Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 December 2021

European Council Meeting: Statements

 

5:20 pm

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

I appreciate the opportunity to raise several issues ahead of yet another vitally important European Council meeting. I appreciate as well the comments made by the Taoiseach. I look forward to the response from the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, as well, because I think this is the first time I have had the pleasure of hearing him respond to this traditional subject of debate. It is a jam-packed agenda because a great deal is going on. It is difficult, as we will all find, to try to address every issue due to come up at this European Council meeting and, indeed, the issues that are not on the agenda but that will undoubtedly arise. I will address one or two of those matters.

First, however, I will address the latest wave of Covid-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant and the importance of a couple of issues, the most significant of which is the roll-out of the third dose of vaccines, that some people call a booster dose, across the EU. There is a need for co-ordination and co-operation in this regard among member states. That is especially the case when addressing major issues such as vaccine hesitancy, which we see devastating parts of Eastern Europe, and the importance, when we go on to explore this aspect, of how we can retain the gains made through vaccination and co-ordination. I refer to keeping those aspects open during this difficult period.

In addition, we must ensure that basic freedom of movement is retained within the EU. Huge strides were made to maintain this ability through the introduction of the EU digital Covid certificate and its mutual recognition among member states. We now see our State, to be frank, introducing new testing requirements and various other discussions in this regard. We remember the fateful days leading up to last Christmas and the major concern that caused, but we must ensure that when invest in and agree on a system of co-operation concerning travel for vaccinated people, or those who have recovered or have proof of a negative test, that it is rigorous and can meet the tests posed by the various waves of the virus. That is a major challenge, not just for our Government but for the governments of all member states of the EU. This matter must therefore be taken extremely seriously at this meeting of the European Council to ensure we can maintain the gains we have made.

In addition, when we discuss Covid-19 and examine how the virus is impacting member states so differently, it will be evident that those countries with much higher vaccination rates are seeing much lower rates of hospitalisation and mortality. When we look at member states with a low level of vaccine uptake, particularly those in eastern Europe, not to pick on one geographic area, we can see how devastating that has been for people there.

Solidarity is continuing in respect of medics going between member states and member states alleviating each other's ICU capacity. That is really important.

At this European Council meeting there is going to be a discussion on defence and security on the strategic compass. I am not going to discuss the supposed partnership in respect of NATO because it would be a false approach to discuss that in this House. Ireland has a very serious and important role to play when it comes to co-ordinating security and defence policy. The security and defence requirements of the European Union are changing rapidly. We got a very nasty taste of that in this jurisdiction with the cyberattack on our HSE. Those of us who are members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs heard testimony on this in recent weeks from the European Defence Agency's various experts and our own officials and Minister. The only way we can try to keep up with those malevolent actors who attack the very structure of the State for profit is to maintain co-operation between member states, sharing of information and best practice and investment in security and defence technologies, resources and skills. That leads into a wider discussion, perhaps for another forum. It is something we have to bear in mind. If we go to the European Council meeting when we contribute are we able to ensure that Ireland will meet its requirements? Will Ireland be able to engage in true levels of solidarity with European partners? There is no easy answer to that question.

External relations, as has been noted by both previous speakers, are an increasingly important aspect. We can and others will refer to harrowing scenes in Belarus and on the Polish-Belarusian border or the situation in Ukraine.

As was noted by Deputy Ó Murchú, it is our absolute duty to maintain the continuing discussions and negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom on the agenda even if they are not listed in the pre-Council press release. I refer to the full implementation of the withdrawal agreement and a genuine acceptance of the responsibilities that come with it and with the trade and co-operation agreement. Such responsibilities range from the rights of French fishers to, crucially, the maintenance of the Irish-Northern Irish protocol and its importance not just for this island but for all future negotiations, be they between the United Kingdom and other third countries or the European Union and other third countries. Those of us who have been engaged in the Brexit process for the last five or six years know that depending on the various issues of the day, the level of interest in and focus on Brexit will wane between other leaders and other member states. We are seeing changes in leadership in certain Governments. Brexit does not simply end because there is an agreement in place. Brexit is going to be with us for a generation and we will continue to be the member state most impacted, not just economically but also socially. Therefore it is our responsibility to put it on the agenda of every European Council meeting, regardless of whether there is agreement in the talks between Lord Frost and Commission Vice President Šefčovič this week. It is unlikely that there will be agreement, despite them meeting twice. Hopefully there is progress on ensuring the free flow of medicines into Northern Ireland. We have to continue to ensure that the protocol is implemented, that the British Government meets the terms of the agreement it signed and, equally, that our European partners continue the level of solidarity and commitment that has been utterly unwavering over recent years. Much of that is down to the good work of politicians from all sides of the House as well as our public servants and diplomats.

I would like to make a couple of points about the last aspect of the engagement this week: the Euro Summit meeting that will happen after the European Council meeting and the address by our own Minister for Finance and president of the Eurogroup, Deputy Donohoe, and the president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde. The Covid-19 pandemic will continue to dominate this aspect of discussions and rightly so. That is why it is so important that resilience and fiscal flexibility continue to be demonstrated by member states to ensure the economies and therefore the societies of all member states are as protected as possible from the damaging impacts of this pandemic that is shutting down our daily lives.

On the banking union and continuing discussions on a full banking union within the euro group, this is a significant opportunity for Irish consumers where we see banks leaving this market and other banks creating changes. It is serious upheaval and extremely worrying but we have to look to the Continent and engage with partners to ensure that Irish consumers are thoroughly protected and also provided for in respect of their business and commercial needs.

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