Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government will respond to this.

To respond to Deputy Barry's comments, this is an informal meeting of the European Council hosted by the French Presidency. Conclusions will not be drawn from it. I would not be as conspiratorial as the Deputy about it. On the one hand, it will deal with a number of issues pertaining to the strategic compass. On the following day, the economic repercussions of the war and of the Covid pandemic and the economic future of Europe will be discussed. It will be a general discussion and more exploratory with regard to its breadth. On Thursday, I anticipate discussions on the security crisis arising from the war in Ukraine. We expect to be briefed on the war in Ukraine and where matters lie in that regard.

On Deputy Berry's point, that is fundamentally a matter for the Oireachtas. The Government will co-operate with and be of assistance to the Oireachtas in facilitating President Zelenskiy addressing the Dáil or a joint sitting of the Oireachtas. I would have no issue with that, subject to facilitating President Zelenskiy because every presentation of this kind he undertakes carries security risks from his perspective and that of Ukraine. We will do whatever we can to be of assistance. We are well aware of what Ukraine wants and what it is seeking from the European Union. We have provided our full per capita contribution to the European peace facility. We have also provided humanitarian aid and have agreed with the European Union in respect of visas and so on.

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