Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I apologise on behalf of Deputy Adams, who cannot be here as he is attending a meeting elsewhere, and on my own behalf for my delay in my getting to the House. I was attending the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, at which we were dealing with the upcoming European Council meeting and at which the Tánaiste was present.

Two weeks ago, citizens right across this State delivered a clear message that they could take no more of the Government’s brutal austerity policies. There was a strong vote against cuts and austerity in both the local and European polls. Sinn Féin elected an unprecedented four MEPs across the island of Ireland. The Sinn Féin MEPs will join a considerably enlarged GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament as a result of increased anti-austerity votes not only in Ireland but in Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal. Governments must now heed that message and change their political direction. That is the message coming from all those countries and peoples across Europe. People voted for change, yet the European semester and the European Commission's country-specific recommendations are still pushing austerity in Ireland and right across Europe. These austerity programmes have been disastrous for middle- and low-income families. The message following the European elections, not only in Ireland but across Europe, is that people want a different approach.

Only yesterday I attended a pre-budget submission by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at which it outlined its figures for children in poverty in Ireland, who number 200,000. I remember not so long ago when we were talking about 100,000 children. The figures are increasing all the time. The society outlined its vision for change, involving a much more inclusive Ireland, and it talked of the Government building recovery, but asked for what and for whom that would be. It talked of the vision it wanted for Ireland. Many Members would share this vision and the society's view that things have to change and that we have to approach matters differently.

We have a two-tier Europe. The growth or stimulus necessary to create employment has not happened. Many economies across Europe are in the doldrums. The time for hiding behind the European Commission - the most vocal voice for austerity in Europe throughout the crisis - is over.

People will no longer buy that. That was the message from the people in the recent elections in terms of the candidates for whom they voted.

The EU Commission is right to point out that there are still issues with the health services, legal services and mortgage arrears situation in this State which this Government is failing to tackle seriously. While I am critical of the overall tone of the recommendations, I do not have a problem with some of them, including the need for progress on reducing legal services and drugs costs and so on. I recently raised this issue with the Minister of State, Deputy Donohoe, at a meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. It is often stated that Ireland has a small population and should work out its own drugs bill. Is there a need for a European-wide review of the cost of drugs?Many drugs are produced by pharmaceutical companies located in Ireland yet drugs cost more in Ireland than anywhere else across Europe. The argument for this is again our small population. While the companies that have located here are welcome, Ireland has no separate agreement with them in respect of pharmaceuticals produced here. While I would welcome health savings, how and at what cost will these be achieved?

In relation to social inclusion, there is little doubt that increased labour market participation remains the best route out of poverty and that affordable child care will continue to play an important role in this context. I know from speaking to lone parents in my constituency and from parents in general that the problem is the unavailability of affordable child care. One of the recommendations of the CRS relates to child care. We are all agreed on the need for address of the child care issue and the Minister has undertaken to examine this area but what exactly is being done? This issue was identified years ago yet there has been no real roll-out of affordable child care facilities in this State.

We are at the top of the class in terms of austerity but at the bottom of the class on most other issues. The folly of this State signing up to ever-increasing budgetary control from Brussels is becoming clearer every day. At the end of the day, one can take what one likes from this report but there is a democratic deficit within the EU. This is being said not only by people in Ireland but by people across the EU. We know that there is a disconnect between the European institutions and people across Europe regarding the European project. This is being said not only by Sinn Féin and the Independents but by other organisations across Europe that are dealing with poverty. This needs to change.

In my view, we are only going through the motions here today. Unless there is substance in terms of what Government is doing, we will continue going through the motions. The Commission has its job to do but so does every Irish Government, which must be to stand up not alone for people in Ireland but people across Europe who are feeling the backlash of austerity. Right now that means standing up to Brussels and telling them the days of dictated austerity are over. The mandate recently given to Sinn Fein's four MEPs shows that the people are not inclined to accept Brussels word so easily. While it could be argued that the Sinn Féin vote in the recent elections was smaller than that of other parties, its vote across Ireland was huge. People are responding to what Sinn Féin is saying not alone about Ireland but also about Europe.

On climate and energy, I note that this European Council meeting will discuss the climate and energy policy of the EU. This is one of the greatest concerns for people. As we become more energy dependent, access to safe and reliable energy sources is, of course, of fundamental importance. An over dependence on energy sources from other countries can massively undermine the sovereignty and decision making powers of a state. Ukraine is a strong example of this. There is a need for Ireland to get its act together in relation to energy production. One of the gravest threats our planet is facing is climate change yet the naysayers continue to say this is simply a reaction of the planets and has nothing to do with man and his actions. The impacts of climate change are being felt every day on every continent. Therefore, as a State we need to look at reducing our carbon emissions. Ireland and the EU need to demonstrate leadership in tackling climate change. The development of the EU's 2030 climate and energy policy framework will play an important role in shaping the future of Europe and that of the rest of the world.

Reports indicate that to keep temperature rise below 2^oC, the EU needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2020 and at least 55% by 2030. To achieve this, we need binding targets at national and EU level. We must ensure EU policies on renewable energy do not drive up demand for damaging land-based biofuels. The massive expansion of biofuels brings few or no climate benefits, while putting additional pressure on scarce natural resources and negatively affecting people's right to food. I ask that thee Taoiseach call at the Council meeting for the introduction of binding targets for carbon emissions reductions in the EU and to follow that up with the introduction here of binding targets as part of a climate change Bill. I ask that he also highlight the need for a genuine and robust cap to limit the use of land-based biofuels, which are negatively affecting food supply and production, particularly in the developing world. We know of countries where biofuels are killing off the environment, leading to an increased cost for foodstuffs in those countries. There is a need for all multinational companies to publish reports on all the work they do in countries where they have operations, including the environmental impact of their work, human rights concerns and taxes paid. This is especially necessary to highlight the work in developing countries. Consumers have the power, in terms of their spend, to influence the action of companies and many want to choose ethical strong companies that conform to their beliefs, but finding this information is difficult. Would theTaoiseach be in favour of the EU compelling MNCs to publish these country by country reports and will he raise this matter at European level? As things stand because these reports are not available it is not possible to identify the countries involved in this practise. It would be helpful to Europe and, in particular, consumers if these reports were available.

On the foreign affairs front, the Middle East process is in crisis. As part of the drive to restart negotiations in the Middle East Israel agreed to release 104 veteran Palestinian political prisoners. However, last month Israel refused to release the final batch of 26 prisoners, which supposedly led to the collapse of the process. I welcome that the Tánaiste spoke out against Israel's actions in breaking the talks preconditions. There are currently 240 Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike because of Israel's continued use of administration detention, which basically amounts to internment on remand. Many have been on hunger strike for more than two months and 40 are now in a critical phase and in hospital. The Israeli Parliament is seeking to enact legislation which would permit the force feeding of these prisoners. The draft law, also denounced by human rights groups, is due to be debated in the Israeli parliament on Monday. Force feeding is a horrific procedure and is in total contradiction with internationally accepted medical ethics. We know from our own history that Irish republican prisoners died or suffered serious long-term health problems having been forced fed. We also know that others in Ireland have been force fed, including women's rights activists and so on.

The breaking news today is that 63 Palestinian prisoners, having reached a deal with the Israeli prison authorities and with the approach of Ramadan, have decided to suspend their hunger strike action. While facts are bare at the moment, I hope a deal, which could facilitate the ending of this hunger strike and save the lives of these prisoners, has been struck.

It is important that Ireland exert whatever pressure it can on Israel to end its systematic use of administrative detention. This includes raising the issue at EU level. Does the Government support the demand for an end to the administrative detention of Palestinian prisoners by Israel? Will the Taoiseach raise the matter with other European leaders?

I am sure the Taoiseach heard about the disappearance and suspected kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers from an Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories. We all hope they will be released safe and sound. However, since the disappearance of the three, the Israeli military has killed three Palestinians and raided over 1,150 locations, including homes, charities, universities and offices, and detained 330 Palestinians. One of those killed was a 14 year-old child who was shot with live bullets in the chest by the Israeli army. Another was a 22 year old who was also shot by live bullets, this time in the head. Searching for the missing Israelis does not give Israel the right to kill three Palestinians, as has happened in the past week. It is collective punishment of the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian territories.

I hope the Taoiseach will raise these concerns, namely, the hunger strike, administrative detention and the collective punishment of Palestinians, at the Council meeting. Ireland needs to stand clearly on the side of human rights and equality.

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