Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The White Paper will include a chapter on the European Union and the challenges it will face. One of these challenges is realising the potential of the Single Market and the greater integration of energy infrastructure. Competitively, we are at a disadvantage compared to the United States in that the cost of electricity and gas is high in Europe because we do not have the same level of integration. The role of the former Soviet Union in providing the European Union’s energy supply is also a significant issue. There were several meetings prior to Christmas of foreign affairs Ministers in Vilnius to discuss this issue. Will the delegations comment on it?

Human rights issues are also to the forefront in several countries, not least in Russia with respect to the LGBT community, of which we have seen horrific abuses. Will the European Union have a common policy on this issue or is it just paying lip-service, considering that Russia’s gas supplies serve the Union? While there are talks about the future enlargement of the European Union eastwards, Russia has a hold on some of these countries and their human rights records are not good, particularly on LGBT issues.

Several African countries have passed horrendous laws affecting the LGBT community. In one case, the death penalty was suggested, but it was retracted and changed to life imprisonment. I would have problems with international aid going from this country to those African states that have enacted oppressive legislation against the LGBT community.