John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I begin by acknowledging the commitments offered in this House less than a week ago by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, that the European Union remains committed to the Good Friday Agreement, that there will be no agreements with the British Government that will undermine the Irish protocol and that there would never be the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. These are very important assurances. They are assurances that point towards the strength of Ireland's position as we continue in our role of contributing at the heart of Europe. It also points to the strength and benefits which we accrue by being part of the European collective. However, the benefits and value of such are denied to our fellow Irish citizens north of the Border despite a majority voting to remain part of the EU.

Today, for the fifth time since the election in May, the Assembly is to be recalled to elect a Speaker, as is required before it can function. Sinn Féin has worked with other parties in the North to recall the Assembly in order to form an Executive and release the promised support payment of £600, or almost €700, to help to alleviate the suffering of workers and families this winter. On each occasion, the DUP has chosen to oppose the election of a Speaker. Although it claims its protest is centred on the protocol, the reality is that the people of the North are being forced to endure an escalating cost-of-living crisis with an absence of political leadership from the DUP. It is wrong and unjust that the DUP is being allowed to continue to hold the economic well-being and welfare of the people of the North to ransom, particularly as efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the protocol continue in talks between the EU and the British Government. The DUP must come to its senses and end its senseless and heartless blocking of the support payment. It is wrong for it to be allowed to prevent the Assembly from functioning while talks are continuing.

It is important that the EU has taken the necessary steps in recent weeks to augment its powers within the Brexit agreement which would allow it to respond in a robust manner if the British Government acts on previous threats to breach its responsibilities under that agreement. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated last week that a deal on the protocol was in reach if there was political will in Britain. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, told EU and British parliamentarians at a meeting in Westminster that they were not worlds apart. He said the EU proposals would reduce checks on lorries to two or three a day. That gives cause for at least some optimism, albeit with the knowledge that despite this, and even though there appears to be a much more positive and encouraging tone emanating from the British Government on the protocol since Rishi Sunak, the new Prime Minister, took office in October, in real terms nothing has changed. We need to see this translated into action. We need to support our European colleagues as they continue to work towards securing a resolution to the difficulties with the British Government that will allow for a return of the Assembly working for the people in the North.

Externally, the major issue in Europe remains the ongoing war in Ukraine. The priority must be to end the Russian invasion. Ending it and securing a total Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory will only happen through diplomacy and sanctions. Ireland must be a voice for peace, justice and freedom. Our total and unwavering solidarity is with the people of Ukraine at this deeply distressing and traumatic time for their country. Ireland understands more than most countries the impact of occupation and imperialist aggression. We know the importance of sovereignty and the right of self-determination. We also understand the importance and difficulty of finding peace. All Deputies are united in our condemnation of the actions of the Russian Federation. No country should be subject to the kind of military aggression that is bringing death and destruction to Ukraine.

Ukrainian people continue to endure horrific suffering. Some 14 million Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced, with 7.8 million having sought refuge elsewhere in Europe. Martin Griffiths, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council yesterday that 17,023 civilians, including 419 children, have been killed, although he stated the real toll is far greater. Putin’s forces have carried out at least 715 attacks on healthcare facilities across Ukraine. Russia is intent on depriving Ukrainian civilians of access to healthcare. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed the Russian Government has attempted to turn cold into a weapon of mass destruction - an instrument of terror and submission. Ukraine has suffered the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure which has left millions without access to heat, electricity, and water. As temperatures fall below freezing, the Ukrainian civilian population is facing a test of survival.

The efforts by Hungary to wield its veto to delay the signing-off of an EU package of €18 billion for Ukraine, in an attempt to pressure EU members into approving its share of the recovery fund, speaks to a lack of cohesion at the centre of Europe which undermines the cohesiveness of Europe's efforts to address the war in Ukraine. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has pointed to the difficulties of permanent members of the UN Security Council wielding their veto in respect of UN mandates, and the implications that has for the triple lock system. I believe Ireland and other EU member states have a job to do in addressing the difficulties relating to states such as Hungary employing their right to veto and, in effect, negating the capacity of the EU to respond fully and cohesively to what many are describing as the gravest security threat in Europe since the Cold War. Ireland must insist that attempts by Hungary to blackmail the EU are resisted. The EU is correct to insist that the necessary reforms be carried out by Hungary before the funds are released.

It is a matter of concern that the Government has yet to draw down any moneys from the EU recovery fund. We are now lumped in with countries such as Hungary and Poland, which have not been able to draw down funds because of political issues.

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