John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I have a few questions for the Minister of State. I attended the Institute of International and European Affairs, IIEA, event last week at which he talked about our approach to the Presidency being one of principles-based pragmatism. He might say a little more about that with the principles being our respect for our neutrality. Like him, from my time on the foreign affairs committee and my encounters with representatives from our European partners and others, I realise there is widespread respect for our military neutrality. That message needs to go out.

How will this committee be impacted, if at all, by the Presidency? Are their particular roles that it will have to play? Is there a particular workload that it will have to carry? Military neutrality clearly does not imply military incompetence or impotence. I am very strong on that. I know there is a trajectory for the Department of Defence so that we can spend more on defence without at all infringing on our military neutrality. In fact, it strengthens our military neutrality, particularly as artificial intelligence will be one of the bulwarks of how we develop economically. AI is based on data and Ireland is a hub for data. We need to protect our data and we need to work with our European counterparts to ensure we protect our data. Red tape simplification and securitisation was referred to by representatives from aid agencies at yesterday's foreign affairs committee meeting. They have a fear that "it could involve the removal of key pieces of legislation and that all funding for international aid might be seen through a transactional lens". Reassurance may be needed there. What impact would the simplification process mean? We all welcome the reduction of red tape.

My final point relates to Albania. A few of us, including Deputy Crowe, were part of an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe delegation to the country. From a security and mafia-style viewpoint, Albania is not in the best of places. It is at the root and the source of a lot of criminal networks that operate across Europe. There are a few bits of food for thought for the Minister of State.