Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to make a political point. I have great respect for Donald Tusk but it is a problematic decision. It is not good that the European People's Party now holds the presidency of the European Council, the presidency of the European Parliament and the presidency of the European Commission. That never has been the position in the past. There has been always an understanding that there is a shared politics at European level. Perhaps the EPP regard it as a great outcome for its own political family but the diversity of political views within the institutions of the union has been one of its great strengths. It is a great pity that, at this particular juncture, when we are looking at existential issues regarding the future of the union, that tradition has been breached. From talking to my European socialist colleagues, I am aware it is a matter that has caused significant concerns not only among the socialist groupings but other political groupings. It is not helpful in building the sort of cross-political views of the centre-right and centre-left that are required to maintain a realistic future for the European Union based on the principles of its founding fathers and mothers. I am glad the European Council will look again later in the year at the criteria and balances needed in this process and I look forward to debating that point more fully at another time.

In advance of the European Council meeting, concerns were raised about trade policies and one of the issues discussed was the CETA decision. The implementation of CETA without any Dáil vote is a matter of concern to many people here. I am a great supporter of trade agreements but there must be democratic accountability. There are real concerns now among many people who have not delved into the minutiae of these trade agreements that they impact negatively on working people. We need to have trade agreements; they are essential for the prosperity and well-being of this country but they also need to be fully ventilated and examined. The fears and concerns of working people, and trade unionists in particular, and of the environmental lobby have to be fully explained and met. Therefore, the notion that we can acquiesce to trade agreements such as CETA without a completely full debate here is something with which I do not agree. The other House has already debated this matter. Does the Government share the views that were expressed in Seanad Éireann that there should be full democratic accountability on these matters here? As the European Council statement makes clear, the leaders look forward to its imminent provisional application. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the views expressed by the Seanad have been taken into account in the Irish position as expressed by the council?

I want to mention two other matters very briefly, one of which is the banking union. The leaders reiterated the need to complete the banking union at the last European Council meeting and emphasised the importance of international co-operation on the design of common, prudential and supervisory standards for financial services. Financial services is an area that has come very much into our focus here. The Government is working hard to attract other major financial players into this State but we want to ensure we do not become a haven for financial activities and that there is very robust financial oversight. It should be done on a common basis that is agreed across the union. This is a matter of particular importance but I do not have time to go into it in any great detail.

I will mention one final issue, the issue of migration. Prime Minister Muscat reported on progress in implementing the 3 February agreement which focuses on the central Mediterranean corridor. We are very familiar with this as a result of the exemplary work of the Irish Naval Service in rescuing thousands of individuals. We see the horror of thousands more unfortunately dying trying to make that crossing. I will use this opportunity to say the Naval Service personnel involved in Operation Pontus are due an allowance which has not yet been paid. It is a scandal that the people we praise and laud are left in that position.

I want to raise the issue of the eastern route and the friction that has emerged between Turkey and some member states. Very vocal, loud and discordant language is being used by both sides, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria. The Netherlands has been the most discordant. We in the EU have put most, if not all, of our eggs in the Turkey basket in terms of stemming the flow of migrants into Europe. Very strong views have been expressed in this House on that matter. Why was that matter not discussed in the migration discussions? If it was, why has it not been referenced in the conclusions of the council?

Ten minutes is an impossibly short time to deal with a matter like this but I hope we will have a formal debate with questions and answers and a clearer understanding of our position on Brexit before next Wednesday.

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