John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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I begin by acknowledging the commitments offered in this House less than a week ago by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, that the European Union remains committed to the Good Friday Agreement, that there will be no agreements with the British Government that will undermine the Irish protocol and that there would never be the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. These are very important assurances. They are assurances that point towards the strength of Ireland's position as we continue in our role of contributing at the heart of Europe. It also points to the strength and benefits which we accrue by being part of the European collective. However, the benefits and value of such are denied to our fellow Irish citizens north of the Border despite a majority voting to remain part of the EU.

Today, for the fifth time since the election in May, the Assembly is to be recalled to elect a Speaker, as is required before it can function. Sinn Féin has worked with other parties in the North to recall the Assembly in order to form an Executive and release the promised support payment of £600, or almost €700, to help to alleviate the suffering of workers and families this winter. On each occasion, the DUP has chosen to oppose the election of a Speaker. Although it claims its protest is centred on the protocol, the reality is that the people of the North are being forced to endure an escalating cost-of-living crisis with an absence of political leadership from the DUP. It is wrong and unjust that the DUP is being allowed to continue to hold the economic well-being and welfare of the people of the North to ransom, particularly as efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the protocol continue in talks between the EU and the British Government. The DUP must come to its senses and end its senseless and heartless blocking of the support payment. It is wrong for it to be allowed to prevent the Assembly from functioning while talks are continuing.

It is important that the EU has taken the necessary steps in recent weeks to augment its powers within the Brexit agreement which would allow it to respond in a robust manner if the British Government acts on previous threats to breach its responsibilities under that agreement. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated last week that a deal on the protocol was in reach if there was political will in Britain. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, told EU and British parliamentarians at a meeting in Westminster that they were not worlds apart. He said the EU proposals would reduce checks on lorries to two or three a day. That gives cause for at least some optimism, albeit with the knowledge that despite this, and even though there appears to be a much more positive and encouraging tone emanating from the British Government on the protocol since Rishi Sunak, the new Prime Minister, took office in October, in real terms nothing has changed. We need to see this translated into action. We need to support our European colleagues as they continue to work towards securing a resolution to the difficulties with the British Government that will allow for a return of the Assembly working for the people in the North.

Externally, the major issue in Europe remains the ongoing war in Ukraine. The priority must be to end the Russian invasion. Ending it and securing a total Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory will only happen through diplomacy and sanctions. Ireland must be a voice for peace, justice and freedom. Our total and unwavering solidarity is with the people of Ukraine at this deeply distressing and traumatic time for their country. Ireland understands more than most countries the impact of occupation and imperialist aggression. We know the importance of sovereignty and the right of self-determination. We also understand the importance and difficulty of finding peace. All Deputies are united in our condemnation of the actions of the Russian Federation. No country should be subject to the kind of military aggression that is bringing death and destruction to Ukraine.

Ukrainian people continue to endure horrific suffering. Some 14 million Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced, with 7.8 million having sought refuge elsewhere in Europe. Martin Griffiths, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council yesterday that 17,023 civilians, including 419 children, have been killed, although he stated the real toll is far greater. Putin’s forces have carried out at least 715 attacks on healthcare facilities across Ukraine. Russia is intent on depriving Ukrainian civilians of access to healthcare. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed the Russian Government has attempted to turn cold into a weapon of mass destruction - an instrument of terror and submission. Ukraine has suffered the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure which has left millions without access to heat, electricity, and water. As temperatures fall below freezing, the Ukrainian civilian population is facing a test of survival.

The efforts by Hungary to wield its veto to delay the signing-off of an EU package of €18 billion for Ukraine, in an attempt to pressure EU members into approving its share of the recovery fund, speaks to a lack of cohesion at the centre of Europe which undermines the cohesiveness of Europe's efforts to address the war in Ukraine. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has pointed to the difficulties of permanent members of the UN Security Council wielding their veto in respect of UN mandates, and the implications that has for the triple lock system. I believe Ireland and other EU member states have a job to do in addressing the difficulties relating to states such as Hungary employing their right to veto and, in effect, negating the capacity of the EU to respond fully and cohesively to what many are describing as the gravest security threat in Europe since the Cold War. Ireland must insist that attempts by Hungary to blackmail the EU are resisted. The EU is correct to insist that the necessary reforms be carried out by Hungary before the funds are released.

It is a matter of concern that the Government has yet to draw down any moneys from the EU recovery fund. We are now lumped in with countries such as Hungary and Poland, which have not been able to draw down funds because of political issues.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not true. We have been fully approved.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Why has Ireland failed to apply for a reimbursement from the fund?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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This is misinformation.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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Ireland's share of the fund amounts to a modest €1 billion, compared with the likes of Spain, which has received more than €30 billion. These are badly needed funds which could help in a green transition, boosting regions and boosting our digital transition. The Government needs to get its act together in respect of the recovery fund. It is not acceptable that we are entitled to funds but they are not being accessed.

I will finish by turning to the issues of the ongoing protests in Iran and the continuing persecution of the Palestinian people. The Taoiseach needs to bring to the EU Council a sense of the concern in Ireland not only at the death of Mahsa Amini, but also at the brutal suppression of legitimate protest that followed, which to date has resulted in the deaths of more than 530 people, including many children. In Palestine, at least 208 Palestinians, including 30 children, have been killed so far this year. The ongoing illegal forced evictions and demolitions and the expansion of illegal colonial settlements continue apace. Palestinians are in despair as the possibility of a two-state solution is simply disappearing before their eyes and those of the world. All of this is happening while the EU has preferential trade agreements with Israel, a state that is a serial violator of international law and many UN resolutions. Our history, legacy and record of neutrality demands that we be at the forefront of protest against the suppression of human rights, no matter where in the world it takes place. When will the Government stop relying on words and issuing statements that have no meaning? When will it start taking definitive action to raise these issues and impose sanctions on serial violators of international law and human rights?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is no longer present in the Chamber but I am aware this will be his last occasion to attend a meeting of the European Council as Taoiseach. I wish to mark the occasion and state that he has served his country very well in that regard. I have no doubt he will attend further Council meetings in another guise in the future. It is interesting that the issues dominating the agenda for this Council meeting are certainly not those he would have expected when he began his term as Head of Government two and a half years ago. The brutal invasion of Ukraine changed all. It has changed the European landscape, perhaps permanently so.

Next week's agenda is still dominated by Ukraine and Russia, and the energy and economic consequences that affect everybody living not only on the Continent of Europe but internationally.

I will mention a couple of the issues that will be debated, including the oil embargo that took effect last Monday. The cap on Russian oil suggested and now imposed, not only by the EU but other like-minded states, is $60 a barrel. I understand why that figure was picked. The EU has a contradictory double aim. One is to ensure that the tightest possible squeeze, in financial terms, is put on Russia to deny it, as far as we can, the capacity to wage war against Ukraine. The other is to ensure that there is an adequate fuel supply for the world. These are countervailing objectives that are sometimes hard to get into balance. The idea of the embargo was to ensure that Russian oil is restricted on the international markets, but the fears were that insurance and other European-provided supports would mean it would be impossible for Russia to sell oil anywhere and, therefore, the $60 cap came into being. Ukraine believes it is far too high and others argued against it. Further important decisions need to be made because there is an imperative, at the same time as squeezing Russia, to ensure that the citizens of Europe have access to fuel and heating for the winter months to come and beyond. We will need to return to this issue because it is quite clear to everybody that Putin's brutal war is not likely to come to an early end.

I will also mention the decision of Hungary and its Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, to veto or delay the loan facility for Ukraine. Ukraine does has not have the capacity to raise its own taxes. For Hungary and Viktor Orbán to use that as a weapon in his own difficulties is quite shocking. We talked about the rule of law. There has to be some accounting. Member states are either signed up to the values of a common European Union or they are not. The notion that the will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Europe can be thwarted by one person acting vicariously, as Viktor Orbán has, is entirely unacceptable.

I will also mention the meeting in Tirana yesterday. The Joint Committee on European Union Affairs met a variety of ambassadors representing all the applicant states. The Commission's enlargement package report, published in October, stated that the Commission recommended Bosnia and Herzegovina be granted candidate status. This was to be considered at the Council meeting this week. I did not see any reference to that decision in the Taoiseach's speech. The Minister of State might indicate during his contribution whether it is proposed that Bosnia and Herzegovina be given candidate status tomorrow. From talking to ambassadors from a variety of countries, especially off-piste, there is a growing frustration and alienation from European ideals because of constant delays.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed both Houses last week to mark our 50 years as members of the EU. I suggest, therefore, this is a good time to assess how the EU has performed over the past two and a half years since this Government came to office. During this time, the EU faced unprecedented challenges. In February 2020, Covid-19 arrived. This year, we had Russian's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine and all the associated problems that gave rise to. Of course, of importance to Ireland was the continued fallout from the Brexit vote in 2016, in particular, the need to avoid the creation of a hard border on the island of Ireland through the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol.

On reflection, the EU did surprisingly well in responding to these crises. It cannot be easy to get agreement from all 27 member states, all with their different agendas, but agreements were reached and the EU came up with effective responses. As regards Covid-19, after an initial wobble, the Union was to the forefront in the development, manufacture and deployment of safe, effective vaccines. The EU digital Covid certificate was enacted and the recovery and resilience fund, unprecedented in its scope and design, was established to stimulate the economic recovery of Europe. The EU remains firm in its solidarity with Ukraine. An eighth round of sanctions has been agreed, along with many other measures, including agreed actions to tackle the energy crisis. The solidarity shown to Ireland concerning Brexit has been extraordinary. In all these discussions, Ireland has been at the heart of the negotiations and showed strong leadership, which, it seems, has been noted by the Commission President.

The ongoing war in Ukraine becomes more horrific by the day. So far, it is estimated that up to 250,000 people have been killed. Of this, between 40,000 and 60,000 are believed to be civilians. Those figures were given to the House last week by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney. As winter snow and sub-zero temperatures arrive, fighting is now concentrated around the Donetsk region. Much of the country has been plunged into darkness as power plants and critical infrastructure are destroyed by Russian missile strikes. The EU, the G7 and Australia have agreed to cap the price of a barrel of Russian oil delivered by sea at $60. This is an attempt to hinder Russia's ability to pay for the war. It could also stabilise global energy prices. President Zelenskyy believes this is not enough. As we know, other member states have looked for a lower cap. It is, however, a start and something that should be kept under review and revisited as necessary. There is no doubt that war crimes are being committed by Russia in Ukraine and, therefore, I greatly welcome the proposal by the EU to set up a specialised court, backed by the UN, to investigate and prosecute Russia's crimes of aggression. I look forward to learning more details about this initiative in due course.

There have been eight rounds of EU sanctions so far. I am delighted to hear from the Taoiseach that a ninth round, it is to be hoped, will be agreed upon before next week. More than 100 entities and 1,200 individuals have been sanctioned. The European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, recently told our Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs that Ireland is among the member states with the highest value of frozen assets, amounting to €1.8 billion. These frozen assets, from Russia and its oligarchs, should be used for the benefit of Ukraine to reconstruct the country. It is estimated that the damage done to date to Ukraine amounts to €600 billion. According to the Commission, a number of legal and political questions arise in this regard but it is essential that every effort is made to resolve any perceived obstacles to achieve this objective.

Staying with Ukraine, it is regrettable that Hungary has again used the veto, this time to block an €18 billion aid package for Ukraine. Ukraine desperately needs this money, given the crisis in the public finances there. Unfortunately, Hungary continues to be the bold child of Europe, with regard to its ongoing problems with the rule of law. Things cannot continue the way they are and, sooner or later, Hungary's relationship with the EU will have to be brought to a head. In the meantime, other ways to get this aid to Ukraine will have to be considered and finalised as soon as possible.

The political situation in Iran continues to be a cause of serious concern. Mahsa Amini died in custody in September resulting in a wave of demonstrations across the country.

The fundamental and inalienable rights of women and girls are central to these peaceful protests. The protests have been met with a brutal crackdown by the Iranian regime in an attempt to suppress the uprising. Reports suggest that more than 300 protestors have been killed, including more than 60 children. Imagine 60 children being killed as a result of this crackdown. More than 15,000 protestors have been arrested. Many more have been imprisoned and tortured, with some due to be executed. Fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech are being trampled.

As if that were not enough, it is clear that Iran is supplying drone weaponry to Russia for use in Ukraine, thus flouting the provisions of the Iranian nuclear deal. In response, the EU has correctly sanctioned a number of individuals and entities in Iran. The Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador to Iveagh House in October to outline Ireland's strong position on these matters. However, there are plans to reopen the Irish Embassy in Iran following its closure in 2012. The editorial in The Irish Timesof 25 November stated that Iran's was a regime in its final throes. Recent events suggest that it is coming to an end. In such circumstances, the Irish Embassy's reopening would send out all the wrong signals and, therefore, should not be proceeded with.

The Ukraine crisis has sparked an energy crisis, necessitating an EU response. That is why I welcome last month's signing of contracts for the Celtic interconnector, which will link the national electricity systems of Ireland and France. It will be the first interconnector between Ireland and mainland Europe, come at a cost of €1.6 billion and be supported by EU funding. It will complement the overall objective of eliminating the EU's reliance on Russian fossil fuels and improving the security of our electricity supply. I look forward to the day when Ireland is in a position to export electricity to mainland Europe, having made the necessary investment to harness our offshore wind, which we have in abundance.

I noted yesterday's EU summit on the western Balkans. For the first time, it was held in a western Balkan country. The region is of strategic importance and we need to speed up the accession process and help these countries implement their necessary reforms. Yesterday's summit agreed a number of financial assistance measures for the western Balkans. All of this will be helpful. In principle, Ireland supports enlargement and I hope that the accession process in respect of these countries can be brought to a conclusion as soon as possible.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I will address the theme that is my responsibility as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on fisheries and the marine, that being, the allocation of quota to the Irish fishing industry from our exclusive economic zone, EEZ, under the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP. There is an ongoing crisis in the fishing industry around our coasts. Since it is almost a perennial crisis, it can sometimes be dismissed or brushed aside. We have an immense resource off our coasts. In the EU, only three member states are island states, those being, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. In the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, there are two Ministers of State, but not one of them focuses on fisheries and the marine, and it shows.

Norway, which is not an EU member state, is looking for increased access to our waters to catch an even greater share of blue whiting. According to scientific studies, blue whiting stocks are in a healthy state. They represent a significant and vital resource for the Irish fishing industry. Currently, we get a quota of 3% of the blue whiting species in our own waters while Norway gets 18%, or six times more. Norway is now negotiating for even more. If this is accepted by our Government, I am told that it will be the final nail in our fishing industry's coffin. That is how serious the situation is. There must be an increased quota of blue whiting for the Irish fishing industry.

If the above is not bad enough, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have unilaterally increased their share of the mackerel quota. They have not based this move on any science. In some cases, they have built an industry where there was none previously. Mackerel is a migratory species. They spawn off the south west of Ireland and work their way up to those waters. They do not belong in any particular waters. We can agree a sensible way to share them. No agreement has been made between the EU and these three countries, which are not members of the EU or covered by the CFP. We are trading with them, yet there are no repercussions, particularly for Norway. I have great admiration for Norway and do not wish to speak critically of its people. In many ways, they have done great things, but they are out of order when it comes to fisheries.

The EU is not standing up for Irish interests. We lost a large volume of our fisheries after Brexit. There was not a fair burden sharing. We were shafted. We will be down to one third of our fishing fleet soon. I will have a chance to speak with the Minister of State's colleague, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, later. Please, we need to sort out this issue. It is a serious threat to our industry.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I thank the Minister of State for his contribution. I read through the Taoiseach's speech as it pertained to the topics covered by the European Council summit next week. Russia and Ukraine will of course be on the agenda, as will energy, the economy, security, defence and external relations. The Minister of State might clarify whether there will be a discussion on supporting the thousands of refugees to whom we should extend our warmest welcome. That the Taoiseach did not mention this was surprising. We cannot hide our heads under the counter where this issue is concerned and say that we cannot discuss it. We need to discuss it. This year, Ireland will take in 70,000 people seeking refuge from Ukraine and more than 12,000 applicants through the International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, system, and rightly so. These people are here seeking sanctuary from horrors that I cannot even imagine. All the while, we are placing them in buildings that are not suitable for that purpose, although we must we must use every resource available to us in the first instance.

We must discuss how the European Council and the EU more widely will support and demonstrate solidarity with member states. What extra supports can we access in providing for people's basic needs when they come to Ireland? Earlier, the House debated a motion on teacher shortages. These shortages would have been a problem at any time in the past decade, but are especially so now that we are taking in children who have arrived in Ireland after experiencing immense trauma. People need to access supports, and it is right and just that people who come here from Ukraine can begin working straight away, but what kind of childcare supports can they be provided with? If our EU partners are not demonstrating solidarity, what more pressing issue is there than the provision of sanctuary and all of the necessary resources? There were people in tents in Athlone who have just been moved out of them because of the cold, and abandoned ESB factories are being reopened. This is not even close to being good enough.

In the absence of effective communication and leadership, a group of far-right nefarious individuals are disseminating fear and tapping into people's genuine fears. We need to be able to combat this. We need to work across the political divide and share resources and information to counter this scary situation.

Yesterday, a group of residents in East Wall, an area that has experienced a high media profile in recent weeks, organised themselves to raise money to buy hats and scarves for people who came here through the international protection system. I have never witnessed a level of vitriol like this in my life. People trying to raise money to buy hats and scarves were being bombarded. I shared what happened on my Instagram account. I could not believe the responses. This was not from people whom I would cite as being bad, because people are inherently decent. They have, however, been manipulated and targeted through social media platforms, like Meta, where it is possible to tap into a genuine sense of fear and find it being said that these people are to blame for the wrongs of society. I would point at the Government in this regard, and it would point back.

This situation, though, is scary. All the while, what is playing into this is Putin using refugees as pawns in his game. If we are not discussing this matter, then what are we doing? The refugees are being used as a tool of war. It is being played out on social media channels and targeted at the living rooms of Irish people and, I am sure, the rest of Europe. We seem to be burying our heads in the sand about this happening. Can we get this matter onto the agenda? It should be part of our response. There is a need for resources and better information.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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We need to be talking to communities and working across the divide. If we do not do so, then we will fail.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I echo Deputy Howlin's comments regarding how interesting it is to reflect on the agenda of the EU Council meeting and how we could not have foreseen many of the items on it when we look back to the start of the Taoiseach's tenure. It is interesting in the context of not just those items on the agenda but even those items that have slipped off it. Deputy Gannon made a good point regarding what is not on the agenda but that should possibly be there. The Covid-19 pandemic has slipped down the agenda to such an extent that it is not listed. I worry as well that while we are talking about external relations, security and defence, there is no explicit mention in the agenda of the crisis in the Horn of Africa. Perhaps it was ever thus, but what happens is that these crises seem to play out, we pay attention to them in real time and then, somehow, they slip out of our mind's eye as other things push in. It is not that these crises have been resolved but that we tend to forget about them. They have slipped down our agenda, which is not welcome.

However, I welcome the Taoiseach's update on the EU's western Balkans summit. It causes us to cast our minds back to the foundation of the European project, which was as a peace project. It has been exceptionally successful in this regard. There is a history when it comes to the western Balkans. Having and strengthening this relationship with the EU can only be for the good in respect of fostering peace in that region. The agenda that will dominate, of course, is the single biggest international issue that must be addressed, which is Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine. Across so many contexts, we have seen how there has been a weaponising of human suffering. That has been seen in the movement of people, as Deputy Gannon mentioned, and it is a deliberate undertaking. We saw this being done from Belarus before ever the war was instigated. A deliberate attempt was then made to destabilise European democracies through the movement of people and the weaponisation of human misery. We are seeing it as well in the context of food in the Horn of Africa.

The worst consequences in this regard are playing out beyond the EU. The crisis in energy and energy prices is hitting hardest inside the EU. Now, the cold has been weaponised. There is a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure aimed at depriving people of their hierarchy of basic needs. It is an attempt to try to take away their basic need to access shelter, heat and food. That is deliberate and we must call it for what it is. These are war crimes. In the longer term, we must have a conversation about how we can seek recourse to justice for what is happening. Deputy Haughey spoke about the specialised court. It will need to be resourced. We need to resource people in this regard now because we need evidence to be taken in real time. That will be a difficult conversation, but we will need to figure out how to prosecute those people responsible for the crimes we are seeing playing out.

Energy and the economy are mentioned on the agenda. The need to reform our EU energy markets has never been clearer given how gas pricing works and the impact that is having on electricity prices all across the EU. This situation is also throwing into stark focus the need for us, as a country and as a Union, to move away from a reliance on petrostates. These may not have a track record on human rights or may not share our value system, yet we find ourselves funding their economies, societies and states through our use of fossil fuels. This brings home to us this need for us to move to energy independence and to accelerate the renewables revolution under way. We understand Ireland's potential in this regard but, equally, that we must also be part of a European framework when we undertake this process. In this regard, the launch of the Celtic interconnector is important in the context of attaching our renewable energy resources to a wider European system. We must take this and build it up. We must move towards having a European super grid to address the intermittency we get in wind power here is balanced, for example, by solar energy production further south in Europe. We should build a resilient system that is going to serve everybody across our Continent.

I have a nagging worry about the continuing focus on GDP growth. We understand now that we must move away from an economic model that couples progress with measures such as our emissions outputs. Measuring just by GDP, though, and the throughput of economies is also not going to be fit for purpose as we move into a future where we must consider a decarbonising agenda. We must move more towards aspects such as well-being and a circular economy. The slavish adherence to just GDP growth measures is not going to cut it in this regard.

I mentioned my worry that the crisis in the Horn of Africa is falling off the radar. The same thing happened concerning the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, waiver. This issue has also not been resolved. It has just slipped down the agenda until it has disappeared off the bottom. As a result, we still see low vaccination rates across the developing world. Maybe it was ever thus, but we must have an eye to the future as well. There was a welcome move at COP27 in respect of a loss and damage facility. Movement was also made on climate financing. We must, however, consider issues such as intellectual property rights in respect of the roll-out of green technologies. Countries in the developing world will have to leapfrog fossil fuel development. We cannot just have a situation where we say to those countries that they are allowed to develop their economies but that they must use the same technologies we did and add to emissions profiles as a result. There will be great technical developments in these areas and there should be a suspension of intellectual property rights in the case of many of these technologies so developing countries can have access to them as well.

As other Deputies have done, I conclude on the actions of Hungary and its blocking of the €18 billion in EU aid for Ukraine. European solidarity in the face of this Russian aggression is of pivotal importance. For a state within the Union to use the bargaining chip of European solidarity for its own ends has been termed a low point in Hungarian foreign policy and I am forced to agree with that.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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With each passing week, the situation in Palestine becomes worse and worse. Israel, an apartheid terror state, makes that community an area of terror and fear for anybody who happens to be Palestinian in their homeland.

Two weeks ago, apartheid forces dragged children from a primary school in Masafer Yatta to make way for bulldozers. It is another example of a community being ethnically cleansed from their homeland by apartheid Israel. This school was funded by the European Union, yet the EU says nothing. Since last week, more than ten Palestinians have been murdered in the occupied West Bank. In some of these cases, which the Minister of State may have seen them, people were executed in cold blood for all to see. International law means nothing to Israel. Unfortunately, the European Union, of which Ireland is a key member, is unwilling to hold Israel to account.

With the Taoiseach's term coming to an end this month, what message has Ireland brought to European Council meetings condemning Israeli apartheid? Has the Taoiseach ever taken concerns raised on countless occasions in this House to those Council meetings? Has the Government ever raised concerns about Israel defying international law at European Council meetings?

During the term of this Taoiseach and the Minister of State, 500 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel. Apartheid Israel has murdered 500 people on their watch. Of those, 100 were children. Has the Minister of State ever raised this issue in the European Council? Has he condemned Israel at European Council meetings? One hundred of the 500 people murdered by apartheid Israel were children. This year, 2022, is set to be the deadliest year in the occupied West Bank since records of killing began in 2005.

Israel is a terror state. There is administrative detention and no right of return. Stealing Palestinian land on a daily basis is sanctioned by the state. There are illegal settlements and shoot-to-kill policies, as we saw as recently as last week. There is daily racism. Civil society organisations have been designated as terror groups by Israel. There is daily apartheid and Israel maintains the biggest open-air prison in the world, namely, the Gaza Strip.

Israel is getting more and more belligerent. Religious extremists have key roles in the new government. What action has Ireland taken against Israel and the crimes it commits? With Ireland's term on the UN Security Council coming to an end, what has Ireland done to say we object to Israeli terror?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Are war crimes different if they take place in different countries? Is illegal occupation different if it takes place in different countries? Are systematic abuses of human rights different if they take place in different countries? Are crimes against humanity different if they take place in different countries? I would say most people would answer "No" to those questions. Abuses of human rights are abuses of human rights. Crimes against humanity are, as the words suggest, crimes against any of humanity. War crimes are crimes committed anywhere using war and aggression. Illegal occupation is illegal occupation, regardless of where it takes place. It seems the Irish Government and the European Union have a totally different view on that.

There have been nine rounds of sanctions against Russia as part of an absolutely justified condemnation of illegal aggression, murder, illegal occupation, human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. The very same things are happening every day in Palestine and there is not one round of sanctions. Not only have there been no sanctions but there are preferential trade agreements. Europe is Israel's biggest trading partner, with €31 billion of trade.

The United States, which was also mentioned favourably in the Taoiseach's speech, this week specifically insisted that the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh should not be referred to the International Criminal Court, ICC, as a crime. It specifically said it should not. Mr. Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, stated, "We maintain our long-standing objections to the ICC’s investigation into the Palestinian situation". The official position of the United State is that whatever it does, we must not investigate Israel's crimes against the Palestinians. What does the Minister of State think of that? What does the Government think about its allies and friends in Washington insisting we do not look into the crimes committed by Israel in the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh? What is the Government's official response to the reports of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International condemning Israel for apartheid, crimes against humanity, the siege of Gaza and so on? What is the official position of the Government on what we will do about that? What has the Government asked the European Union to do about that? What has the Government demanded in response to the specific request in the recommendations of that report that there should be sanctions in terms of selling weapons or defence-security trade with Israel that in any way facilitates, perpetuates or supports the apartheid regime in its prosecution of crimes against humanity? What is the Government's official response? What is the European Union saying? The answer is "Zero, zilch."

Has the Minister of State seen the video of the cold-blooded execution of Ammar Mefleh in the past week in Huwara, a town south of Nablus? Has the Minister of State seen it? It shows a man shot in cold blood by the Israelis? I have seen it. It is horrendous. The middle eastern representative of the UN described with absolute shock what he was looking at, stating it had to be investigated. There was not a word in the Taoiseach's speech. Does he honestly believe that anybody can credibly give credit to the humanitarian pretensions or the pretensions to being a force for peace or a force driven by principle rather than strategic self-interest if he remains silent about that? Of course, in some ways the agenda is given away when one sees us being evaluated by NATO in Cork. I thank the Minister for the reply in which he stated that we have made a voluntary decision to be evaluated by NATO. I got this letter. It is quite extraordinary voluntarily deciding to be evaluated by NATO. Of course, in that, we see the real agenda.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputy Flaherty.

I look forward to the European Council meeting next week and I am grateful, in expectation, for the Minister of State reply to this round of statements. As much as these discussions every month change, they also stay the same. That is why I probably will ask for a similar update to those I have sought in other weeks, as other Deputies have.

The issue of concern for me relates to the supposed Hungarian veto of the aid package agreed by other EU member states for Ukraine. This is extremely worrying.

It has been one of a litany of worrying movesby the Hungarian Government. This has been the case when it comes to rule of law in its own country for close to a decade at this stage. In recent months in particular, it has included Russia's brutal war in Ukraine and the response in support of the Ukrainian people and EU funding more generally. This is with regard to EU funding going externally to assist the people of Ukraine who are being savaged by Putin's war machine, as opposed to EU funding going internally to the people of Hungary to help them deal with so many issues that are arising. It is the political decision of what is an increasingly odious regime to stand in the way of respite for its own people as well as the people of Ukraine.

My question, and perhaps the Minister of State can touch on it in his response, is what are the other 26 member states going to do? How will they be able to push in a way and in a manner that, most importantly, continues to support the Ukrainian people and ensure the values and principles of the European Union are maintained? This is not the first time we have spoken about other Article 15 issues and not only against Hungary. We speak about Poland and the very clear changes that were made domestically there in response to the collective pressure of the European Union. It is a rules-based organisation and those rules need to be respected internally and given attention by member states.

Another area for the agenda for the meeting next week is, of course, continuing discussions on collective security and defence. This can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. It is something from which Ireland cannot simply walk away. We have a responsibility and, most importantly, a vested interest in the continuing security of the European Union in its entirety. This is crucial in terms of our own jurisdiction and the island as a whole, be it with regard to cybersecurity, aerospace or maritime activity.

With regard to EU training missions for Ukrainian forces, has any further decision been made on Irish Defence Forces activity or participation in training missions that obviously would not breach any notion of military neutrality? I was struck by an image circulating on social media today of a Ukrainian truck that was blown up by a land mine. The truck was being driven by two members of the Ukrainian defence forces who sadly lost their lives. They were killed by a landmine planted by Russian soldiers. It was a bread truck. They were delivering bread to starving people and it was blown up by a landmine. It is the very type of landmine our Defence Forces have a particular skill and expertise in identifying and clearing. They could train people to identify and clear landmines so that civilian actors, be they individuals or people delivering bread to starving children, can be helped. I ask that every effort be made so we contribute progressively to the training mission to deal with instances such as this.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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As we are here to make pre-European Council statements, I acknowledge the outstanding contribution from President Ursula von der Leyen in the House last week. She spoke about Ireland's pivotal role in Europe and how history has helped shape a nation of innovators and creators. It is a nation very much at the heart of the European experience and journey. As one of the most influential and motivational European leaders of our time, her comments resonated with the entire nation. They were timely and extremely well received. Our European experience has taught us the value of role models. An Taoiseach and the Minister of State have led us on our European adventure with courage and conviction since coming to office. At every opportunity, An Taoiseach and the Minister of State have rightly reinforced our commitment to the European Union throughout our time in government. This is to be commended. It is very much a benchmark and statement of intent for modern Ireland and a progressive Ireland that we are seen as modern Europeans.

As President von der Leyen rightly said last week, our European experience allows us to stand tall and proud and reflect on our achievements and pivotal role as true leaders in the most progressive and inclusive union the world has ever seen. The EU is a union of equals, one that affords opportunity for all. Crucially, it provides a shoulder of solidarity and support for those countries facing strife and persecution. In particular, I commend the Minister of State and An Taoiseach for forcibly articulating our support for the people of Ukraine throughout the ongoing struggle. I look forward to their continuing this staunch support in the coming months.

President von der Leyen spoke to the importance of leaders and role models in modern Europe. As we look to the end of the current Taoiseach's term, it is only right and proper that we acknowledge what have been his considerable efforts on our behalf at EU level. I commend him on this. There are many pressing engagements for us at the European Council and the Minister of State has heard many of the views articulated. When we go to the European Council we should not forget the words of President von der Leyen last week. She spoke of our emergence as a small nation but a mighty force on the European stage for good and for effecting change. As we reflect on her comments this week, which is the centenary of our emergence as a free nation, we will see it very much as a statement of progress for the country and how we have evolved. Not only have we emerged as a free nation but we have also emerged as a pivotal force for good in Europe. The Minister of State and many others who are driving our needs, wants and aspirations at EU level need to be commended.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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This week, we heard the shocking statistics that rents in the State have risen by 82% since 2010. In the same period, they have risen by only 18% in Europe. Last year, investment funds purchased one in ten second-hand homes and one in four apartments in the State. In Berlin the Government is taking homes back from investment funds and ridding the city of the cuckoo and vulture funds. There are 166,000 vacant homes in the State. Almost 50,000 of them have been vacant for longer than six years. In France there is a high-charge incremental vacant home tax that saw a 13% reduction in vacancy. This is the equivalent of 21,580 properties in this State if we were to do something similar.

We are in a housing emergency. This is a disaster and people are in crisis. Throughout Europe there are solutions if the Minister and the Taoiseach were willing to look. Instead, while he and the Taoiseach are in Brussels shaking hands and speaking to people about all of the great meetings they have had over the past two years, 4,000 children will sleep in emergency accommodation this Christmas. Before the Minister of State and the Taoiseach go off to Europe and off into the distance, they should remember that housing is the number one issue. If they can do it in Europe, why in the name of God is the Government not looking at solutions and bringing them home? These are a few examples of what they could and should be doing.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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You objected to some housing.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Actually, I never did. Know your facts, Deputy. I never did. Do not make any statement here without knowing what you are talking about.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Through the Chair.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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That statement should not have been made. It is not true.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Nobody is to interrupt the speaker.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I add my voice to much of what has been said. The people of Ireland accept that Israel is an apartheid state. We know that it engages in the annexation of Palestinian lands. We know about the illegal settlement. We know about the crimes against humanity, the executions and all the rest. It is fair to say there has been an abject failure at European level to call out Israel for what it is, namely, an apartheid terrorist state. There is a requirement for this to be done. If we cannot get agreement on doing what is necessary at European level, it means there is a greater impetus or pressure on us to do what is right. There is a need, and whether it is the occupied territories Bill or recognising the state of Palestine, it needs to happen. What happened to apartheid South Africa was that it became a pariah state. It is absolutely necessary.

I seek further information from the Taoiseach or Minister of State on where the conversations in Europe will go regarding further moves to deal with the energy markets. Beyond that, what technical capacity are we offering to try to combat what the Russians are doing as regards using cold as a weapon of mass destruction? If I could get an update at the end of the debate, I would appreciate it.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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I am grateful for the opportunity to comment in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels next week. It will be the final European Council meeting the Taoiseach will attend as Taoiseach and I wish him the best of luck in that regard.

I welcome a number of recent events. President von der Leyen's address to a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas last week was very good in terms of both content and delivery. I welcome her cast-iron commitment that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland. That has been the long-standing EU position, but it is good that it is reinforced consistently. It is great to have people of President von der Leyen's stature in Ireland's corner.

I welcome the holding of the EU-western Balkans summit in Tirana yesterday. It is a very positive step and I am surprised more meetings have not taken place because there are six quite fragmented and fragile countries of the Balkans which neighbour the EU. All we have to do is look at what happened in the mid-1990s to recognise that there is an issue and that these countries could do with the stability and influence of the European Union. I encourage the EU to at least get its house in order to ensure these countries are granted candidate status, where appropriate, as soon as possible.

The holding of the EU-ASEAN summit next week is a good thing. There are nine countries in Asia that want to establish a link with the European Union, and having a strategic partnership that takes trade and human rights into consideration is a good way to go.

What can we say about Ukraine that has not already been said? I utterly condemn what is going on there. As the Russian military is failing on the battlefield, it is now targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly that which supports life such as water and power. This is a ruthless way of doing business coming into winter. I welcome Ireland's support for Ukraine in providing €25 million recently and also the €5 million we have given to Moldova. I had the good opportunity to speak to the deputy ambassador of Moldova last night and he asked me to convey his heartfelt gratitude to the Irish people, which I am happy to do. It is good to see that Ireland is not forgetting, ignoring or neglecting other small countries in eastern Europe. This is a very positive development.

On defence and security, the Taoiseach said there are proposals to look at a common EU mechanism for purchasing military equipment. I appreciate there are differing views on this in the House but, on balance, it is good for Ireland and other small countries. This country has agreed to consider procuring a primary radar system from a passive point of view in order that we can monitor our airspace. It would be very expensive and could cost between €50 million and €80 million depending on the model chosen. There are several other big-ticket items, such as a ship to replace LÉ Eithne, which could cost up to €200 million, and possibly a transport aircraft. Through common procurement, we could get a 10% or 15% discount on the cost of these big-ticket items. As we will have to get them anyway, it makes perfect sense if we can spend the money saved elsewhere.

I very much welcome participation of the Defence Forces in the mine clearance operation. They have excellent expertise in that area and it important such expertise is put to good use. Unfortunately, there was a mine strike incident in Yemen this morning. Members may not be aware of that. Thankfully, retired Irish Army Major General, Michael Beary, was not injured in the blast when the vehicle he was in drove over a mine. The armoured land cruiser was almost completely destroyed. I am very happy to hear that neither he nor anyone else in the convoy was injured. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. It reminds us of the scourge of landmines in contaminated areas. Anything Ireland can do to help Ukraine in relation to improvised explosive devices and landmines is something we should certainly pursue.

I welcome the agenda of the European Council meeting next week and extend my best wishes to the Irish negotiating team.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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The $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil is nothing more than virtue signalling by the EU and US. The reason is that the price of Russian crude oil was already below $60 per barrel when the cap was announced. These are more games. The people are sick and tired of this. Here we go again with statements on the European Council meeting, where the Ministers will go out and honour their European globalist friends.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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That is conspiracy theory stuff.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I have said it before and I will repeat it. The Minister of State is as good as any of the rest of them. It is what the Government wants and not what the people of Ireland want. People can see through this. We have an educated electorate who, thankfully, can see every move the Government makes. Every time the Government's EU globalist friends ask the Government to jump, it asks "How high?". We saw it last week during the address of President von der Leyen, whom we all welcomed. Why was she here? It was more virtue signalling and talking up the great European Union. Where were our friends during the banking bailout? They proved it that time. I was in the same party as the Minister of State at the time. He voted for the bailout but I did not.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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You did actually.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I voted for the bank guarantee - the biggest mistake I ever made - but I did not vote for the bailout because it was not a bailout. It was an absolute clean-out of the Irish people, in which we took on 42% of the total EU debt. As I said to President von der Leyen, major banks and institutions from her country shovelled the money into Ireland and left us to pay back the debt for all the countries. It was the biggest mistake we ever made.

The price cap comes at a time when global oil prices have dropped dramatically due to the weakening global economy, ongoing lockdowns in China and OPEC's decision to maintain steady levels of oil production. We can all see it with our eyes and, thankfully, there is some relief at the pumps. The games are going on but they should be over as far as I am concerned.

Members of the Government will go to the European Council meeting next week and God knows what they will sign up to regarding Ukraine and any other place, with no consultation with the people. However, when they come back and meet the people, beidh siad ag fanacht libh. The people will be waiting in the long grass for them and will teach them that they should be representing the Irish people and not the European globalists.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We are in this situation thanks to the clash with Russia over the Ukraine, which means Europe has lost roughly one third of its regular gas supply. Much of Europe, particularly countries in the former Soviet Bloc, relied on Russian gas for the generation of electricity, home heating, cooking and industrial purposes. Germany and Italy, the largest and third largest economies, respectively, in the eurozone, were also heavily dependent on Russian gas. Ireland is almost exclusively reliant on the generosity of strangers based in the UK, which is struggling to keep the supply of energy up with demand. We lost a massive opportunity. I do not necessary blame all members of the Government for what has happened, but the Minister of State knows as well as I do that a major opportunity was lost with Shannon LNG. We had a great system in place. In 2016, the previous Government, in its programme for Government, supported a liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility in the Shannon region. However, due to the Green Party input in 2020, that was thrown out the window because it demanded that it be thrown out. We have seen the craziness of following the Green Party in some of its folly.

I refer to what was said last week about the car park. We used to have a massive car park in Leinster House off Merrion Square but some genius decided we should tear it up and put down a big lawn that we have to cut and maintain. It was a fine car park. We are renting parking spaces for staff and others since and we have to pay for them. When I say "we" I mean the taxpayer has to pay for it. Now, the Green Party leader is saying we should do away with parking out there altogether. Oireachtas staff, Members and everybody associated with the workings of this House should disappear our cars, put them somewhere else and make our way in to the Houses by foot or on bicycle. That is not practical or sensible. Why am I highlighting this issue? Would the Minister of State like to rely on a person who comes out with such a statement to support Shannon LNG, a sound sensible proposal to give us surety of energy supply? He is a man who is trying to take away the car parking spaces from underneath us.

It is crazy, gaga, stupid, insane, mental-ness. It needs to be called out for what it is.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I stand before the Minister of State as the last speaker. I will make no apologies for asking him and the Government to raise their voices to use our neutrality in the most positive way possible. Last Saturday, I awoke to news headlines saying that Biden did not think the conditions were right to talk peace. We have to raise our voice to talk for peace with regard to the war in Ukraine and all the other wars causing misery, death, destruction and starvation.

On the same day that Biden said the conditions were not right, the same news bulletin told us that the United States had unveiled its latest hi-tech strategic bomber. The Minister of State might listen for that alone. A B-21 bomber is capable of carrying a nuclear payload and can be flown without a crew on board. This is for the new generation. The US is missing the point that with nuclear bombs, there is no new generation. This was on the same day that Biden said the conditions were not right for peace. Does the Minister of State know how much the United States will spend on each plane? It will spend $750 million to fly it without a pilot and to have dual capacity for nuclear and regular bombs for the new generation. It will buy 100 of those.

I ask the Minister to take that on top of the comments of Josep Borrell who semi-apologised for telling us everything outside of Europe is a jungle. In fact, he did not apologise at all and instead added to the analogy that everything outside Europe is lawless. That is the Europe we have become. I am a proud European with intimate family connections with Europe. I talk today in the context of the agenda that is coming up next week about security and external relations in our southern neighbourhood. I put it in context: 25,313 people died or went missing between 2014 and 2022 in the Mediterranean and an additional 950 people are recorded as dead or missing since 2004. The total number of people dead or missing in Europe and the Mediterranean is 26,218 people. All data are from the Missing Migrants Project.

I mention that not to say that one death is worse than another, but to emphasise that this is all part of fortress Europe and building up what Borrell wants - a garden inside of walls, physically and metaphorically speaking, with a jungle outside. That is what the European project has become. We have twisted language on its head. We have taken our concept of neutrality - a principle that we hold dear, which has served us well and allowed us to get membership of the Security Council, albeit on a temporary basis, and to be a trusted voice in the world - and we have stretched that to the point where elasticity has no meaning anymore.

We have joined a Ukraine defence contact group. The meetings have taken place in NATO headquarters and Ireland has participated in six of them. Time precludes me from going through the bullet points with regard to them. The EU military assistance mission has also been stretched beyond capacity. We talk about neutrality meaning something, except when very senior spokespeople tell us it is a policy decision as to whether we lose our neutrality or the triple lock.

I will use my voice for as long as I can to say this must stop being done in our name. The overwhelming feedback from all the polls is that people wish us to use our voice as a neutral country for peace in the world, not to add to more militaristic states. That is exactly what has happened. The European project has been transformed from a peace project into a military project and a huge industrial-military complex. I was sickened to read about the amount of money we are spending through the European project on military spending. Some of the budgets - there is a whole list of them - have increased thousandfold while something like 800 million people are on the verge of starvation. The rich G7 countries are telling us that.

When I see that the agenda for next week's meeting covers Ukraine and Russia, energy and economy, security and defence, the southern neighbourhood and external relations, I want to know where our independent voice is. That voice is needed to point out, as friends should do for one another, that the wrong track is being taken. That is what friends do; they talk honestly and openly to their friends to ask them to change because what they are doing is causing death and destruction. I do not know what the shake of the Minister of State's head means but I am out of time and he is lucky.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Maith an bhean.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I will counteract the misinformation about the alleged militarisation-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I have never given misinformation.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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-----of the EU that first came from Deputy McDonald last week.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Ba cheart don Aire Stáit suí síos.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The Leas Cheann-Comhairle is now repeating it.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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On a point of order,-----

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know whether what the Taoiseach said-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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-----I stand here-----

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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-----could be repeated, because the Taoiseach made this point and stated the facts.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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On a point of order, I stand here as a Deputy, not as Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I stand here as an Independent Deputy.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Okay. As the Taoiseach said less than an hour and a half ago, spending on defence and security is a national competence. Decisions on that are, in the first instance, for each member state to decide on. We decide on our military spending. Dáil Éireann decides on our military spending. Nobody in Brussels or NATO is telling us what to do with our military forces. We decide that in this Dáil. These conspiracy theories about some kind of militarisation happening in the EU need to be put to an end. It is our decision only in this Dáil. It is nobody else's decision. The EU has been a tremendous force for peace, social progress and economic prosperity in this country and throughout the EU. I reject the characterisations from Opposition Deputies of the left and the far left, or most of them, as being completely out of touch with the reality of the opportunities the EU has offered to us.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Do we have to go back to school?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I reject terms such as "European globalists". Deputy Mattie McGrath should look into the origins of those conspiracy theories.

The agenda for next week's meeting of the European Council will be discussed by European affairs ministers at the General Affairs Council next week in Brussels, which I will attend. I will focus, as the Taoiseach has said, on a number of external relations issues which are on the agenda of the December European Council. The Council sets general policy among the leaders to the European institutions. I know it is right and proper for people to raise the issue of Brexit and the protocol but they are dealt with every single day of the week at other levels of the European Union. I suspect it would come to the leaders if there was a conclusion to the negotiations and, indeed, if there was a major problem. It is a feature rather than a flaw of the process that neither Brexit nor the protocol is on the agenda. Many people within the European system and our system are dealing with that issue on a regular basis.

Some of the other external relations issues mentioned here today are similar, including the Israel-Palestine issue, in that they have been raised by Ireland on numerous occasions. I reject some of the language that has been used in this House about Israel but I am not saying there are no problems there. However, those issues and problems have been raised by Irish Ministers, including the Minister, Deputy Coveney, at the UN and the Foreign Affairs Council.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh mentioned the Horn of Africa and he is right to do so. It has also been discussed by ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Council. The issue of Ethiopia was discussed by foreign ministers most recently in October.

As the Taoiseach said, EU leaders will have a strategic discussion on relations with the southern neighbourhood. EU co-operation with the southern neighbourhood takes place in the framework of European neighbourhood policies and comprises ten partner countries around the Mediterranean. It is a timely discussion. In February 2021, the EU launched the new agenda for the Mediterranean. The agenda focuses on five policy areas: human development; good governance; the rule of law; resilience; prosperity and digital transition; and peace and security. Migration, as Deputy Connolly has rightly mentioned, is on the agenda, as is mobility, the green transition, climate resilience and energy. Thematic priorities for 2022 included food security and energy, in light of the regional impact of the war in Ukraine, and the need for an accelerated green energy transition. The agenda also provides for the EU to use all tools at its disposal to bring operational and financial support to southern partners in the area of migration and mobility, with the strengthening of migration and asylum governance, including border management capacity, as key elements. EU financing for the agenda is drawn from the neighbourhood development instrument and an indicative amount of €7 billion is earmarked for 2021 to 2027.

Ireland recognises that supporting a stable, prosperous and democratic southern neighbourhood is in all of our interests. For that reason, it is committed to working with its EU and southern neighbourhood partners to address the shared challenges of the Euro-Mediterranean region. The Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, recently represented Ireland at the fourth EU southern neighbourhood ministerial meeting, which took place in Barcelona on 24 November.

Next week, I will attend the General Affairs Council which will continue the preparations for the European Council. As Deputy Howlin mentioned, we are likely to discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission has recommended candidate status on the understanding that certain steps will be taken, including eight substantial reforms. Ireland has consistently expressed strong support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU perspective and the granting of candidate status, so I will support that at the General Affairs Council on behalf of Ireland. I hope that will proceed apace. That implies there is work to do with the Bosnians, which we will certainly help them with. Candidate status was recently given to Ukraine and Moldova too. Similar conditionality relating to reforms could apply to Bosnia. This would send a positive signal to the Government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

When leaders last met, they condemned the unjustifiable and unacceptable use of force by Iranian authorities against peaceful protestors, particularly women, and welcomed the restrictive measures the EU adopted against the perpetrators of these serious human rights violations. Leaders called on Iran to stop the violent crackdown against peaceful protestors immediately and to release those detained, with full respect for civil rights. Foreign ministers will discuss this when they meet next week at the Foreign Affairs Council. The fact that many issues raised by colleagues are not on the European Council agenda does not mean they are not on some other important European agenda where day-to-day decisions are taken. Day-to-day decisions are not made at the European Council.

Deputy Gannon said that discussion of refugees should be on the agenda for the European Council. I can confirm, with the present draft conclusions, that the issue of displaced persons from Ukraine, both within and outside Ukraine, is on the agenda as part of the discussion about Ukraine. It may not have seemed obvious. Leaders will not discuss it at the level of detail that deals with the genuine issues that Deputy Gannon raised but the issue of refugees will certainly be on the agenda.

I totally reject what Sinn Féin said when comparing us with Hungary and Poland with regard to the recovery and resilience funding. It is completely incorrect. We are not the only country not to have drawn down funding but our plan was approved some time ago. It has not led to the type of discussions that have taken place in Poland in advance of its approval and indeed in Hungary, which is a discussion it raised itself with regard to the veto issue. Our plan did not have those issues. It is absolutely wrong for Sinn Féin to make that comparison during this particular debate.

A number of colleagues have paid tribute to the Taoiseach for the work he has done at the European Council. When one sees it up close, it is an important function of the Taoiseach, because when he goes to the meeting, he is in a room on his own with no officials. Nobody else is in the room when they make those key decisions. He has shown, in the decisions that the European Council has had to make, particularly with regard to recovery and resilience funding in the five-day summit in July 2020, the issue of vaccines, and Ukraine, that he is a leader at those European Council meetings. He has an excellent rapport with his colleagues, which can be heard in what they say about him and in other comments about his positive contributions to European Council meetings. I have no doubt that his influence will continue. I pay tribute to him. Somebody will report after the next European Council meeting too.

I think I can say of everybody from Ireland, such as the Taoiseach and I, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and whoever else goes to European Council meetings, to a meeting of a Council of Ministers, or to the European Parliament, that they always have Ireland in first place on their agenda. Ireland's place is in the European Union. We have more power around that table when we share the power with all the member states. It has brought incalculable benefits to this country with regard to our economy and society. The idea that Deputy Mattie McGrath keeps positing, that there is some sort of conspiracy and that we are simply doing what we are told, is nonsense. The European Union has certainly pushed Ireland in certain directions but we should never forget what the European Union is. It is leaders and Ministers sitting around a table, the MEPs and the Commission. Irish people, including the Taoiseach, have played a huge role in driving that European Union agenda, benefiting us and benefiting the entire European Union.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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On a point of order, it had been the practice to have questions at the end of statements.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Those are after the post-European Council statements.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I see. I confused myself.