Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

The work of the Gates Foundation is very important. I know the Taoiseach recently addressed the summit in Brussels and spoke to Bill Gates.

We are aligned with the work that needs to be done around the world to ensure people have better lives and outcomes.

We have had a range of statements and questions and there were some other items on the European Council agenda, including Moldova, the western Balkans and EU internal security and preparedness. Migration was discussed and President von der Leyen updated the Council on the work being advanced by the Commission, including its engagements with countries of origin and transit.

The Council encouraged an intensification of work with third countries to develop comprehensive partnerships, the implementation of EU legislation such as the migration pact, and efforts to prevent and counter irregular migration and the instrumentalisation of migrants. Leaders took note of ongoing discussions on recent legislative proposals related to returns, the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at EU level and the application of the safe third country concept.

Earlier the Taoiseach outlined that global economic developments, including trade, were discussed by leaders as part of the EU and the world agenda item. The Council further discussed the EU’s preparations for upcoming summits with third countries and relations with partners, including the first EU-Moldova summit, which took place on 4 July in Chișinãu. At the summit, the EU and the Government of Moldova signed a joint declaration outlining our mutual commitment to Moldova’s European future and to the principles that will guide our future co-operation. European leaders agreed that the summit and the joint declaration send a further strong signal to the Moldovan population of the EU’s steadfast support for their country's European future, especially as it faces continued threats from Russia, including hybrid threats aimed at interfering in its parliamentary elections, which are to be held in the autumn.

The Council also discussed developments in the western Balkans. The President of the Council, António Costa, provided a debrief to European leaders on his recent visit to that region. Ireland will continue to work closely with the countries of the western Balkans and support the reform efforts they are making on their European paths, as well as advancing the gradual integration between the EU and the region in the enlargement process, in a reversible and merit-based manner.

The June European Council conclusions included a first-ever reference to enhancing our preparedness for crises and we welcome that. Ireland is very supportive of the overall all-hazards, whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to preparedness that the EU is taking. While it is a new approach to most member states, including Ireland, we see the utmost value in ensuring critical capacities and capabilities are in place for the full spectrum of crises we may face. The conclusions also identified serious and organised crime, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism as major threats to the Union’s internal security. We condemn all types of hybrid activity against the EU.

Turning to external relations issues, the Council welcomed the outcome of the UN Ocean Conference and looked forward to the fourth international conference on financing for development. EU leaders also welcomed the outcomes of the high-level pledging summit for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which I referred to earlier and which the Taoiseach attended on 25 June, the evening before the Council meeting. Deputy Lahart will be interested to hear Ireland has announced it will pledge a further €22 million to Gavi over the next five years, which is an increase on the previous five-year tranche. The Gates Foundation is generous in its support and the British Government has also made an extraordinary pledge to Gavi. The Council also addressed the Black Sea region; the worrying situation in Libya, reaffirming the EU’s support for the UN support mission there; and the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel.

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for justice to tell the EU Commission "to get stuffed". I do not think he will do that. I know Deputy Lawless got his TikTok video so maybe he will not be interested in finding out the exact position. The EU is asking Ireland to implement a number of offences that I do not think anyone would have any difficulty with. They involve denying genocide, basically; denying or trivialising the Nazi genocide, the Holocaust; and public incitement to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group, defined by reference to race, colour, religion, dissent or national or ethnic origin. The Minister for justice will communicate directly with the Commission but it is already an offence in legislation. We have common law in Ireland and incitement to violence on those grounds is already an offence. What Deputy Lawless discussed is not what was discussed last year. It is simply scaremongering to suggest the EU will somehow threaten our freedom of speech. The reality is the EU is now among the few places in the world where there is freedom of speech. There are issues there that are part of the balancing act and which I am not sure anybody would have any difficulty with.

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