Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response on the cross-border healthcare directive. I wait to hear back from him for further detail on that.

One of the questions I asked was specially around Irish business. I know many things are in flux at the moment due to the US Inflation Reduction Act and the new state aid framework, etc. How proactive is the Minister of State being with Irish businesses at the moment to make sure they are in a position to take advantage of any legislation that is put in place and do not get left behind? As Deputy Howlin said, bigger countries such as France and Germany can more readily take advantage of some of these measures, such as flexibility around the state aid rules. Is there anything happening here on the ground?

The other question I asked was about the continued state-sponsored abduction of Ukrainian children from some of the occupied territories in Ukraine by Russia. Is any action being taken other than the ICC involvement at the moment? Can the Minister of State speak of any other way in which Ireland can help out to try to stop this? As I said earlier, it is the most heinous of war crimes.

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