Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the committee. I thank him for his comprehensive update. I would like to touch on two issues. The first, to which the Minister of State referred, is that of Poland and the rule of law. Can he give us some further detail on what potential actions the European Union is considering taking in this regard, not only with respect to the treatment of the judiciary but also the treatment of women’s rights and the attempt to row back on female reproductive rights in Poland, which is of major concern to many citizens in Ireland?

The second issue is the Northern Ireland protocol. The Minister of State referred, mainly with respect to Poland, to the supremacy of European Union law and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. That still remains the key issue, unfortunately, with the protocol. We are all well aware of the Commission’s position on that. I ask the Minister of State to outline the next steps in this ongoing negotiation and process and what we might see happen in the next number of weeks or months.

Regarding the Conference on the Future of Europe, are there detailed plans for what Ireland will do to engage with citizens? Are there projects or events planned in the coming months, of which the committee should be aware?