Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for their questions. In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, I have received an acknowledgement from President von der Leyen of the letter I co-wrote with Prime Minister Sánchez but I have not received a detailed reply from her as yet. The matter was taken up by the Tánaiste at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday and there was a discussion about it among the foreign ministers so we have successfully put it very much on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. High Representative Josep Borrell sought a political view from ministers from different member states. Commissioner Várhely, who is the Commissioner responsible for external affairs for the EU neighbourhood, takes the view it is very much a matter for the Commission to decide. It is a matter that we intend to pursue both at the Foreign Affairs Council level, through the Tánaiste, and that I will bring up again at the European Council meeting in March.

Deputy Barry asked about my visit to Washington DC next month. All of these visits are an opportunity to meet with political leaders in the US and, for me, it is an opportunity to speak to President Biden and other US leaders and to tell them about the views and feelings of the Irish people on the Middle East. That is what I intend to do. I live in the real world and know that if I did not turn up for that engagement, the slot would be given to someone else who might not put across the views of the Irish people in respect of the situation.

4 o’clock

On Deputy Tóibín's question, Midleton is a town I know well. I was there after the floods and I visit it at least every year. I am very concerned about what the Deputy said here in the Chamber. I will seek an update from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the matters raised.

On Deputy Ó Murchú's question on the possible recognition of the state of Palestine, this House has already passed a resolution in favour of recognising it. The Government wants to do that formally as a Government, but it also wants to do it in a way that is meaningful. Doing it unilaterally would not be meaningful; it would be dismissed outright by Israel and its allies, and it would be of little or no benefit to the Palestinian people. It would be of more benefit if a number of like-minded countries, not necessarily European, acted multilaterally, connected to a ceasefire or peace process that would perhaps involve a Palestinian Authority taking over control of Gaza and recognising a state of Palestine, and creating the possibility of some degree of equality in future peace negotiations between the State of Israel, which of course we recognise, and the state of Palestine.

On Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's questions on the composition of the new Commission, it is probably a debate we should start thinking about. As was mentioned, President von der Leyen has suggested a Defence Commissioner. Others have made suggestions for different sorts of Commissioners. It is a matter we definitely need to think about over the coming months. I am not fully up to date on the UN Summit of the Future, but I will get up to date on it. I might get a response from the Tánaiste on it.

Deputy Murphy asked about top jobs at EU level. As I believe everyone knows, they are agreed as a package. I am referring to the European Commission Presidency, the European Council Presidency, the Presidency of the Parliament. Often, the ECB comes into play as well, along with other positions, including those of the High Representative and Vice Presidents. No decision has been made on this by the Government, nor will we make one until after the next European elections. In that context, we will have to decide on who we, as a Government, nominate to be Ireland's Commissioner for the period 2024 to 2029. That is when the talking begins. We want to ensure that whoever we nominate to be our Commissioner will get a good position and a good brief in the Commission. The negotiations happen on that basis. It is never a case of just supporting any individual. It is about a package, and one in which Ireland will be looking for a position.

President von der Leyen has done very well on many issues. She has been a very good supporter of Ireland in respect of Brexit. She did a very good job in pulling Europe together during the Covid pandemic, and she has been good on climate and nature, often going against the wishes of her own parliamentary group, the EPP. She has been very good on Ukraine also. We do not agree on the Middle East, which is very clear.

On Deputy Conway-Walsh's question on forestry, I am not familiar with the Craggagh proposal but I will bring it to the attention of the two Ministers. I agree we should support farmers, landowners and Coillte to plant trees on our lands for forestry, timber and recreation, but I do not believe we should lock out or exclude private finance. There is a role for all.

See this speech in context