Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will start with the issue of global warming and climate change. NASA recently revealed that the world's sea levels have risen by nearly 8 cm since 1992, and the UN has estimated that sea levels will rise by 1 metre or more by the end of the century. Of course, that has significant implications everywhere. In some parts of the world, it means hurricanes, cyclones and storms in greater ferocity than ever witnessed previously. When I visited Cuba recently, Ministers spoke of their concern about the problem of drought arising from climate change, particularly in that island. Returning to our own island, under the European Commission's energy and climate package of 2008, we are required to deliver a 20% reduction in non-emissions trading scheme, non-ETS, greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 relative to the levels that existed ten years ago. This is not an ambitious target but it is crucially important. It seems we will not meet our 20% reduction target by 2020 and we will actually be lucky to achieve half of this. Strong growth in emissions from transport, agriculture and other areas are key factors. Non-compliance with the targets carries a fine of €600 million in 2021. That should be a secondary consideration. Is the Taoiseach concerned that we will not reach our target reduction, and what steps have been taken to reverse this trend?

On the issue of the UN forces, the Taoiseach will be aware better than I am that 500 Defence Forces personnel are committed to 12 different international missions, such as UNIFIL and UNDOF in Syria. Famously, we also have the 60 naval personnel on the LE Samuel Beckettsaving thousands of lives in the Mediterranean. All of these men and women are performing their duties with distinction and they deserve our support and commendation. Has there been any additional request from the UN for Irish troops or personnel to serve in other trouble spots?

I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach on a few occasions. Has the Government resolved to the satisfaction of the naval personnel engaged in the maritime humanitarian search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean the amount paid to them for the stressful and hazardous work that they are engaged in? The Minister for Defence stated a month ago that the Naval Service personnel were not involved in an armed mission, but the fact is that they must be armed because some of those with whom they are dealing are dangerous smugglers. I am sure our hearts go out to those refugees, but they also go out to the naval personnel who have to retrieve the drowned remains of women, men and children from the sea. These personnel certainly deserve to be financially recognised for their efforts. We were told that the issue of payments was under review. Can the Taoiseach give us a progress report on this?

On the issue of refugees, we are a people who have our own memories, both folk and historical, of coffin ships, and we now watch on our television screens as refugees make the considerable trek of hundreds of kilometres across the European mainland.

Every week brings a different element of it. Did the Taoiseach have the opportunity to talk to the UN Secretary General about any of the detail of Ireland's contribution to resolving or trying to relieve the problem with our refugee protection scheme? Will we accept the 4,000 refugees anticipated? How quickly can it proceed? The number we are to take between now and Christmas is pitifully small. Does the Taoiseach have other information on the progress of the programme, such as the numbers anticipated, when they will arrive and the provision of accommodation and services for them? Given the way we treat people in direct provision centres and the way we treat members of the Traveller community, we must be sure we are not creating more difficulties for these people when they reach our shores.

Did the Taoiseach have the opportunity to discuss the Palestinian situation? When I raised the issue with the Taoiseach last week, he did not answer me but said he would get back to me. I received a letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, which was totally unsatisfactory and fudged the issue. It failed to acknowledge the expressed support of the Oireachtas for a Palestinian state. It is all about ongoing discussions and assessments. We need to show leadership. In these issues, as I have said many times here, Ireland has a certain global reputation, given our colonial past and the success of our peace process, imperfect though it may be. When we speak on these issues, we speak not least to the people in the region in a way they would understand and respect. What do Palestinian children do, being treated as they are, if nobody outside the circle stands up for them and recognises that they have rights? The EU Foreign Affairs Council meets next Monday. It is an opportunity. I never receive a report on all the meetings the Taoiseach attends. I never receive a report on this dreadful situation. The unresolved Israeli-Palestinian issue is the main core of the destabilisation of the entire region.

Regarding the rights and entitlements of LGBT citizens, it was a major victory for humanity when, overwhelmingly, people voted in favour of marriage equality. The fact that it is being brought into law so quickly is to be commended. The Northern Ireland Assembly recently voted in support of marriage equality. Sinn Féin had moved the motion for the sixth time, this time with the support of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP. The previous five times, we did it alone. Although the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, and other Unionist parties blocked it from becoming law, it was still a very important vote of confidence and a clear signal to LGBT citizens. As the Taoiseach noted, some 80 UN states have criminal laws against sexual activity by LGBT citizens, and in at least eight of these the death penalty can be imposed. While Russia does not have laws against homosexual acts, it has repressive laws against what it describes as the homosexual propaganda. As the Taoiseach noted, there has been some success in overturning some of these laws in some states. Did the Secretary General give any indication of the work of the UN in combatting these injustices?

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