Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This was a disappointing summit by any measure. Its conclusions were largely written well in advance, it failed to agree anything on its major items and there was a setback on what had previously been a consensus on the critical challenge of climate change. At a moment the EU is on the edge of an economic downturn, faces unprecedented political threats and needs to demonstrate unity and purpose, this was not a summit to encourage anyone.

The failure to agree on any of the key institutional appointments for the next five years was not a surprise. These always drag on. What has been a surprise is the continued attachment

by some leaders to the discredited and undemocratic spitzenkandidat system. Interviews published yesterday in which the Taoiseach's candidate, Manfred Weber MEP, said that he is the only legitimate choice for the Commission seem to suggest that he and his party put their own interests ahead of finding a widely accepted outcome. Even if one accepts that the European parliamentary elections are fought on a cross-Europe basis with leaders known to the public - which of course they are not - parties with the support of a quarter of the electorate do not have the

automatic right to control key institutions. Mr. Weber has not demonstrated that he has the skills needed to lead the Union and form a new bond with citizens. He has never held any executive role outside of parliamentary management and has never held any role that requires active engagement with the public. He should have the good grace to stand aside.

We remind the Taoiseach that the presidency of the European Central Bank is critical for the future of this country and the entire eurozone. It is inevitable that it will form part of a package with the jobs currently being filled. Under no circumstance should any person be nominated for the job who has been an opponent of Dr. Mario Draghi's interventionist policies during his term. We do not want last-minute converts seeking to grab the job with convenient changes of mind. President Macron's position on this, while unusually strident, is absolutely right and we should support him on this. Economic and monetary union is incomplete and the ECB needs a leader who understands this, not one wedded to the failed orthodoxies of ten years ago.

The summit also agreed to return to the issue of the MFF in October, with the intention of reaching a conclusion by the end of the year. It is not yet clear where these

discussions are going but we believe Ireland should join those countries that are being more explicit in supporting an increase in the Union's budget, particularly to support action on innovation, regional cohesion and climate change. The budget should not be allowed to become another zero-sum game where the objectives set are ambitious but the financial means are yet again less than 1% of the size of Europe’s economy.

The decision of a small group of countries to block the adoption of ambitious climate change targets is a serious development. The excuse they used was the need for extra funding for their energy and automotive industries. If this type of approach is seen during the rest of this year, it will be almost impossible to reach a credible outcome or to move from words to action on key policies. These countries need to understand that a 2050 climate goal is one every country can, and should, work towards. The countries with the largest car industries and energy sectors are willing to sign up, so their excuses simply do not wash. Applying short-term negotiating tactics to leverage a small amount of funding does not impress anyone.

Of course, a major issue in discussions on the budget is the continued uncertainty about the relationship we will have with the UK. It is often hard to know just how seriously we

should take comments from the Tory leadership candidates, because they are manifestly using arguments they must know have zero real-world credibility. In a month there will most likely be a new Prime Minister and there will be no clarity as to what their Brexit policy is, unless Mr. Boris Johnson, MP, is committed to trying to inflict the vandalism of a no-deal outcome on everyone. As we saw in yesterday’s economic statement nothing has been put aside for a no-deal outcome. No net stimulus is planned or available. Money earmarked for items such as the health overrun, which is under way, is simply due to be transferred to help sectors that will quickly be caught in a crisis on 31 October.

A fortnight ago, the Taoiseach acknowledged, at least implicitly, that Ireland was not ready for a no-deal Brexit in March. He claimed that the Government was ready, something which simply does not stand up to scrutiny, but admitted that the wider economy was not. Part of this was his usual tactic of pushing the blame onto others but much of it was an admission that claims that everything that could be done had been done were not true. As we focus now on the harsh deadline of 31 October, it is time to up the game and for the Government to accept its responsibility to make sure that the disruption to business is minimised. We need to end reliance on useless metrics such as the numbers viewing websites and take a more active and interventionist approach. At a minimum, every business that needs to register to continue trading needs to be contacted again and again until action is taken. Equally, we need to know as soon as possible what is to be

done to help industries and communities experiencing disruption.

During the recent election campaign, Commissioner Hogan, the Government and Fine Gael candidates issued co-ordinated statements about potential aid for the agrifood industry. This appeared to break previous accepted limits for action during an election. More important, however, we need this promised aid to be put in place immediately. Let us not continue the policy of waiting until all the damage is done before trying to help. Rather than having a third summer in a row in which the media is filled with the Taoiseach and others making self-congratulatory statements about Brexit, we need a detailed and credible update on Ireland's preparations for all scenarios that might emerge on 31 October or later.

The summit briefly considered reports on hybrid threats and attempts to undermine free democracies in Europe. Yet again there have been attempts by one country to promote division, undermine the European Union and support extremists, primarily on the right but also on the left in some countries. On several recent occasions, Deputy Boyd Barrett has objected when I have pointed to the silence of many of our left wing parties on the issue of Russian aggression against European democracies, in Syria and in support of repressive regimes in many parts of the world. Because of the structure of these debates, I do not have the opportunity to reply to him. As such I would like to point out again that I fully appreciate the unique position of the Socialist Workers Party within the Solidarity-People Before Profit alliance as a party of the far left that takes an anti-Putin line. This is emphatically not a position shared with some other parties and Deputies here.

Far too often we have had to listen to people lecture us about rights and then either fall silent about Russia's aggression or actively justify its behaviour. Sinn Féin's pro-partition approach to

Ukraine is particularly striking. Europe needs to protect its democracies and we need greater urgency in pushing the major social networking platforms to use more of their substantial income to track and take down misinformation and incitement to hatred and division. This is a restatement of the need to take action to protect the viability of independent journalism as a profession and a viable industry. Fianna Fáil believes that it is past time for the Government to take up our proposals on this matter.

We support the Government’s strong position on not lifting Russian sanctions and the summit's commitment to standing by Ukraine. Among other factors, the attempt to strangle Ukraine through closing the Kerch Strait, holding soldiers as hostages and giving Russian citizenship to Ukrainians in the occupied east as well as the refusal to hand over those accused of murdering hundreds on flight MH17 to the Netherlands for trial add up to a situation where nothing has improved and no sanctions should be lifted.

Regarding Turkey, the Istanbul election result is encouraging but it is necessary to remain firm with the Turkish Government, particularly in light of its growing repression of the Kurdish minority.

When the Council reconvenes, it should take time to note the deteriorating situation in Israel and Palestine. The latest so-called peace initiative from the White House is nothing of the sort. As The Washington Postwrites today, it is a policy which seeks the surrender and humiliation of millions of stateless people. A policy of illegal annexation is under way and an attempt is being made to bury any possibility of a just solution. It appears also that the more embroiled Prime Minister Netanyahu becomes in legal troubles, the more willing he is to radicalise Israeli politics. As this happens, the Government cannot sit quietly on the sidelines. We must reconsider our actions and speak out against what is a very dark turn of events.

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