Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate in advance of the European Council meeting tomorrow and Friday in Brussels. I begin by welcoming the creation of the European Political Community. It is a good idea and a good initiative. It is appropriate that EU and non-EU countries across Europe can sit around the same table and discuss the pressing matters of the day. It was good that Belarus was not invited. We have no cribs at all with the Belarusian people - quite the opposite in fact; we are supportive of them - but the Lukashenko regime should not be welcomed and it was not. I am glad to see that. It is important from Ireland’s point of view that we involve ourselves in this new community, particularly in light of our new relationship with our nearest neighbour, which is now a third country. I hope the Government and our diplomatic people are taking full advantage of that. The best thing about the inaugural meeting in Prague was the decision to hold a subsequent meeting. Next year’s meeting is to take place in Moldova. That is completely appropriate. It sends all the right strategic signals, first of all to Moldova which wants to lean westwards and join the European Union. It is important that we reassure it in that respect. It also signals to Moscow that even though it has 1,500 troops in the Transnistria area of Moldova, the EU will not back away from supporting Moldova in that regard. I welcome the creation of the European Political Community, which will make a positive contribution to the Continent.

It is completely appropriate that the agenda for this week's meeting is quite rightly dominated by Ukraine. I welcome the fact that the European Union continues to reassert its support from an economic, political, financial, diplomatic, logistical, military and humanitarian point of view. That is also appropriate.

I share the concerns about the possibility that the Black Sea grain deal will be wound down next month. That would be bad for two reasons. First, we need to get grain out of Odesa to the rest of the world and free up the silos for this year’s harvest. Second, it was the only chink of light from a diplomatic point of view over the past eight months. It is something we should be building on rather than winding down. I hope the Black Sea grain deal is expanded and extended into next year.

I agree with the establishment of the European Union training mission that was announced on Monday, whereby Ukrainian troops will be trained most likely in Germany and Poland. I welcome the fact that Ireland will make a very small contribution to that mission, particularly on de-mining and countering improvised explosive devices. That is important because already we are starting to plan for a post-conflict situation. Post conflict, there will be a great deal of ordnance in the ground. This will disproportionately affect children who pick up these explosive devices and lose life and limb as a result. The concern is whether our Defence Forces can actually facilitate that request. We will not be able to provide a very meaningful contribution there.

It will be tokenism more than anything else in light of the staffing and retention crisis in our armed forces at the moment.

Turning to the energy issue, the Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong, but it seemed from the tone of the Taoiseach’s opening remarks that we are trying to prevent energy prices rising further. The focus should be on putting downward pressure on energy prices. If the Minister of State can correct me, I look forward to it. We should be looking to reduce energy prices rather than just stopping them from rising. It is all about ambition. Whatever that takes, whether it is price caps, windfall taxes or the decoupling of the gas market, we need to do this. We know that there is a crisis in the EU in relation to the disconnect between the EU institutions and its citizenry across the Continent. This was a classic example and a very important opportunity for the EU institutions to prove to the people that they can have a direct positive impact on their lives. I would encourage as much ambition as possible from an energy point of view.

On the Iranian situation, perhaps the Minister of State might be mentioning this in his closing remarks, but a very strong message needs to go to Tehran for two reasons. The first and primary reason is that abuses of human rights and women’s rights have been happening there over the past number of weeks – or number of years, one could argue. The second reason is that loitering munitions, which are the so-called suicide or kamikaze drones, have been given to the Russians and have been used to devastating effect against civilian infrastructure in Kyiv.

In conclusion, I recognise the importance of the meeting on Thursday and Friday and the high stakes at play. I wish Ireland’s negotiating team the best.

See this speech in context