Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the few minutes I have, I wish to cover two topics. The first is the growing threat to peace in Europe posed by the massing of Russian troops, tanks and military equipment on the Ukrainian border. Nobody can look into the mind of President Putin but, if his utterances and those of his Government are to be taken at face value, it appears he wants to turn back the political, economic and geographical clock of Europe to the time immediately following the Second World War. He apparently wishes to re-establish a Russian zone of influence stretching not only into independent and sovereign Ukraine, but also into the territories of new member states of the European Union. It is ironic that he wants to do is return Europe to its state at the time of the Yalta conference when that conference took place in Crimea, which is now illegally occupied by Russia. That is a fanciful and impossible demand and one that we must resist. The annexing of a neighbouring country's territory on the pretext of a common ethnicity is something we have seen play out on our Continent before with disastrous results. Ireland must remain clear and resolute in standing with democratic Ukraine in defence of self-determination and sovereignty, principles that have underscored our country's foreign policy stance from its inception.

That brings me to the related issue of the conduct of naval manoeuvres by the Russian fleet in our exclusive economic zone. I know this is a matter of interest to the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. The Government has stated that Ireland has no legal recourse to challenge the holding of these manoeuvres at this time. What is the Government to do? I am glad my Sinn Féin colleague met the ambassador of the Russian Federation today and I hope he can come before the committees of these Houses. He has dismissed Ireland's protests to date. A representative of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation has taken a stand. The CEO, Patrick Murphy, has rightly set out fishers' concerns about the impact of these drills on marine life and biodiversity. He has said that Irish fishers will fish in these areas, as they are entitled to, at the same time as this naval show of strength. Will the Irish Government do anything to support and protect Irish fishers should they take such a stand?

I will briefly touch on a second issue, that is, the ongoing - or should I say "not-going" - negotiations on the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Before Christmas, there was optimism that the resignation of Lord Frost and his replacement by Liz Truss would calm matters and lead to an agreed settlement. The fact that the UK side would now be led by the foreign secretary, supported by a department whose raison d'êtreis negotiation and diplomacy, gave us all optimism and hope. However, to be diplomatic about it, progress remains elusive. The British position is still to stubbornly challenge the protocol. The protocol is an integral part of a negotiated agreement. It cannot be simply wished away or ignored. All of this is in danger of continuing into the Northern Irish election period, which will make it more difficult to achieve any progress. Talk of a constructive atmosphere and laser-like focus is all well and good but the protocol must be implemented as agreed. It may certainly be tweaked to meet the real practical difficulties experienced on the ground. That is what Maroš Šefčovič is most anxious to do. I have spoken to him on that issue. It cannot be undone, however. That plain and inescapable fact has to be underscored. If the British position is that the protocol cannot be tweaked and must be abolished instead, we risk undermining the work of years of negotiation which came up not with an ideal solution, but with the best possible solution to minimise the risk to the peace process that was so preciously won and which has been so earnestly guarded over the last 20 years or so.

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