Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I also welcome Deputy Carthy to his new role and wish him well. I join with him in conveying our good wishes for a speedy recovery to the EU ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O'Hara.

The ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine dominated the EU Council agenda of 23 and 24 March. The improving spring weather brings with it the expectation of both a Ukrainian counteroffensive and perhaps further Russian aggression. Today, El Paísnewspaper published a report that sets out the horrific situation on the ground in Ukraine with the creation by Russia of 800 km of trenches, anti-tank ditches, machine-gun emplacements and bunkers, which is a sight not seen in Europe since the 1940s. This is to defend its ill-gotten territorial advances on the territory of Ukraine. We face into a time of great danger and potential horrific bloodshed. We have just finished a meeting of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs with the Ukrainian ambassador on these issues. We can only continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian people as they resist the unprecedented aggression of the past year and a half.

A number of issues that flow from this conflict were addressed at the European Council meeting, one of which is the issue of food security and the potential for an horrific impact, particularly on the continent of Africa. Much of Africa is involved in its own conflicts, with enduring drought and the impacts of climate change, and is entirely dependent on the World Food Programme for its sustenance. Much of the food which this programme is able to distribute comes traditionally from the wheat fields of Ukraine and, indeed, of Russia. Without that, there will be mass starvation and it is something which we very much have to pay attention to.

The other issue I wish to talk about in respect of the outcome of the discussions in Brussels is the notion of a robust and future-proofed economy which, to quote the conclusions of the Council, “secures long-term prosperity”. Obviously, securing long-term prosperity is a highly laudable objective but we are faced now with the real and dramatic short-term challenges of inflation and cost-of-living increases, not only in our own country but right across Europe also. We need an immediate response to that and we need more supports. I am asking the Minister of State in his response to this debate - if he might listen - to address these issues when giving that response because people are enduring real hardship right now. The interest rate increases are impacting on people in a way that is unprecedented in recent times. The fuel costs and all of these things need to have a substantial cross-European response.

A longer term issue needs to be addressed with regard to energy security for us. I ask again that the Minister of State might focus on the debate in hand. The issue of energy security is something I know the Minister of State has an interest in, along with that of offshore renewable energy. We very much need to get our fingers out. We talk about all of these things and about being independent, but we need to have real and substantial plans implemented now and to have ports identified and invested in. A shocking report in the past week indicated that if we were to service our own offshore licences now, the likelihood is that they would be serviced from Liverpool or elsewhere. The only place on the island of Ireland which is equipped is Belfast. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that investment is put into the port of Rosslare, and other ports, to ensure the ambitious programme of offshore renewable energy can be realised.

I looked at the Exchequer returns presented in the stability programme update today projecting substantial surpluses of €10 billion this year and €16 billion plus next year, which we need to utilise to address the infrastructural deficits which are so real in our economy.

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