Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The issues I wish to raise relate specifically to our competitiveness across the EU, especially with the technological hat we have on as a country. I can see it especially in my own constituency with Intel in north Kildare. We are in a very lucky position as a country to be at the forefront of speaking at these EU summits. It is something we should not take for granted. Many people from this country over many years have contributed well and our standing across the EU is in high regard because of them. Indeed, they have a level of trust in what we speak and stand for as a country. Historically, we as a country have been beneficiaries of the EU, both financially and technologically. Now, we are probably at a slightly different stage in that journey whereby we are helping others, which is positive. That being said, there are other wider benefits we continue to see in all discussions and in our standing within the EU.

As I said, the area I wish to focus on is EU competitiveness. This needs to be strengthened through innovation and promoting EU technological leadership. As we know, Europe has been behind the US and China in its technological growth, which is something we need to resolve and fix. Fortunately for us, Ireland has seen the benefit of the level of foreign direct investment, abilities and knowledge we are accumulating in our own country, but we have been at the forefront. This leads to my key point: we need to ensure we are at the forefront and that the EU also gets there. We need to ensure we can support the companies here, such as Intel, which is based in Leixlip.

The European Chips Act, which was adapted in July 2023, addresses some of the key challenges facing the semiconductor industry but we know those challenges will only get tougher. There are key challenges coming from not just China but also Taiwan with TSMC, and there is Nvidia in the US. We are seeing the development of companies on their side and we need to ensure we have that strong knowledge within the EU. These industries are the industries of the future and Europe needs to have a key share of it. The EU's market share of the semiconductor industry represented only 12.7% of the global market. We need to ensure this is supported and grows in order that Irish manufacturers will be once again at the forefront of that. That is key and it is why it is important we speak about it not only here but also at the highest level.

At the EU summit, there were key discussions around what is happening in Gaza. Ireland as a country has shown great leadership in Europe in this regard. I heard previous Deputies complain, give out and say the EU was not strong enough. They might be right in some of that but, at the same time, where Ireland has led, many other countries in the EU have followed. Countries like Spain may have been with us at the start but we are generally seeing the people's view moving towards that of Ireland. We have all been questioned about whether we could do more but, as I said, this Irish Government has been at the forefront of speaking for Gaza. That might not be acknowledged on the Opposition benches but it has been acknowledged in Europe and Palestine. This Government has been at the forefront of speaking for the people of Gaza and Palestine. This was reflected over the previous couple of weeks and continues to be reflected as Ireland shows leadership in that way. I commend the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste on their efforts in this regard and, indeed, the whole diplomatic team.

There have been many references to the EU and what is happening in Ukraine. The EU has strongly supported Ukraine and we know the damage being done there. As Deputy Byrne said, we need to keep this at the top of the agenda and if we have the opportunity to do so, we must continue to do that.

Deputy Bacik referenced the growth of the far right but there is also the growth of the far left. It has caused significant damage across Europe and different parts of the world for many generations. We saw the damage done in Eastern Europe. As much as we discuss the far right, we also have to look at the far left. The centre must always hold. We as a Government have been fortunate to be in a country where the centre has held and we have been lucky in many ways.

I, for one, would like to be part of a Europe where the centre holds. It is not about the far left or the far right. It is important that we play a key role in the leadership we are showing and will continue to show.

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