Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise concerns around Russia and the planned military exercises off the coast of County Cork in the coming weeks. I know that for some of my constituents, and in particular fishermen in Cork, there are a lot of concerns about these exercises. While there are no rules to stop the Russians from doing them, it is deeply concerning that they are choosing to do them off the Irish coast. The Minister of State needs to push his EU colleagues to support us in making it clear that these exercises are not welcome and should not happen. Given the current tensions between Russia, Ukraine and NATO, now is not the time or the place for these sorts of exercises. There is some frustration at the impact that they could have on fishermen, especially at a time when they are already struggling. There are also real concerns about the potential environmental and fish stock impacts that these exercises could have. Ireland is a neutral State, and we ask Russia and all other military powers to respect our neutrality.

I also want to take the opportunity to mention the Women of Honour, for whom I have huge respect and admiration. The Minister for Defence is refusing to listen to the Women of Honour, who are asking for respect and for a proper and full inquiry. I want to pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Sorca Clarke, for the phenomenal work she has done in raising this issue here. It is really disappointing to once again see survivors treated with disrespect and a lack of empathy by this Government. The Women of Honour have attempted to work constructively with the Department of Defence and the Government, but are being shut out. I urge the Minister for Defence to listen to these concerns now and to act urgently to take them on board. The Department must accept that it is undermining the Women of Honour group's trust and it needs to work to repair it. There can be no delays or attempts to sweep the issue under the carpet. Have we not learned from the mother and baby homes, the CervicalCheck scandal and the Kerry babies case? The way that we treat women in this State never seems to change. Women like those in the Women of Honour group must be listened to and respected.

Finally, I want to use my remaining time to ask what the EU is doing to help and support the people of Yemen. There are 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, 11 million of whom are children. Some 10,000 children have either been killed or maimed because of the ongoing war. It is said to be the worst place in the world to be a child, and still the war continues into its seventh year. What is the EU doing? There is an onus on all of us to act. They are being bombed, killed and starved and the world looks idly by.

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