Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I attended a meeting of the European Council on 23 October in Brussels. The substantial items on the agenda included support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, European security and defence, competitiveness and the green and digital transitions. Leaders also had a first strategic discussion on housing and the Euro Summit. Migration was also discussed, as well as Moldova following its recent parliamentary elections. I will deal with Ukraine, the Middle East, European security and defence, housing and competitiveness. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will later speak to all other issues.

Almost four years after Russia launched its full-scale and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, President Putin repeatedly shows us that he is intent on disregarding alternatives to his chosen path of needless and brutal war. Support for Ukraine in the face of this aggression continues to be a top priority for the European Union and was a key focus of the October European Council. President Zelenskyy, who attended in person, briefed us on the current situation and recent developments in Ukraine, including Russia's escalation in strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure. These attacks have continued since.

I and my fellow European Union leaders reconfirmed the European Union's unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council recommitted the European Union to providing, in co-ordination with like-minded partners and allies, comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people. The European Union has provided substantial assistance to Ukraine to enable it to defend itself against Russia's ongoing aggression and to support the people of Ukraine to withstand the terrible effects of Russia's indiscriminate attacks.

Ukraine requires our help now even more urgently and at an even greater scale. With this in mind, leaders discussed how the EU can help to step up military and other supports for Ukraine, and apply greater pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire and engage in a meaningful peace process.

The European Council also considered how the European Union can contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any future peace agreement, working with the United States and other partners as part of the coalition of the willing. The European Council also welcomed the adoption of the 19th package of European Union sanctions against Russia. Our sanctions are having an impact - it is important to say that - and we must continue to maintain this pressure on Russia. Russia should be held accountable for its actions and should have to pay for the destruction it has caused. There must be an economic cost to such flagrant violations of international law. Such a cost should also act as a deterrent to Russia and other countries contemplating any future violation of the UN Charter and international law.

To this end, the European Council discussed the further use of immobilised Russian assets as well as their use to provide reparation loans to Ukraine to finance its needs at this critical point in its fight against Russia’s aggression. Ireland supports the European Union's initiative for reparation loans. We agree that it must be in line with applicable laws and should be undertaken in co-ordination with international partners. As agreed by the European Council, the European Commission has presented options on how best to meet Ukraine’s financing needs in a sustainable and comprehensive way. These options will now be fully considered by EU member states with a view to reaching a decision on the way forward at the meeting of the European Council in December.

The European Council also called for further measures to disrupt the operation of Russia’s shadow fleet, which is helping Russia to circumvent sanctions and finance its war. Action in this area is also important to address the significant environmental and security risks the shadow fleet poses. Ireland supports European Union efforts to further counter the shadow fleet. Ireland has always been a strong supporter of Ukraine’s ambition of EU membership and I continue to advocate at European level for progress on Ukraine’s EU accession. EU membership must be part of a comprehensive package of security guarantees for Ukraine. I am deeply frustrated by Hungary’s blocking of progress in Ukraine’s European Union accession process. Ireland will continue to work with our partners in the EU to find a way to unblock and accelerate this process to match the ambition and efforts of Ukraine in implementing the required reforms.

Turning to the Middle East, the European Council met against the backdrop of a new era of hope for the people of Gaza. It is a fragile ceasefire, but a ceasefire nonetheless. European Union leaders welcomed the agreement reached on the first phase of the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict put forward by President Trump and commended the diplomatic efforts led by the United States and the role played by the regional mediators, which the European Union has consistently supported. European leaders recalled the high-level conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution and reiterated the European Union's commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the two-State solution.

An important aspect of our discussions was the role that the European Union can play to contribute to peace efforts and to actively engage with partners on the next steps. These will include supporting the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid in co-ordination with international partners, the reintroduction of the European Union's border assistance mission to the Rafah crossing point, EUBAM Rafah, and the European Union police mission for the Palestinian territories. These are important contributions to Gaza’s stabilisation, transitional governance, recovery and reconstruction. The European Union's support for the Palestinian Authority is crucial. European Union leaders called on Israel to release withheld clearance revenues necessary to ensure that the proper functioning of the Palestinian Authority and the delivery of essential services to the population happens. In this regard, Ireland has joined the emergency coalition for the financial sustainability of the Palestinian Authority and will attend the first meeting of the Palestine Donor Group later this week. The European Council also stressed the importance of de-escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and called for an end to settler violence and the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, and an end to Israel’s military operation. It called for an end to all of those. We also called on Israel to reverse the E1 settlement plan that further undermines the two-state solution. Ireland has been clear that the West Bank must be centrally considered as efforts continue to reach agreement on a durable peace plan with the implementation of the two-State solution at its core. We welcomed the inclusion of the developments in Lebanon and Syria in the European Council conclusions. Events in these countries challenge regional stability and require continued European focus.

The European Council reverted to the topic of European security and defence. President von der Leyen and High Representative Kallas presented the Commission’s Preserving Peace - Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. The main elements of the roadmap include addressing capability development through member states' capability coalitions, flagship projects, strengthening industrial capacities and supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities. The roadmap is an important contribution to enhance Europe's defence readiness to respond to real and emerging threats, not least from Russia. Ireland will continue to engage constructively in discussions around the priority capability areas that have been identified.

I made it clear that Ireland is determined to step up our own security, to confront new threats and to protect the well-being of our citizens and our economies. European countries, including Ireland, are investing more in their national security and defence capabilities. Each is doing so in a way that makes sense for its own particular situation, policy approach and the specific characteristics of the foreign policy of every member state. In Ireland’s case, that is and will remain a policy of military neutrality. However, there are synergies that we can achieve through working together at EU level in a way that complements what we are doing at national level. The international security environment continues to deteriorate and to be contested, dynamic and volatile. The EU is acting with greater decisiveness, ambition and speed to tackle the threats we face. Ireland must be a part of this process because it is in our interests to do so as an active member of the European Union and because such threats put at risk the values we hold dear as Europeans.

Following the debate in this House on the previous European Council meeting, I was somewhat concerned that Members opposite in this House accused Europe of warmongering and described Europe as having a military industrial complex. I could not comprehend such a detached view. The fear in European Union member states is a very real one. They really fear Russian aggression and Russian undermining of their political systems and their economies. We just have to look at what happened in Poland during the week, in terms of more arson attacks, hybrid attacks and so on.

Improving Europe’s competitiveness is also crucial for our security and vice versa. The October European Council meeting set further important orientations on strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness and unlocking the full potential of the Single Market, including a particular focus on regulatory simplification. The European Council reaffirmed the urgent need to advance an ambitious and horizontally driven simplification and better regulation agenda at all levels, consistent with protecting high standards and the integrity of the Single Market. Leaders welcomed the progress achieved on the six omnibus simplification packages already presented by the Commission in the first half of the year, and called on the Council and the Parliament to swiftly conclude their work on the remaining elements. Leaders also called on the Commission to bring forward proposals across a range of specific areas. This includes proposing, without delay, an optional 28th company law regime, allowing companies to scale up, as well as further ambitious simplification packages in the financial services, transport, energy, digital and food safety areas. The European Council also called on the Commission to intensify efforts to stress-test the EU acquis, including exploring new proposals to streamline and accelerate planning and permitting procedures for infrastructure development.

I strongly welcome the broad-based political agreement we have established on the need for continued efforts at all levels to ensure a clear, simple and smart innovation- and SME-friendly regulatory framework. Leaders also held a strategic discussion on how to progress the green transition in a way that supports and drives European competitiveness. As I made clear during Ireland’s national statement at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, climate change is no longer a distant threat - it is a daily reality and we are all feeling its consequences. I also expressed the serious concern that the spirit of common purpose is weakening. There are other threats and crises that can seem more pressing, including geopolitical turbulence, economic pressures, conflict and dislocations, but global temperatures are rising and the clock is ticking. Decarbonisation and sustainability are central to Ireland and the EU’s competitiveness and the well-being of our people.

Following guidance provided by the European Council, an ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target for 2040 was agreed by environment Ministers ahead of COP30.

These were difficult discussions and I welcome the fact the final agreement reflects the importance of food security, forestry, land use, renewable energy and a just transition, including energy affordability.

Meeting existing and future EU targets is very challenging but Ireland must continue to be part of that effort. At a global level, we will continue to provide climate finance and continue our support for small island developing states. I was delighted to announce at COP30 a new UNDP project office to be hosted in Dublin, dedicated to advancing sustainable finance.

For the first time ever, European Union leaders held a strategic discussion on housing. I welcome the opportunity for such a discussion as it reflects the challenges being experienced in many EU member states. While housing remains a national competence, there are steps we can take at EU level to better support member states in addressing the crisis. This includes the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan, the aim of which is to support and complement member states in their efforts to address their respective housing challenges. We are managing our particular housing difficulties in a context of very strong population growth, rapid urbanisation, an infrastructure and housing supply deficit, as well as construction cost inflation and affordability challenges.

The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities: An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness, is ambitious. We are creating the conditions to enable a step-up in private sector delivery while trying to break down the barriers that are holding back construction; to support people directly in securing a home of their own; and to support renters and tackle homelessness. The challenges differ across EU member states with varying root causes. In the discussion among leaders, I stressed the point that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I underlined that the European Affordable Housing Plan should have a strong focus on addressing affordability and viability challenges. Ireland's ranking is very high in terms of supply and delivery across Europe.

I strongly support the incorporation of affordable housing in the EU’s simplification agenda to support the delivery of affordable housing. I would be in favour of a review of the impact of existing EU legislation and policies on housing delivery. There is also merit in a pan-European investment platform that would help to develop innovative funding methods for social and affordable housing providers, helping to attract private investment. I also called for stronger co-operation at EU level in the elimination of homelessness, which is a key national priority for Ireland. Leaders will return to many of these issues to assess progress and discuss further actions at future meetings of the European Council.

This meeting of the European Council was very busy, addressing many pressing issues that are of vital importance to our people and to the future of the European Union. As Taoiseach, and as a Government, we will continue to ensure that Ireland plays a very active and positive role at the heart of the European Union. This will take on even more significance as we take on the Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2026 when it will be our responsibility to drive this ambitious agenda.

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