Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope that the Taoiseach enjoyed his first Council meeting. I congratulate the Minister of State on her new responsibilities and wish her well in that regard. It seems from reports that the Taoiseach enjoyed his visit to Brussels and had a busy schedule there.

Last week, Deputy Micheál Martin raised with the Taoiseach his frustration with the level of debate and engagement on EU issues. He has done so again today. There is a lack of appropriate briefing material being circulated to us in advance of and after Council meetings. We rely on European Council websites for agenda items. The Taoiseach's press releases are summaries of what will be, and what was, discussed. The House can do better. It would be worthwhile were the Taoiseach's office and Department to circulate in advance of these statements the agenda and positions about to be taken by Ireland and, afterwards, a note on what was achieved and what the attitude of others was exactly.

There is little coverage or debate in Ireland regarding the major agreement coming out of the Council, that being, co-operation on defence. Nor has it been reported or debated widely as to what Ireland's position was stated to be on this matter and whether we are in favour of the EU proposals. Mr. Paddy Smyth in The Irish Timesreported: "On Thursday, Ireland was saying to fellow member states that it is enthusiastic about the project, wants it to be 'ambitious', but we are not necessarily committed to participating in each and every iteration." The Taoiseach's pre-Council statements focused on security with no mention of defence. He stated:

I will offer Ireland's continuing solidarity and our strong commitment to working closely with our partners in combating this growing threat. The meeting will send out a strong message that Europe stands united and firm against terrorism, hatred and violent extremism.

Clearly, no one would object to that. The Taoiseach told reporters: "We believe that by being a country that is neutral, but not being part of any military alliance, that it actually makes us stronger in the world". However, we still do not know what Ireland's attitude is to the growing view among so-called core EU member states about common defence.

The EU will now use a provision of the Lisbon treaty, known as permanent structured co-operation, PESCO. This enhanced co-operation requires the agreement of all 28 countries. Speaking after the summit, the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, described the move as historic. He stated: "For years and years there has not been any progress on defence, there has been one today". Those views were shared by Chancellor Merkel, who stated: "In the next few weeks and months, we will look at possible projects".

As the Taoiseach outlined, the Commission is proposing to add €500 million of EU funds in 2019 and 2020 to finance EU defence research and new military development. After 2020, the figure will increase to €1.5 billion every year for research and development of new military technology. We are slowly seeing the militarisation of the EU. As the Taoiseach referenced, Ireland has a long history of military neutrality. I am not sure what our current position is, but I doubt that the Taoiseach's own party does not have some level of ambivalence towards these new trends in Europe.

The Council has clearly taken steps to intensify co-operation on defence and there is now a plan to expand the range of common military activities. This is designed to complement NATO structures but Ireland is not a member of NATO. What is Ireland's position on these steps driven by France and Germany in a move towards enhanced military integration embraced wholeheartedly by the European Commission? This approach is gathering pace due to the exit from the EU of the United Kingdom, which had traditionally opposed it, seeing any co-operation within the umbrella of the European Union as a duplication of NATO activities.

Interestingly, I noticed that the Taoiseach added a sentence to his circulated script in the paragraph beginning with "Ireland's neutrality was restated and is, of course, fully respected". The second sentence in the circulated script reads: "However, we favour initiatives to strengthen the EU's capacity to act as an international peace provider, particularly in support of the United Nations and its missions". To this, the Taoiseach added "and to defend itself as a Continent." We need a fuller debate on these matters, given that there are different views in the House. As other Deputies have mentioned, much future thinking happens in the EU without our participation. We are reactive instead of being shapers of policy. It would be good for us to have an open and frank debate on our position as opposed to allowing others to be pace setters while we determine post factowhat our position is. The Irish people demand at least that. I would welcome a debate on this matter.

In the three and a half minutes remaining to me, I will move on to Brexit. Did the Taoiseach discuss with his European colleagues the sequencing of negotiations? I raised this matter with him last week. Did he raise it with the chief negotiator, Mr. Barnier, or Presidents Tusk and Juncker? I am concerned that Irish aspects of the negotiations may be delayed towards the end of the first phase, which means that it might be more difficult to find imaginative solutions to deal with the Border issues Members have discussed time and again. Had the Taoiseach any engagement with EU Heads of State or Government or officials on the common travel area? Is there a consensus view on this among all member states? Will some member states see it as something to be negotiated in light of the rights afforded to their citizens within Britain after the UK exits?

On climate change, the Taoiseach mentioned in his pre-Council statement that he was determined that the Government would show a new ambition when it comes to tackling the matter and that this would be the subject of a full-day strategic meeting of the Cabinet. He also spoke to President Trump yesterday. Given that we debated the issue beforehand, I presume that the Taoiseach raised the question of the Paris Agreement with him. That would have been important in the context of the role that the US will play in climate change mitigation.

Most of the discussions at the Council on Friday focused on jobs, growth and competitiveness, including the European Fund for Strategic Investments. This has particular relevance for the economic fallout that Ireland may experience after Brexit. I have raised this matter time and again with the Taoiseach and his predecessor. Has the Taoiseach flagged the impact of Brexit on jobs and growth in Ireland? Is there now a united EU view of the uniqueness of Ireland's case? As other Deputies have asked repeatedly, where stands the resolution of this House in respect of the special status for Northern Ireland in a post-Brexit scenario?

On Brexit, to date the Government has focused on high-level issues. It also needs to begin planning in respect of the mitigation of impacts which we know will come. Three core policy areas in particular require attention: investment in infrastructure, state aid rules, and making the European globalisation adjustment fund fit for purpose. I have said repeatedly that we now need to plan for investment in roads and ports and in ensuring the facilities are ready in the event of Ireland having to strengthen its direct links to the Continent. Ports such Rosslare will become pivotal in this regard.

I have proposed, and I am in interested in Sinn Féin's view, that the proceeds of the AIB sale should be used for infrastructure. It is not actually the fiscal rules which are impacting on that. It is the Stability and Growth Pact rules under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. These rules, which go back to the creation of economic and monetary union the bones of 20 years ago, determine that the proceeds of asset sales should not benefit the general government balance. There is a separate issue about the spending of that but I think that can be addressed and I have begun that discussion.

Has the Taoiseach begun negotiations at EU level to ensure we have the flexibilities in respect of expenditure which will allow us to address the issues of Brexit?

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