Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State. I recognise the truth of much of what he said, particularly in terms of Ireland's support for the rule of law toolbox. That is brings us to the root of this issue. I have raised the matter with the Tánaiste. I am aware of his strong stance on this and I respect that hugely. I am also aware that Ireland has a chequered history with dealing with the freedom of individuals, particularly members of the LGBTQI+ community. There is an extent to which we are people in glasshouses casting stones. However, I also recognise the fact that we have made huge progress within my lifetime on this issue, particularly in the past ten years since the referendum in 2015.

I refer to the cynical manner in which the Hungarian Government seeks to equate child protection with what it calls its anti-paedophilia law, with people who simply want to live life in the way they want to live it.

That cynical conflagration of two totally unrelated issues is a major problem. It is disturbingly cynical in the message it sends out. As Chair of the European affairs committee, this is an issue we want to look at. We are hoping to do so next week.

Here is the real question. We have joined the case and stated our case. We talk about the rule of law toolbox. We know funding is being restricted from Hungary and that clear messages are being sent from the Commission and many European Union states. It has not changed the facts. No matter what the judge advocate says in the Court of Justice of the European Union, and no matter the finding of the court in the autumn, what do we do if Hungary still thumbs its nose? What do we do if we withdraw the funding, criticise them and decry what we all know to be wrong, and they still do nothing about it? Where is the rule of law toolbox if we cannot use it to actually effect change and enforce the law we have all signed up to as part of the équipe communautaireand as part of the various treaties of fundamental rights and of functioning of the European Union? What do we do if they still say and do nothing?

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