Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Prime Minister of Malta on 28 November 2016; and if the issue of a company (details supplied) was raised. [38663/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I welcomed Prime Minister Muscat of Malta to Government Buildings on Monday 28 November. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy, were also present. The visit to Dublin was part of a series of visits to EU capitals in advance of Malta's first ever EU presidency in January 2017. The meeting was friendly and constructive. We discussed a range of issues including Malta's presidency, its priorities, the migration crisis, Brexit, Turkey, Libya, tax and the future of Europe.

Prime Minister Muscat, who was accompanied by his Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for European Affairs, thanked Ireland for our assistance in advance of its presidency.

The Maltese presidency will have six priorities. They are migration, security, the Single Market, social inclusion, Europe's neighbourhood and maritime affairs. I confirmed that Ireland would support Malta in its efforts to progress work on the Single Market and digital single market strategies in particular.

On the migration crisis, where Malta has particular concerns, Prime Minister Muscat thanked Ireland for the naval vessel we contributed last year as well as our voluntary offer to accept 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers as part of the EU response. We agreed that the EU-Turkey statement had led to a reduction in the numbers of people travelling the Western Balkans route but that other routes, including from Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, are of concern.

As I do in all my meetings with European Union counterparts, I outlined and explained Ireland's main concerns arising from Brexit, including our economy and trade, Northern Ireland, the common travel area and the future of the EU. We discussed the complex process ahead including the negotiations on withdrawal and on the future of the EU-UK relationship.

On tax, I outlined the Government's initiatives, such as the knowledge development box. I also informed the Prime Minister that Ireland had appealed the Commission's ruling on Apple. There was no discussion of any other company in this context.

We agreed to stay in close contact and to continue to work closely together over the coming period. I have had many meetings with Prime Minister Muscat over the last number of years.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Is Deputy Howlin giving some of his time to Deputy Murphy?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We can all share the time. We have five minutes left so I will be very brief.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We can all come in after.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I understand.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will be very brief. I am conscious of time because of the overlap of the last question. In terms of the discussions with Prime Minister Muscat, the Syrian situation, which has now worsened, is an unfolding human tragedy that is now becoming indescribable even for people who are there. Malta is in the heart of the migration crisis, although many of the people who are coming across the Mediterranean are actually not from the Syrian crisis. They are coming mainly from the horn of Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. These are real issues we need to address. I am interested to hear the Maltese perspective on the ongoing catastrophe in the Mediterranean. It is conservatively estimated that 4,000 people have died. Anybody who saw the RTE programme "The Crossing" could not but be extraordinarily moved and proud of Óglaigh na hÉireann. I note that Óglaigh na hÉireann won the European of the Year award which the Taoiseach presented on Monday.

In the Taoiseach's discussions with Prime Minister Muscat, did the issue of Setanta Insurance arise, which was a Maltese registered insurance company that sold insurance exclusively in this jurisdiction before it collapsed in 2014, leaving thousands of Irish policyholders high and dry? Was the practice of a European Union country being used as a base exclusively for a company in another European Union country discussed with the prime minister?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The impact of the Setanta Insurance Company affair was very severe on many people. It highlighted significant gaps and loopholes in monitoring, compliance, etc. It would seem strange if it were not raised during the meeting or if, in preparation for the meeting, the issue were not identified as one that would merit discussion between the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister. The Taoiseach might clarify the position.

Can the Taoiseach give any indication on Malta's perspective on Brexit and how it sees it impacting on its economy and trade? Is there a sense of the uniqueness of the Irish situation, particularly that of Northern Ireland and the status of EU citizens living there?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I am also surprised that Setanta Insurance was not raised. It is interesting that Mr. Muscat, in a recent BBC interview, said the issue of the Border, in the context of Brexit, is of crucial importance. He said:

There will be issues relating to borders, especially the Irish issue, which I think is one of the most politically sensitive issues. I think there is a political willingness from everyone to have it resolved.

The latter points up this leader as a potential ally in terms of getting the North special designated status within the EU. Did the Taoiseach raise the matter in his meeting with Prime Minister Muscat?

I want to recognise a person who was in the Gallery a moment ago when we were discussing the US. He is Jack Kilroy, a champion of human rights. He was here with Senator Frances Black. This shows the interconnectedness between us and the US and the need to give these citizens a vote in our presidential elections.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Would the Taoiseach agree that there is a need for a European decision so a company such as Setanta, which is registered in Malta but has never traded there, can gain access to the European Union without any record?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A brass plate.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Would the Taoiseach agree that there should be an immediate amendment to provide that companies must be trading in the country in which they are registered before they are allowed to trade in other European countries?

I do not know whether the Taoiseach saw the recent television programme on the Irish Naval Service. It covered the exercise in the Mediterranean Sea in which the Irish Naval Service saved the lives of 15,500 people. We should recognise the wonderful work it is doing.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I recognise the work of the Irish Naval Service and that is why it was awarded the European of the Year award. It was the first time the award was ever given to an organisation. As Deputy Seán Barrett knows, we have only one Óglaigh na hÉireann, and it has been outstanding in its professionalism, sensitivity and the way it went about its business. The award was presented by the European Movement Ireland. I have often made the point that this is in the Irish because of the thousands of people we lost to the Atlantic in coffin ships off Grosse Île and Ellis Island. It is a remarkable feature of our nation that in 2016 our three vessels, on a rota basis, have saved 15,600 men, women and children from the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

I agree with the point on Setanta Insurance. I did not discuss Setanta with Prime Minister Muscat. He came here on a very short visit specifically in preparation for his country's Presidency. Malta is a small country and will take a small agenda to, hopefully, move through. I will take the point the Deputies raised in a different forum.

Deputy Brendan Howlin raised the question of sub-Saharan Africa. Prime Minister Muscat is very well acquainted with it and is grateful for the vessel we sent to assist them in the work they are doing. People from Egypt are beginning to cross the Mediterranean, which is also a source of serious concern in addition to the people coming from Mali, the Horn of Africa and Libya.Europe is working with five African countries on compacts. The aim is to work with them to give people an opportunity to have a life, a career and economic opportunities. If the population of Africa doubles over the next 25 years, the explosion in migration could be very serious. Europe, working with countries in their home place, may have a better impact than having to deal with serious numbers of migrants later.

I hope the explanation I gave to Prime Minister Muscat and others results in their being fully au faitwith the circumstances that apply in Ireland regarding the Border, the peace process, which everyone supports, and what we need for it in the future. I am not sure whether the interview was before or after that. I have spoken to him on a number of occasions about our particular circumstances. As everybody will understand, if people explain to us the situation in Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Estonia, it is difficult to understand all the details unless one sees the graphics and understands the geography and particular situation that applies. He understands Ireland and will be a supporter of us in the time ahead.