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

We had the whole thing with regard to Europe and strategic autonomy and whatever else. In respect of aid, some of that is happening. We all believed we lived in a certain world, and with all that was wrong with it, there was a certain set of rules. There was at least some sort of adherence to international law. That meant one believed that conflicts could happen in certain parts of the world but not in other parts to the degree we are seeing. One believed that even mutually assured destruction ensured a certain type of world. That has all been thrown out the window and whether that is because of Vladimir Putin, Trump’s America or whatever else, we are where we are. It is more akin to the 1700s and a balance of power. It is literally like an old colonial play in which the European Union is a player, although maybe not as nefarious as some of the others. Within this, where do we see hope? All I can take from what our witnesses said is there is a greater level of chaos, conflict and migration. We must ensure we address this properly. That is also accepting that the European Union for all its failures, even this week in relation to Palestine, is still one of the few hopes and that it can and absolutely must do better.

Unfortunately, I do not think I am wrong in how I see the world, and I am going to ask our witnesses' view on that. What can we do first and foremost to try to ensure that some of the asks made are delivered upon? Unfortunately, this is the game we are now involved in and an awful lot of people are pointing and looking in the wrong direction.