Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I again offer my words of sympathy to the family of Rory Mason. We were all very taken with the sentiments that his dad expressed in the tribute we heard earlier today.

As I said, the world has changed considerably over the last period and we are all having very different conversations and worries that we would have a number of years ago. I refer to interaction with other European countries and their views at this point in time. I know that every second commentator believes they are a serious military strategist at this stage, but it does not look like it is going particularly well for Vladimir Putin in the field. That is why we have to get that energy piece correct, because it is one of the things that he has in the sense of the possibility of economic carnage throughout the western world and particularly Europe. However, obviously, there are fears related to some of the threats that have been made, for example, even relating to the annexation of those areas that, from Putin’s point of view, he can determine as being part of Russian territory. In addition, there is that wider threat of tactical nuclear weapons being put in the field. Some commentators said that could be a considerable number of steps away, even if he was to consider it, however, there might be the possibility of testing nuclear of weapons or something from a point of view of upping the game. This is all very frightening and I accept that there are limits to what the Minister of State can comment on.

The Minister of State mentioned the rule of law question. I ask about those particular interactions and where the conversation is between the European Commission and Hungary. Where are relationships at the minute, particularly with Poland?