Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. I am conscious of time because of the overlap of the last question. In terms of the discussions with Prime Minister Muscat, the Syrian situation, which has now worsened, is an unfolding human tragedy that is now becoming indescribable even for people who are there. Malta is in the heart of the migration crisis, although many of the people who are coming across the Mediterranean are actually not from the Syrian crisis. They are coming mainly from the horn of Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. These are real issues we need to address. I am interested to hear the Maltese perspective on the ongoing catastrophe in the Mediterranean. It is conservatively estimated that 4,000 people have died. Anybody who saw the RTE programme "The Crossing" could not but be extraordinarily moved and proud of Óglaigh na hÉireann. I note that Óglaigh na hÉireann won the European of the Year award which the Taoiseach presented on Monday.

In the Taoiseach's discussions with Prime Minister Muscat, did the issue of Setanta Insurance arise, which was a Maltese registered insurance company that sold insurance exclusively in this jurisdiction before it collapsed in 2014, leaving thousands of Irish policyholders high and dry? Was the practice of a European Union country being used as a base exclusively for a company in another European Union country discussed with the prime minister?

See this speech in context