Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)

Following the 26 June post-Council European statement, I note the EU position on Gaza, Iran, Ukraine and Syria. Ireland has led the EU in advocating for the beleaguered Palestinian people in Gaza and in the West Bank. The Taoiseach has called it genocide and forcefully decried the lack of action on the part of the European Union. There has been formal recognition at EU level, driven by Ireland, of the human rights abuses and a promised review of the Israel-EU association agreement. There is tentative hope that a ceasefire brokered by the US will supersede this and allow a massive humanitarian aid programme to begin. Ireland should continue to campaign for a ceasefire that allows the release of the hostages, relief of the Palestinian people and a permanent political solution based on the two-state principle. The affirmation of the EU commitment to the security of Ukraine and ensuring that Russia does not prevail in creating a potential threat to the Baltic States is also welcome.

I have made statements on those two issues previously, most recently on the Middle East last week, and would like to focus on the EU's recommitment to competitiveness that was enunciated in the Draghi report. We are living through an era of extraordinary global uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions are deepening, markets are fragmenting, and with the return of aggressive tariff policies under President Trump, the rules of international trade that once brought stability and predictability are being rewritten. In this context, one question that should focus all our minds is: how do we ensure that Europe and Ireland remain competitive in a world that is increasingly volatile, protectionist and unpredictable? Competitiveness today is not only about low costs or access to markets. It is about resilience, innovation, the ability to attract talent, to develop new industries and to lead in the technologies that will shape the future. If we want to succeed, we cannot stand still and we cannot rely on the old assumptions.

At the same time, we are witnessing a profound shift across the Atlantic. In the United States, long regarded as a powerhouse for innovation, the environment for research and development has become more uncertain. Universities, research institutions and tech industries are grappling with the unstable funding, political interference and growing barriers to collaboration. That creates a strategic opening for Europe in Ireland. We have the opportunity, not only to compete but to lead. We can be a place where researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs can find a stable, ambitious and forward-looking environment in which to thrive. Thankfully, we are already taking steps in that direction. We are investing in innovation hubs, advanced manufacturing clusters, digital technologies and green energy solutions. We are supporting our universities and research centres to collaborate with industry and to attract the brightest minds from across the globe.

The European Union is also playing its part, with the Horizon Europe programme, the European Chips Act, and a new push to cut administrative burdens on small businesses and start-ups. The message is clear. We want Europe to be the home of the industries and jobs of the future. However, we must go further. Competitiveness is not only about policy papers; it is about delivery. It means removing the obstacles that hold back growth. It means speeding up planning, strengthening digital infrastructure, supporting education and skills and ensuring that we are not only catching up with global trends, but setting them.

Ireland has every reason to be confident. We are an open outward-looking economy with a strong track record of innovation and resilience, but confidence must be matched with action. In the face of global instability, Ireland can be a magnet for investment, a centre of innovation and a leader in shaping Europe's competitive future. That is the ambition we must hold and it is the action we must take.

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