Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments and considers policy matters relating to the European Union and international issues. The committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council to discuss the agenda for these meetings. In addition, it considers current EU and international matters, including the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the conflict in Ukraine. The committee most recently met on 10 June when it looked ahead to the informal European Council meeting, which I attended yesterday, and the meeting of the European Council scheduled for 27 and 28 June. Both meetings take place in Brussels.

At the informal meeting, leaders reflected on the outcome of the European Parliament elections and focused on the new EU institutional cycle. At the meeting of the European Council proper on 27 and 28 June, leaders will hope to sign off on a new strategic agenda for the period ahead. They will discuss issues including Ukraine, the horrific humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East, security and defence and the EU's competitiveness agenda.

Ahead of yesterday's informal meeting of the European Council, I attended the conference on peace in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland. This conference comes at a time Ukraine continues to be under relentless attack from Russia, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Some 20,000 children have been abducted in Ukraine - snatched by Russia, taken from their parents and from their towns and villages. If Ukraine managed to get one child a day back, it would take 55 years to return all of the children. We must be relentless and challenge ourselves to do much more in this regard. Certainly, from the Government's perspective, we are very eager to see what more practical assistance we can provide to help with that humanitarian issue. The aim of the conference was to rally world leaders around a peace initiative that is based on the principles of the UN Charter and in support of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. During my intervention, I expressed Ireland's strong support for President Zelenskyy's peace plan.

It is expected that the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet again in the coming months as necessary and ahead of the meeting of the European Council in October.

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