Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I thank both speakers. Both contributions were really interesting and I am delighted the committee invited them and that they agreed as we prepare to commemorate out 50 years of membership of the European Union. I note Tony Connelly has 177,000 followers on Twitter. He spoke about the upheavals, turbulence and crises over the last 15 years. It is fair to say that his tweets and retweets are followed very closely by many of us, particularly regarding the ongoing Brexit drama and Ukraine. Many of his retweets gave us extra information on Ukraine and various points of views.

That is much appreciated. My first question relates to Brexit and is for Tony Connelly, but Rory Montgomery might also have a view on it. Where are we in negotiations and in implementing the Northern Ireland protocol? We hear talk of red and green lanes being agreed. We have heard about EU access to UK customs and IT systems. In so far as they can, will the witnesses bring the committee up to speed on those negotiations? The Government is being very private about it and giving space and time to the negotiators. It would be interesting to hear the journalistic point of view.

I also have a related question about the Good Friday Agreement and getting the institutions up and running. Is Mr. Montgomery optimistic about getting the institutions up and running and how does he view the position of the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, in all of this? Does it perhaps deserve some sympathy or not? There are problems with the protocol.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, do the witnesses believe the EU sanctions are effective? There is talk of a tenth round of sanctions. I have to wonder why the first round was so ineffective. Do the witnesses believe we are on the eve of a new offensive by the Russian Federation? What do they think will happen next in Ukraine and how do they see it ending? It will have to come to an end at some stage.

I was asked about Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality in the context of the Ukraine war on many occasions when I attended meetings of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of the parliaments of the European Union, COSAC. People asked me to explain Ireland's position. There was a critical article in The Economiston 19 January 2023 which stated:

Ireland has gone through diplomatic contortions to proclaim itself “not politically neutral, but militarily neutral”. Instead of sending guns to Ukraine it has delivered first-aid kits.

I am not advocating Ireland joining a military alliance such as NATO, but I am interested to know how the witnesses think our policy is viewed by other member states and in Brussels generally. We have the Common Security and Defence Policy and all it involves. There is talk of an EU rapid deployment capacity and sending an EU training mission to Ukraine. I am in favour of the ongoing development of the European Common Security and Defence Policy. Is our role in it criticised by some member states, especially in respect of Ukraine and our contribution to the European Peace Facility? Are we coming under pressure or is it understood by other EU member states and the Commission?