Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask how the European Council intends to respond to the agreement involving the US providing cluster ammunitions to Ukraine. I need not remind the House that the convention on cluster ammunitions was adopted in Dublin in 2008 and the treaty applies to more than 100 states. I note that this news emerged well after the Council meeting but one of the messages that came out of last month’s meeting was a welcome for the establishment of the Council of Europe’s register of damage caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

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How does this square with the possibility of added dangers being strewn across the land should unexploded cluster munitions become an added factor in any post-war landscape?

The upcoming EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC, summit will bring together EU leaders and leaders from that region. What efforts, if any, were made to express our resistance to the conclusion of the Mercosur trade deal? We must be aware of the efforts being made by Brazilian industry to expand cattle numbers to meet demand, something that would have a damaging effect on our own ability to compete.

I note the apparent failure to mention Palestine and the ongoing campaign of repression being perpetrated against the people of Palestine by the Israeli Government in the conclusions. It is only fair to point out the lack of urgency on this is apparent in its omission in the agenda and that continuing to treat the matter in this way enables the continuation of the Israeli Government's aggression as we have seen most recently. We need to recognise the state of Palestine and that needs to be done now. A response from the Minister of State on this would be appreciated.

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