Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his appointment. I watched the news on Channel 4 when the Windsor Framework was announced and the Minister of State came up live from Westmeath which I thought put Westmeath on the map. He did very well in explaining the Windsor Framework at that point. I know about the sensitivities of the Windsor Framework and that the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, is currently studying it. Is there an implementation plan for the Windsor Framework at this stage? Obviously, the EU and the UK can proceed whenever they want, presumably, regardless of what the parties in Northern Ireland decide. I presume there will also be a vote in the House of Commons, maybe it will be a consultative vote I am not sure. I appreciate the sensitivities of it but I would be interested to know if there is an implementation plan. When is it hoped to have this framework agreement up and running?

I want to ask about Ukraine. I appreciate what happened at the special European Council meeting and that there is a tenth round of sanctions in place. I have two questions arising from that and if the Minister of State does not have the answers today I understand. Can the committee get a report on the assistance given by Ireland to Ukraine to date under the European Peace Facility? I know it involves the provision of non-lethal equipment but it would be right that the House continues to monitor that. On the EU military assistance mission in support of Ukraine, how well advanced is the training we intend to provide? What exactly will the Irish Defence Forces be involved in? I know there was talk of de-mining which Ireland has expertise on, and the decommissioning of explosives so anything the Minister of State can say on that would be welcome. My third question relates to enlargement.

What is the position now on Ukraine and Moldova? Presumably, that is being advanced. Yesterday, this committee had an informal meeting with public servants from Georgia, and I think they met with the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday as well, and went through the 12 criteria. The committee travelled to Georgia last June, as the Minister of State may know. I think they were a little aggrieved that they were not considered at the same level as Ukraine and Moldova. Certainly, they are very keen to join the European Union. I just wanted to put that on record. I am sure the Minister of State knows this. I would be interested to get a report on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, how well Georgia is doing. I know that ultimately, it is a matter for the Commission.

I will leave it at those three questions.