Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the vaccines, I already mentioned what the EU is doing with the WTO. More importantly, and Deputy Brady asked about this aspect, I refer to supporting manufacturing capacity in Africa and putting significant resources into that endeavour, apart from what our own manufacturing capacity is doing. Turning to the issue of Israel and Palestine, it is fair to say that the motion from this Dáil went out far and wide and was heard across the world. Not every member state of the European Union would agree with this motion. Quite a few would disagree with it. I am being frank about that. I am not saying that they are right or wrong, it is simply a fact. The issue of Palestine and Israel was not part of the conclusions of the European Council on this occasion, but the issue does arise regularly and the Irish view is put forward strongly. It may have been raised at the Foreign Affairs Council but I am not sure because I do not sit on it. The Deputy will have to ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, about that aspect. It is an issue, however, which is regularly discussed.

On all these foreign policy issues, particularly in the European Council, it is a fact that every member state has a veto on conclusions. It would equally apply to us if we did not like them. Not every member state of the European Union will agree with the motion that all of us here supported 100%. That is just a fact of life. Our moral voice, though, is very strong on this issue. The unified voice of this Dáil spoke out to the world regarding the annexation. The motion mandates the Government in this regard, not only at European Union, but at the United Nations Security Council. We will probably be more effective in that forum because we are members of it, but again global politics are involved there as well. However, we certainly punch very far and high above our weight on this issue.

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