Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has not yet been any further change in the budgetary framework that is available to countries. The general escape clause that keeps the EU fiscal rules in place but gives countries more flexibility in their levels of borrowing was activated again for this year and next year. That gives countries the flexibility they need to be able to borrow in response to the very pressing and serious global issues that the Deputy referred to and continue to come to light.

The country-specific recommendation to Ireland under the European semester process was for us to continue to adopt a neutral fiscal stance, which is a way of describing the need for us to help households and businesses but not do things that make the inflationary challenges faced by Ireland deeper and bigger. The Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, and I aim to get that balance right and we are working to that end. A reviewed state aid framework is in place to allow countries to continue to put measures in place, particularly to support employers.

This has been of assistance to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in its plans to look at credit and how we could support businesses that are viable but are facing another really serious shock.

I concur entirely with the Deputy that we are seeing such evidence of further crimes against our fellow Europeans. I am sure the UN will have listened carefully to the words of President Zelenskyy and the call for further action that he has made.

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