning permission on their own lands. Sinn Féin called then and calls again now for the new planting to be done by public bodies, farmers and co-operatives. We should be supporting farmers and foresters rather than investment funds to plant trees. EU forestry grants and single-farm payments going to investment funds with only a commercial mandate is wrong. Will the Taoiseach raise the concerns of Craggagh residents with his Ministers for agriculture and climate change?
I thank Deputies for their questions. In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, I have received an acknowledgement from President von der Leyen of the letter I co-wrote with Prime Minister Sánchez but I have not received a detailed reply from her as yet. The matter was taken up by the Tánaiste at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday and there was a discussion about it among the foreign ministers so we have successfully put it very much on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. High Representative Josep Borrell sought a political view from ministers from different member states. Commissioner Várhely, who is the Commissioner responsible for external affairs for the EU neighbourhood, takes the view it is very much a matter for the Commission to decide. It is a matter that we intend to pursue both at the Foreign Affairs Council level, through the Tánaiste, and that I will bring up again at the European Council meeting in March.
Deputy Barry asked about my visit to Washington DC next month. All of these visits are an opportunity to meet with political leaders in the US and, for me, it is an opportunity to speak to President Biden and other US leaders and to tell them about the views and feelings of the Irish people on the Middle East. That is what I intend to do. I live in the real world and know that if I did not turn up for that engagement, the slot would be given to someone else who might not put across the views of the Irish people in respect of the situation.
On Deputy Tóibín's question, Midleton is a town I know well. I was there after the floods and I visit it at least every year. I am very concerned about what the Deputy said here in the Chamber. I will seek an update from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the matters raised.
On Deputy Ó Murchú's question on the possible recognition of the state of Palestine, this House has already passed a resolution in favour of recognising it. The Government wants to do that formally as a Government, but it also wants to do it in a way that is meaningful. Doing it unilaterally would not be meaningful; it would be dismissed outright by Israel and its allies, and it would be of little or no benefit to the Palestinian people. It would be of more benefit if a number of like-minded countries, not necessarily European, acted multilaterally, connected to a ceasefire or peace process that would perhaps involve a Palestinian Authority taking over control of Gaza and recognising a state of Palestine, and creating the possibility of some degree of equality in future peace negotiations between the State of Israel, which of course we recognise, and the state of Palestine.
On Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's questions on the composition of the new Commission, it is probably a debate we should start thinking about. As was mentioned, President von der Leyen has suggested a Defence Commissioner. Others have made suggestions for different sorts of Commissioners. It is a matter we definitely need to think about over the coming months. I am not fully up to date on the UN Summit of the Future, but I will get up to date on it. I might get a response from the Tánaiste on it.
Deputy Murphy asked about top jobs at EU level. As I believe everyone knows, they are agreed as a package. I am referring to the European Commission Presidency, the European Council Presidency, the Presidency of the Parliament. Often, the ECB comes into play as well, along with other positions, including those of the High Representative and Vice Presidents. No decision has been made on this by the Government, nor will we make one until after the next European elections. In that context, we will have to decide on who we, as a Government, nominate to be Ireland's Commissioner for the period 2024 to 2029. That is when the talking begins. We want to ensure that whoever we nominate to be our Commissioner will get a good position and a good brief in the Commission. The negotiations happen on that basis. It is never a case of just supporting any individual. It is about a package, and one in which Ireland will be looking for a position.
President von der Leyen has done very well on many issues. She has been a very good supporter of Ireland in respect of Brexit. She did a very good job in pulling Europe together during the Covid pandemic, and she has been good on climate and nature, often going against the wishes of her own parliamentary group, the EPP. She has been very good on Ukraine also. We do not agree on the Middle East, which is very clear.
On Deputy Conway-Walsh's question on forestry, I am not familiar with the Craggagh proposal but I will bring it to the attention of the two Ministers. I agree we should support farmers, landowners and Coillte to plant trees on our lands for forestry, timber and recreation, but I do not believe we should lock out or exclude private finance. There is a role for all.