Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join others in welcoming the Commissioner and his team from his cabinet and the Commission office here in Dublin. I will pick up where Deputies Colm Brophy and Bernard Durkan left off. Like Deputy Durkan, I am a committed Europhile, and always have been. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be the person who sells the European ideal and pushes the EU agenda in the member states. There is an increasing level of disconnect in Brussels, from the European Commission primarily. I am not necessarily talking about the 28 Commissioners but the officials, in one degree. There is a disconnect from what is really happening in the member states. The Commissioner is right that far too many people in member states are happy to claim responsibility for the good news and blame Brussels, or wherever else, for the bad news. There is a requirement for the EU to get back to basics and truly demonstrate, across the EU, what the EU is delivering for the people. This is very apparent in the trade deals that are being negotiated and that will negotiated.

I agree that CETA is a great deal. TTIP has the potential to be a good deal. During last week's Seanad debate, which was narrowly lost given that some people decided to abdicate their democratic responsibility, I argued at length that the way the deals were negotiated was no longer fit for purpose. Non-transparent negotiations behind closed doors do not cut the mustard anymore. We need to get the public involved and get agreement. Telling Oireachtas Members or MEPS that to view negotiation documents they must go to a secret location on Kildare Street and hand in their phones does not pass. It is very difficult for us, as pro-Europeans who believe in free trade and who are not anti-globalisation to sell the deals if we are constantly having to dispel images of conspiracy theories lurking in the corridors. Those deals are vitally important, especially in light of Brexit.

Given the Commissioner's portfolio, and the importance of trade to it, what other deals are in the pipeline? What other options are presenting themselves to Ireland and the wider EU? The Commissioner mentioned that 50% of Irish beef is exported to the UK. It is great that we have reached new deals with China and the US. Where else in the Far East can we look for deals? Last week, the Irish Government has confirmed a deal on exporting lamb to Iran. While all these are very welcome, Ireland's biggest export is pharmaceuticals. We need to see where all the deals are.

The sanctions on Russia in light of its activities in Ukraine have worked. While they have hit certain economies and producers, including pork producers in Ireland, they have been important in light of President Putin's action or inaction in Crimea, depending on which way he says it. This debate has moved on to the situation in Syria. If matters in Ukraine and Crimea were to sort themselves out, will sanctions stay in place in light of the Russian Government's activities in bombing so many innocent civilians and humanitarian workers in Syria? If not, what can the European Commission to do in order to put pressure on Russia?

Again, I thank the Commissioner for his contribution and his work in the Commission so far. Some years ago, I watched his performance before the agriculture committee of the European Parliament and it was a master-class. I belatedly congratulate the Commissioner on it. He is very deserving of the position he holds. I look forward to his responses.