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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 27, inclusive, together.

I attended the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 May. During my visit, I participated in a panel discussion, attended a lunch hosted by The Washington Post, had a number of political and economic meetings, and attended a dinner hosted by IDA Ireland. The panel discussion I participated in was on the theme of European unity in a disordered world, and was chaired by Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum. Fellow panellists included the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Eduard Heger, and President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde. Russia's war on Ukraine was a major theme in our discussions, with a focus on the response by the European Union. Speakers observed that despite Putin's attempts to divide, the EU had shown great unity and strength. I raised the question of food security, which Russia is deliberately undermining, and stressed the impact this was likely to have on already vulnerable countries. The panel also considered the question of enlargement of the Union, including Ukraine's wish to join, and the implications that would have for the effective functioning of the Union. I expressed my view that much reform was possible within the framework of the existing treaties, but that I was open to considering treaty change if it proved necessary for what we are aiming to achieve together. I also took the opportunity to set out Ireland's distinct experience through our 50 years as a member state.

I attended a lunchtime event hosted by The Washington Postwhere I had the opportunity to meet and engage with a wide range of other leaders, including the Prime Minister of Moldova and my colleagues at the European Council, the Prime Ministers of Greece and Croatia and the Chancellor of Austria, as well as a number of other European, Middle East, African and Latin American leaders.

I had a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who briefed me on the conduct of the war, in particular the devastation being visited on the eastern part of the country. I conveyed Ireland's support for Ukraine's application for EU membership and undertook to advocate for the granting of candidate status with my EU colleagues. I also met briefly with the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko.

At his request, I had a bilateral meeting with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog. At our meeting, we recalled the president's family connections to Ireland and we agreed our shared interest in deepening bilateral relations. I underlined that the occupation remains a priority for me, the Government and the people of Ireland. Recent events have demonstrated the urgent need to maintain a political horizon for peace. I expressed my deep concern at continued expansion of settlements in the occupied territories, including recent announcements, as well as evictions and demolitions. I also expressed my concern that these actions and policies would only escalate further an already tense situation.

I raised the shocking death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and the appalling scenes in Jerusalem during her funeral procession.

I had meetings with senior executives of a number of multinational firms with operations in Ireland and addressed a dinner hosted by IDA Ireland that was attended by representatives of 30 multinational companies with significant operations or interests in Ireland. These meetings are typically an opportunity for company executives to update me on progress with their operations in Ireland and their future development plans. For my part, it was an opportunity to emphasise again Ireland's foreign direct investment proposition and our core competitive strengths, namely, talent, stability and a proven track record.

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