Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies for raising a variety of issues. Deputy Malcolm Byrne focused on the multi-annual financial framework. This will be a very challenging debate, which we commenced last March. I met the President of the Commission about six weeks ago for a substantive meeting on a range of issues. I emphasised the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy retaining its core ring-fenced funding framework. One of the issues will be around how we can increase it. The significant pressure on the multi-annual financial framework will be more and more pressures to spend more in different areas but no concrete proposals in terms of additional revenues. I also emphasised the importance of the Horizon research programme. Speaking about competitiveness, investment and research is crucial for the future of Europe and Ireland.

I agree with the Deputy on the capital markets union. I have been pushing strongly to try to reach an accommodation on a savings and investment union, which is the new name for the capital markets union. We would have had concerns about some aspects of it but I think we can get agreement. The Commission will be making its proposals soon in respect of that.

The major pressure will be defence in that some member states fear an existential threat from Russia. I note that Deputy Paul Murphy used the phrase "galloping militarisation". That would probably be a phrase that the Baltic states would use about Russia. They feel a significant imperative to have some defensive capability and they will not have the wherewithal to do that within their own capital resources so they feel they should be able to avail of some funding but this is to be discussed. There are pressures and that is the origin of the pressure - the Russian threat and the fear of Russian militarisation, aggrandisement and attacks on other countries. Deputy Bacik is right in condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, the continuing focus on civilian infrastructure, the killing of children and civilians and the foot dragging about the return of children who have been abducted by Russia from Ukraine and taken to Russia or Belarus.

The crew of the Madleen deserve credit for their bravery in highlighting the issues. I do not have the background regarding the southern neighbourhood meeting and I need to get it. I will get the Department of foreign affairs to revert to the Deputy about that.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised what he called the galloping militarisation EU agenda and the triple lock. I sanctioned this legislation because I believe it is no longer tenable that Russia or any of the permanent five should have a veto on Ireland's participation in peacekeeping. The Bill will make it clear that any peacekeeping initiatives in which Ireland will engage will be in accordance with UN principles and the UN charter and over 50 makes sense. It makes logistical sense that it would be over 50. We have participated in NATO peacekeeping missions and African Union and EU missions before. They are all UN-designated organisations that are under the UN framework.

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