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

I thank the ambassador for his presentation and for setting out the seven priorities of the Hungarian Presidency clearly. Like many people, I have a problem with Hungary's general approach to the European Union under Viktor Orbán. I know that will not come as a surprise to the ambassador from his interaction with TDs and Senators today. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned rule-of-law violations and the consistent use of the veto at European Council meetings. Hungary appears to be disruptive to the proceedings of the European Union at Council level. Mr. Bánhegyi may say the veto was used for particular issues. Council meetings are delayed because of objections by Hungary and so on. All of this is well known.

Regarding some of the priorities, on competitiveness, Hungary will prioritise trade with China and energy links with Russia. I do not agree with those priorities. They are both autocracies. Russia is involved in a war on the Continent of Europe. We have to be concerned regarding China. As the President of the European Commission has stated, we need to de-risk when it comes to that country.

Regarding enlargement, again it would seem that Hungary opposes Ukraine's accession to the European Union. It is a minority view. Hungary seems to have continuously blocked aid and support to Ukraine at European Council level and is quite disruptive on that, not adhering to the consensus on the European Council.

We can see the way the European Union is going with regard to defence capabilities. Obviously Ireland is a militarily neutral country but we accept that we have to be part of that conversation. I do not have an issue with Hungary's priority on defence capabilities, even though we have to be particularly vigilant in that regard in this country.

That is an introduction to my first question about Hungary's general approach to the European Union under Viktor Orbán. Is Hungary happy to be in the European Union? Some member states have called for the expulsion of Hungary from the European Union. Those calls are there. I would be interested to know what Hungary's general approach to the European Union is or what Viktor Orbán's problems are regarding the European Union.

My second question relates to a newspaper report yesterday that Viktor Orbán has formed a new patriotic alliance for the European Parliament, so presumably a new group is being set up there. In announcing that, Mr. Orbán talked about the current Brussels elite and their politics of war, migration and stagnation. He also referred to the slogan of the Hungarian Presidency, which will be "Make Europe great again." That does not inspire confidence, given that Trump has used a similar slogan for the United States. Does Mr. Bánhegyi want to say anything about the setting up of that new group or how that is going? I know it is a new development but I would be interested to hear his take on that.