Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Deputies for their comments. I will focus my remarks on the Sahel, Serbia and Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh, preparations for COP28 and damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

I echo the Taoiseach's comments on the appalling situation in the Middle East. The Government condemns Hamas's brutal attack on Israel and recognises the right of Israel to defend itself but stresses that it must be done within the parameters of international humanitarian law. The needless destruction of life must cease. Ireland calls for a humanitarian pause to hostilities to provide space in which the immediate humanitarian needs of all civilians in Gaza can be met.

I also join the Taoiseach in expressing my condolences to France and Sweden following the recent killing and injuring of Swedish and French citizens as a result of terrorist attacks in France and Belgium.

Leaders will hold a strategic discussion on the current situation in the Sahel. The continuing deterioration of security in the region, aggravated by political instability, is very concerning. Discussions will focus on continuing engagement with partners in the region that are open to co-operation and with regional organisations, notably the Economic Community of West African States. Leaders will highlight the importance of stability in the Sahel for wider regional and EU security, while underlining concerns about the humanitarian needs of those living in the Sahel.

Tensions in northern Kosovo are still very high. Leaders will discuss the current situation and reiterate calls for de-escalation. The primary objective at this point must be to avoid further escalation and violence. A full investigation with proper international oversight is needed to establish the facts of what happened during the 24 September attack on the Kosovo police. Serbia should fully co-operate with the investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Ireland and the EU are encouraging both sides to take steps to de-escalate the tensions and to return to constructive collaboration within the framework of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. The current stalemate in progress on the dialogue is of great concern. All of us on this island know that peace negotiations can be difficult, but the alternative is much worse. Dialogue needs to be based on established facts. It is important that all those involved refrain from using inflammatory rhetoric.

Ireland welcomes the recent indication from the minority Serb party in Kosovo, Srpska Lista, regarding their readiness to participate in fresh elections in northern Kosovo. We encourage Pristina to swiftly call those elections as a first step in bringing Kosovo-Serbs back into the Kosovo institutions.

A decision has been made to enhance the presence of the UN-mandated NATO-led Kosovo Force, KFOR. While KFOR has been clear that it does not intend to take over security responsibilities in northern Kosovo from the Kosovo police, its reinforcement of the force is welcome as it will help ensure that KFOR is ready to respond should the situation change. The Irish contingent of 13 members of the Irish Defence Forces currently serving with KFOR demonstrates Ireland's commitment to supporting stability in Kosovo and the wider western Balkans region. I commend our troops on their professionalism and positive contribution to KFOR.

Leaders will also reiterate support for a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. Ireland condemns Azerbaijan's military escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are deeply concerned about the large exodus of Karabakh Armenians. More than 100,000 of the estimated 120,000 pre-conflict local population have now fled to Armenia. Ensuring the welfare and protection of the civilian population, most of whom are now effectively refugees and must have the right to return, must be at the core of the EU response. We are closely monitoring developments, and leaders will continue discussions on developments at the upcoming European Council meeting. Co-ordination with partners across the multilateral system, including the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN, is essential.

We welcome the EU's efforts to facilitate dialogue between the sides, particularly those of European Council President Michel. We hope that a leader-level meeting will take place in Brussels soon and that this will allow for a genuine dialogue to take place to ensure a sustainable and comprehensive peace.

The Taoiseach met with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan in the margins of the European Political Community meeting in Granada on 5 October and expressed his concern that Karabakh Armenians have felt forced to flee their homelanden masse, and outlined EU and Irish assistance. Some €10.45 million in EU funding has been confirmed to help those who have been displaced by the conflict. Ireland is providing assistance via the People in Need organisation and also provides funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, both of which are active in the peace response.

The European Council will also take stock of preparations for COP28. The United Arab Emirates will host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from 30 November to 12 December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai. This year's COP is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first global stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is also seen as a halfway point between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 deadline for greenhouse gas emissions to decline. The first global stocktake will offer a moment to reflect on progress made to date, but importantly, should also stimulate the necessary action to keep global temperature increases to 1.5°C. Ireland has actively engaged with EU member states and others to prepare for COP28. The recently agreed EU Environment Council conclusions set out the EU's ambitions and priorities for the forthcoming COP and reaffirm our collective goal of offering leadership on climate action globally. Ireland looks forward to playing an active role at COP28 as part of the European team and hopes to see ambitious and meaningful progress on climate finance, loss and damage, the mitigation work programme and the global goal on adaptation.

Leaders will also consider recent damage to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea that appears to have been caused by external activity. This is of great concern to all of us. Measures to strengthen the security and durability of critical infrastructure are necessary, as well as a united EU approach to crisis preparedness. Finland, Estonia and Sweden must have Ireland's solidarity in this regard. While this incident took place in the Baltic Sea, it affects us all.

Before I conclude, I would like to mention that I was in Chişinău last week for the fourth meeting of the Moldova Support Platform, an initiative of Romania, Germany and France that aims to mobilise political, technical, and financial support for Moldova from the EU institutions and member states, G7 nations, international financial institutions and global organisations, as well as other partners. I welcome that a discussion on Moldova's application to join the EU, together with Ukraine's, will next take place at the December meeting of the European Council and I hope that leaders will decide to open accession negotiations based on a positive assessment from the European Commission, an assessment which is due in early November.

I thank Members again for their active participation across this debate. The Taoiseach will report to the House following this week's European Council on Thursday and Friday.

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