Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am supposed to be sharing time but the other Deputies may have been caught by the times moving. Things are happening in Europe. Things seem to be slowing down with Covid-19 but things are moving on behind the scenes. One thing which was meant to come up was the conference on the future of Europe. I note Ireland and 11 other countries sought to attend, one would expect it would be an automatic attendee at a future of Europe conference, but it seems that only Germany and France are attending. That says a lot about the European Union and its whole concept. We know that Germany and France are calling the shots but it is interesting for it to be so blatantly laid out. It is very worrying that it would go ahead and that Ireland and others would have to write to ask to attend. Angela Merkel has confirmed the European response to the crisis might require treaty changes. Perhaps she will update us on what they will be in the coming years.

The deal with Mercosur has yet to come up for adoption at the national parliaments. Hopefully it can be held up here but a new Administration comprising Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party will probably railroad it through anyway. There are serious implications in respect of what is happening with that process. We should be very careful and should strongly mark Ireland's concerns regarding environmental protections and on how Brazil and Argentina do their farming. I note that 149 pesticides used in Brazil are banned in Europe. What measures do we have to ensure they will not come through and be imported into Europe? They will probably go straight ahead with it.

Europe also is expanding its military might and power throughout Africa. The German armed forces are increasing their presence in Mali and there is increased expansion into Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad. German and European forces will be moving into those processes as well. I am interested in how the Minister of State envisages Ireland's role in that regard. Ireland already operates in Mali and we will move to further integrate within the European military structure. What will be the Government's view in respect of its development in the future? We should be very concerned about that.

Brexit and its implications, which will be big, have not been mentioned but there are many more pressing issues. Brexit, the Mercosur deal, the ongoing militarisation and the future of Europe are all crucial.

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