Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with Deputy Boyd Barrett's questions as it is a very important issue. We decided at Government a couple of weeks ago that Ireland would opt in to this initiative to try to help get some of the very sickest children out of Gaza to receive life-altering, and often life-saving, medical procedures. I thank the Deputy for bringing the case of the paediatricians to my attention. I will certainly take some details from the Deputy and ask that there is a follow-up with them from the Government. I know it is extraordinarily difficult, to state the blindingly obvious, to get these children out safely. I have raised this on a number of occasions. I raised it at the European Council last week and I raised it with President Biden. I have raised with President Herzog of Israel. I will continue to raise it, but I am very happy to take that. I will be very happy to do anything we can diplomatically to assist those doctors in their work. I did genuinely raise that issue with Prime Minister Tusk in Poland, but I have also raised at every single opportunity I have had at European level. The inconsistent application of international law is a real issue. It is not an issue for Ireland; we understand that international law matters and should be upheld, no matter who breaks it. Unfortunately, I do think there is an inconsistent application and approach taken by others. We will continue to make that point.

Deputy Ó Murchú raised the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and in Palestine more broadly. The Deputy is right to highlight this. This could not be worse. The World Food Programme is telling us it has not been able to get in at all. I heard the update from the UN on RTÉ radio this morning that it has not seen a worse situation in terms of the humanitarian situation during a conflict. I spoke to the King and Queen of Jordan recently, who I know are looking at some innovative initiatives to try, in desperation, to get some aid in.

Ireland will continue to what we can to help in that. We will continue on a broader level to call for de-escalation and a ceasefire.

On UNIFIL, the Deputy is right to highlight the issue of the families. I join everyone in this House in thanking the men and women - our Irish peacekeepers - who make up part of the UNIFIL contingent. There are 379 people. They are the best of us. We thank them for their service. Their safety is of paramount concern to us. I want to assure their families of that. That is why I have spoken to the UN Secretary General specifically on that and why I receive at least a daily update on their situation, and often more than that. It is why I decided to ring the President of Israel directly. We raised it at the European Council last week and I spoke to the Prime Minister of Italy, Ms Meloni and the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Sánchez, both of whom have significant numbers of troops as part of that mission too. I know there are efforts to make sure there is good communications with and updates for the families, but if ever the Deputy comes across ones where there are not, then I ask that he please keep directly in touch with my office. I can only imagine how worrying and stressful a time it must be for families who have people abroad in southern Lebanon at the moment.

On Deputy Haughey’s question, I met the Prime Minister; he is my counterpart. I think I misspoke and said president. In fairness to Prime Minister Tusk, he embodies, as the Deputy acknowledged, the upholding of European values. He is a former President of the European Council and a very committed European. We have seen a marked shift in Poland’s stance toward Europe and European values and a positive response from the European Commission as a result of that. I do not think, from memory, we specifically discussed that issue on this occasion but I would say Prime Minister Tusk is very dedicated to it, as is his Government. I am also very pleased that the responsibilities of the new Irish Commissioner-designate, Michael McGrath, will include the rule of law, and bringing the Irish perspective and values to that portfolio will be advantageous not only to Ireland but to the European Union and the work of the likes of Prime Minister Tusk and others. We must be acutely aware that there are growing elements in European politics who do not respect the rule of law and who do not have that shared understanding of European values.

On Deputy Paul Murphy’s question, from memory, I do not believe that Prime Minister Tusk and I discussed the issue of the air dome but I have been in meetings before where he has discussed it and I think he has written a joint letter with the Prime Minister of Greece to European leaders on this in the past six months or so. It is his view. Ireland is proudly militarily neutral. We do not intend to do anything to change our military neutrality. I know the Deputy and I have debates on this, but any assessment of any initiative Ireland ever partakes in has to fully respect our military neutrality, and I am not aware of any initiative to join such an initiative.

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