Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach in absentianot just for his detailed preview of the upcoming European Council meeting, but also for his review of the previous European Council meeting which I particularly appreciated. As I said at the time, it was disappointing that the House was unable to have stand-alone statements on it, but I truly appreciate the opportunity the Chamber had to have an extensive and meaningful debate on the situation in Belarus in light of the downing of an Irish-owned aeroplane there. I look forward to the comments of the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, in terms of a further update on the situation in Belarus and activity at a European level in respect of how we can continue to tackle the flagrant breaches of international law as well the absolutely despotic regime being run by a dictator in Belarus. Ireland has a strong and prominent role to play in this regard. This cannot be simply a one-time-only debate that we ignore when the issue no longer seems apparent. We have deep and meaningful ties to that part of the world and, moreover, the very worrying contagion that comes out of such a regime in Belarus and the efforts of non-state actors supported and protected by the regime in Belarus and the money men in Moscow is extremely concerning. One only has to look to the recent cyberattack on the HSE to see exactly how damaging that can be for all in society.

The first issue on which I wish to focus in advance of the very important meeting of the European Council later this week is, obviously, that of the pandemic. There is much to compare and discuss in spite of the air of cautious optimism in this country that the vaccination rate is going extremely well. The HSE and all those involved deserve much credit in that regard. I am delighted, as, I am sure, is the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, that the vaccination programme has made its way down to registering those in their 30s, although the Minister of State may have a while to wait yet. A significant part of this issue is a reopening strategy across Europe in the context of looking at other European countries that got things right and taking the warnings where they got things wrong. I know many Members may be quite envious to see crowds of 12,000, 25,000 or even full stadiums at the European Championships while we are still running test events. It is disappointing but perhaps it shows what we can achieve and how we can work against the very worrying rise of the Delta variant.

In his opening remarks, the Taoiseach referred to the progress on the digital Covid certificate. I have no doubt many Members will refer to this issue in this debate and have consistently raised it in recent months. It is vital for Ireland on every level.

We think in this regard of our airline industry, which has been decimated, and our airline staff, whose representatives we have all met outside both this building and Leinster House in recent weeks. We think about the correspondence we have received. Crucially, we think about those who have been apart from loved ones for more than a year. We also think about the many small and medium-sized businesses up and down the country that depend on safe and reliable overseas visits for their patronage.

I want to raise an issue on which I am seeking clarity and in respect of which the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, said earlier today on the radio that there are plans afoot. I refer to the need to ensure the digital Covid certificate is available to Irish citizens around the world who have received recognised vaccinations. Among the people who may not have been vaccinated in this jurisdiction are Irish citizens living in the UK who have had an EU-approved vaccine, whether AstraZeneca or otherwise. They must be able to access the digital certificate. It is crucial that people in Ireland have access to the certificate, as well as those in Northern Ireland. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, whether we can get clarification that people in Northern Ireland will be allowed to access the digital Covid certificate. This issue has been raised a number of times by my colleague, Senator Currie, in the Upper House. It is vitally important that we have an element of joined-up thinking on this island when it comes to the digital certification system. In dealing with the pandemic, we have seen that when we worked together, when, in particular, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Northern Ireland Minister, Mr. Swann, had meetings together, it was for the betterment of everyone on this island.

The issue into which I will segue from that point relates to the discussions on economic recovery that are due to take place at the Council meeting. We had a lengthy, although slightly fragmented, debate in this Chamber on the EU's recovery and resilience plan. It kind of became a free-for-all discussion on the national development plan and every sort of funding that may be available. The €950 million allocated to Ireland under the recovery and resilience scheme is vital and we must see progress in that regard at European level. We need that funding at this critical time, as we come out of the pandemic. Crucially, and I hate to say it, we need to have the preparations done and everything in place for the next time we may need that type of funding. The groundbreaking decision that the EU would be able to generate own resources and float eurobonds is very welcome, particularly for a small member state such as Ireland that has, at times, borne the brunt of European solidarity in terms of the response to the financial crisis. It is an important development for the whole of the EU and it provides a major opportunity.

In that context, we must also pay close attention to the delivery of the Brexit adjustment reserve fund. The funding of more than €1 billion announced last week for Ireland, which makes us the member state getting the largest part of the first €5 billion tranche, is important. We will have to wait a couple of months until we see those funds in accounts, which is completely understandable. I would like to see a discussion taking place on this issue at European Council level and Eurogroup level. I understand the latter is to meet with the Council in due course. We need to ensure account is taken of the sectors in Ireland that need the supports available under the Brexit adjustment reserve. I refer to the sectors most impacted by Brexit, including agrifood, and logistics and freight exports. We need to consider how we can use the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, together with the overall recovery and resilience fund and, indeed, the general Government strategy, to mitigate the difficulties and challenges associated with the sorry state of affairs that is Brexit but also to realise the opportunities that arise out of it.

We must use European Council meetings and any other opportunity we can to ensure we make the most of Irish exporters having access to the word's largest economic bloc. The volume of exports from Ireland to the Continent simply must increase. They are at record levels but we can do much more. There are traditional markets and products in respect of which Ireland has good business relations on the Continent, including in France and Germany, but we also need to look further afield. We must look at the requirements of other large European economies, where, I would argue respectfully, we are simply not performing. We can do much more, for instance, in the Nordic countries. I note that the Taoiseach is to have a side meeting with the Nordic Prime Ministers. There are huge opportunities in that regard. We also need to look at countries such as Italy and Poland and how we can further develop our trade with them. I repeat my call that the overall review of our foreign missions should consider the additional economic and consular opportunities that arise, having regard to the success of the second consulate offices in Lyons and Frankfurt and, in particular, the additional consulates in Great Britain, in Cardiff and Edinburgh, with another soon to be opened in the northern powerhouse region. We need to see much more of that happening across the Continent. We must, in due course, have consulates in Barcelona, Milan, Gdansk and the many other cities that offer real opportunities for Irish businesses impacted by Brexit to diversify and reap the opportunities of access to the world's largest economic bloc, the Single Market.

A very important issue that will, of course, be discussed at the upcoming Council meeting is one the Taoiseach referred to in the opening lines of his statement. That is the fallout, for want of a better word, from the G7 summit ten days ago. We have discussed it in this Chamber and in a range of contexts. We must be serious in expressing to our European colleagues that significant concerns remain in this Parliament and this country regarding the impact of the British Government's treatment of the Northern Ireland protocol to the withdrawal agreement. Even today, we see Lord Frost continuing to operate as a one-man propaganda machine in doing down the very protocol he negotiated and criticising the EU. He should be back in the room, whether with Maroš Šefčovič or with people on the British side such as Michael Gove and the Prime Minister, talking about what this British Government negotiated and ratified, on the basis of which it won an 80-seat majority.

We must look at the areas of the protocol that need to be implemented. A very interesting study was released recently, with comments by Matthew O'Toole, an MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly, about how no one is talking up the advantages of the protocol for Northern Ireland. We have seen, for example, a massive investment in one Northern Irish factory that produces whey protein and all the opportunities it will have to export, not just to the market in Great Britain but also to the Single Market. The message that must come from the European Council is the same message we have been getting from our European partners, including the Heads of State in Germany, Italy and France as well as the European Commission and Council Presidents, all of whom attended the G7 summit, namely, that the British obligations under the protocol simply must be met. We appreciate that things are difficult in Northern Ireland. There is, to put it mildly, an ongoing element of change in political unionism. Where there are concerns, they should, of course, be addressed. Ireland should always play a proactive and productive role within European circles to ensure the protocol is applied reasonably. However, that comes with the requirement that the British Government meet its legal obligations and act responsibly in respect of the international treaty it signed months ago.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address the House and the Taoiseach for his remarks. I look forward to the reply from the Minister of State in due course.

See this speech in context