John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassadors. I will not repeat some of the comments that have been made but I echo most of them, especially the comments around Brexit. The position that has been adopted in terms of support for the Irish protocol is much appreciated. I know we are facing a highly challenging period now. I believe Boris Johnson has set tomorrow as the deadline. While I do not believe that is realistic, certainly time is of the essence at this point. The support is noted and welcome.

I want to home in on some areas around the humanitarian crisis and the migration issue. The fire in Lesbos at Moria probably catapulted the issue to centre stage again. There are concerns that this ultimately exposed the complete failure of Europe to address one of the major humanitarian duties facing us, as it has been described, by allowing the situation to get to that point. I believe there has been failure by many countries. I am keen to get a viewpoint on the responses of different countries to living up to obligations and commitments made in previous agreements, like the agreement in 2015, for example. Only last week I cited our response in this State, especially in dealing with unaccompanied minors. There was an agreement here to accept 35 unaccompanied minors in 2015. To date, I understand we have only taken in nine. I am keen to get a viewpoint on that. Are countries living up to their commitments and obligations? What hopes are there for a new migration agreement if previous ones have not been adhered to and if previous obligations have not been lived up to?

On the issue of Palestine, over the summer there was a lot of concern around the threats and moves to annex large parts of the West Bank. Eleven EU foreign affairs ministers wrote to Europe to ask for guidance as to what measures could be taken if Israel annexed large sections of the area. I understood they considered different measures, such as potential embargoes, trade etc. I acknowledge that annexation per sehas fallen off the agenda. It is not receiving the same media spotlight as was the case during the summer. That is not to say that annexation is not happening on a daily basis. The two-state solution and a viable Palestinian state are being dismantled on a daily basis. It is simply not being spoken about. The Dáil voted overwhelmingly a number of years ago to officially recognise the state of Palestine. It is an issue that has been debated at European level over a number of years. Is it now time, at European level, to recognise the state of Palestine officially? What measures are being or will be looked at if the hopes, dreams and aspirations of people living in the state are ultimately destroyed with the annexation of up to 30% of the West Bank?

I wish to touch on the right to determination. In October 2017, the Catalan people voted overwhelmingly to express their right to self-determination and to live in an independent Catalan state. Since that time, parliamentarians have been imprisoned. Recently, the Catalan President was banned from public office. As was said, it is ultimately an attempt to destroy the Government of Catalonia. Very little has been said about it at a European level. The silence of the Government regarding this attack on the democratic process has been deafening. What approach will be taken to the continued blatant disregard for the express views of the majority of the Catalan people in terms of self-determination? What measures will be taken by the outgoing German Presidency and incoming Portuguese Presidency?

It was stated that the escalating situation in the eastern Mediterranean is deeply concerning. Some measures have been taken to bring all parties around the table. I note that Turkey has sent a research ship back into the waters that are of grave concern. That may show that that side is not being serious about negotiations and coming to some sort of solution. Greece has expressed particular concerns and vetoed a position on Belarus. That was quite concerning. I welcome the measures that have been adopted by Europe in terms of Belarus but similar actions and measures are not being taken in respect of other countries. Over many years Turkey has been involved in the unlawful occupation of northern Cyprus.

This issue has not been dealt with by Europe. Now we see a concerning situation in the eastern Mediterranean that has massive implications for Europe, not only in terms of destabilisation but the risk of potential conflict. What measures are being looked at? I know the primary objective is to get everyone around the table but that is difficult when some of the people who should be around the table are ratcheting up tensions by sending out ships. Will the ambassador give a viewpoint on the eastern Mediterranean because it is an issue, unfortunately, that will continue to escalate until all partners get around the table?