Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note that a number of items are on the agenda for the upcoming European Council meeting ranging from rising energy costs to migration, external relations and foreign policy issues.

In this State, we have seen more than 30 energy price hikes announced by Irish energy suppliers since the start of the year. These sharp increases in the cost of energy are adding to increasing costs of living and having a severe impact on people across the State, from students and workers to pensioners.

The ESB provided safe and secure electricity generation to every corner and community in this State. For many years, our energy prices were among the lowest in EU until the ESB had to set prices higher to encourage competition in the market. As a result, electricity prices here have gone from being among the lowest to now being among the highest in the EU. Once again, the market has failed to provide lower and more competitive prices for consumers. We have already seen several EU member states such as France, Italy and Spain taking decisive action to reduce the burden of these price hikes on ordinary people. Notably in Spain, consumers will see their average monthly bill drop by 22%. Therefore, it can be done.

Previous governments were happy to drive up energy prices to encourage competition in the energy sector. We now need this Government to step up to the plate and follow the lead of other EU member states to put a halt to these runaway energy prices and take some of the burden off ordinary people.

I will raise one particular issue of concern with regard to international relations and issues of foreign policy. Four days ago, German war planes flew over Jerusalem, Ramallah and the occupied Palestinian territories, undoubtedly terrifying countless people beneath them. On behalf of my friends who are living in occupied territories, I would like it made clear to European Council members such as Germany, Italy, Greece and France that the racist terror state of Israel does not have the sovereign right to host its military air shows over the occupied territories.

These military incursions are wrong. They show absolute contempt and are unnecessary. Most of all, however, they are illegal. We need, therefore, to make our voice heard and say this display of force and power is not acceptable. Will the German jets join Israeli jets in bombing Gaza families? Is that what will happen next? This sort of behaviour is an act of aggression dressed up as an air show. The reality is that it is a show of power.

I ask that other EU member states such as Italy, Greece and France, which are taking part in this air show with the Israeli Air Force, need to respect Palestinian airspace and not violate it like the German Luftwaffe has done. Germany is effectively rubber-stamping Israeli terror. This is an act of solidarity by Germany, France, Greece and Italy with the racist apartheid state of Israel.

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