Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I will not add much to what Deputy Bríd Smith has said about Syria and Aleppo, except to also express my horror and revulsion at and condemnation of what is happening in eastern Aleppo as we speak and of the responsibility of the Assad forces, backed up by Putin, for the execution of civilians and the torture and the horror taking place. Unfortunately, what is happening does not represent some turning point in the war or a basis for peace. It is a further descent into complete horror across the country, which is breaking up and for which responsibility lies with Assad, Russia and all the imperialist powers that have intervened. It highlights the fact that capitalism and imperialism offer nothing for the people of the Middle East apart from endless conflict, abuse and theft of their resources.

There is a continuous trend on the part of Deputy Micheál Martin, not based on fact, to say the far left supports Putin who, in turn, supports Assad. I do not know if the Deputy does not listen to what we say and to our condemnation of what is happening Aleppo. I suspect this is a deeply cynical, dishonest attempt to connect us with Russia. On 20 October, when I think he was present, and listed seven occasions when, in the European Parliament, I had condemned Putin but could not find one occasion when any Fianna Fáil MEP had done so. I asked him to revert to me on the matter but he did not do so. There are no examples. He does this because it suits him politically. It is deeply cynical to use what is happening in Aleppo to take a cheap shot at his political opponents on the left. It is also because he does not want to talk about the other atrocities happening in the world right now such as, for example, in Mosul. I have not heard him condemn the role of the US in Mosul, where civilians are also being killed. Deputy Micheál Martin continues to go along with the drumbeat which dictates that we need further militarisation.

The draft conclusions for the European Council meeting tomorrow, of which I have a leaked copy, show that tomorrow's meeting represents another step in the drive towards a European army. Jean-Claude Juncker said just about a month ago that we have to do this ourselves, which is why we need a new approach to building a European security union with the end-goal of establishing a European army. That is under way. Brexit, Trump and Aleppo are being used as excuses for further militarisation. There is a proposal that the European Council would agree with the defence conclusions and the joint EU-NATO declaration. All of those are aimed at further militarisation and war. The establishment of the European defence fund of €500 million a year will be invested in research in arms and €5 billion for procurement. EU military headquarters, permanent structured co-operation, deeper integration between the EU and NATO will be established. What is happening is clear.

I thank those from Ireland and other countries responsible for saving thousands of lives in the Mediterranean. They are to be saluted. We must also consider the reality, which is not the fault of those people but of the EU governments and of the way this world is run, that over 4,500 people have so far died in the Mediterranean while attempting to make their way to Europe. More have died this year than died last year, when the figure was just over 3,500. They are fleeing war, conflict and the impact of imperialism. What is the EU's response? What does it propose to discuss tomorrow? To use the example of the Turkey deal, one of the most disgusting things the EU has ever done - it has a done many disgusting things - the EU's response is to say that it will call Turkey a safe country, give it €3 billion and turn a blind eye to its human rights abuses if it allows itself be used as an open-air prison camp for refugees. That is what is happening. The EU did not just do a deal with Turkey, it has now expanded it and said that it is the model for compacts with five African countries of origin or transit. Let me refer to the deals with Libya and other countries. At present, there are migrant detention centres operating in Libya in which conditions are horrific. These centres are paid for with European money in an externalisation and militarisation of European borders.

It is like Trump paying Mexico to build borders and prison camps on Mexico's southern border. We are right to condemn Trump and criticise his racist policies. However, fortress Europe continues to do exactly that right now for refugees escaping horror.

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