Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I travelled to the Republic of Korea between 1 and 3 November, to participate in the team Ireland trade mission week, with the Ministers, Deputies Coveney, Harris, and McConalogue. This was the first team Ireland trade mission under the Government’s new trade and investment strategy and is a part of the Government’s commitment under the global Ireland strategy to increasing Ireland’s global presence and impact.

This year is especially significant for Irish-Korean relations as it marks 40 years of diplomatic relations. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with CEOs and chairpersons of major Korean conglomerates, some with existing investments in Ireland and others looking for suitable locations in which to invest. In these meetings, I highlighted Ireland’s strong track record in securing and maintaining foreign direct investment, our access to the EU Single Market and the pro-enterprise approach of successive Irish Governments. I also highlighted strengths in our third-level institutions and our strong commitment to research and development. I had the opportunity to highlight Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to visit and to invest in, as well as the strengths of our exporters in agrifood and other sectors when I addressed a trade Ireland networking reception in Seoul. I met with representatives of the small but active Irish community in South Korea and was really impressed by how they have created a vibrant cultural community in their new home and very much fly the flag for Ireland.

In addition to 2023 being the 40th anniversary of Ireland-Korea diplomatic relations, it also marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that suspended conflict in Korea. I took the opportunity to witness the extraordinary efforts that continue on a daily basis to ensure that peace is sustained, visiting the demilitarised zone and the joint security area that stands at the line between North and South Korea. My visit was a timely reminder of the importance and value of peacekeeping as Irish and Korean peacekeepers serve side by side, working to maintain peace in south Lebanon at this exceptionally difficult time.

I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Irish memorial within the Korean war memorial complex, in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the conflict, including over 150 Irish nationals and many more of Irish heritage. I also had a warm and positive bilateral meeting with President Yoon at which we discussed how we can deepen our political, economic, educational and cultural ties. On the trade and investment side, I raised efforts underway to gain access for Irish beef to the Korean market, on which President Yoon expressed confidence that the necessary parliamentary procedures in Korea could be completed by the end of the year. We also discussed our shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order. I congratulated the President on Korea’s election to the United Nations Security Council for the 2024 to 2025 term and offered Ireland’s assistance, given our own recent term on the council.

As like-minded countries and given our commitment to shared values, I spoke to President Yoon about the transformation in Irish society with regard to gender equality and equality for the LGBTQI+ community. I extended an invitation to President Yoon to pay a return visit to Ireland as soon as he can.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Deputy Haughey, I welcome the Limerick ladies' 2020 Club to the Public Gallery. I know all Members here welcome them. Enjoy your day here, ladies. You are very welcome.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I asked the Taoiseach last week about this deal for a data centre from South Korea in Ireland. I was spun a line about fuel cells and so on. The Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, said, "If we can build data centres that are powered by fuel cell technology, initially gas, but in the future hydrogen, then that really does change the dynamic". It is classic greenwashing-speak by the Government, is it not, Taoiseach? The translation is that this new data centre will be powered by burning gas, a fossil fuel. The backdrop to this is the moratorium on new data centres in Dublin because of the huge pressure they are putting on the electricity grid and the fact that we are heading towards 30% of our electricity consumption being used on data centres. A dozen data centres got around that moratorium by connecting directly to the gas grid before the Minister, Deputy Ryan, put a moratorium on that. Since then, data centres have been applying to build their own gas-powered plants. This is part of that, is it not? We have plans to build a data centre powered by a gas-powered fuel cell, which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, hopes can become a template for many other data centres. This is about getting around the climate action plan, is it not, Taoiseach?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Before I deal with this question, I accept and welcome the fact we had no part to play in this particular statement but I think there should be some element of a complaint about the language used regarding human shields. I have a real problem that that provides cover to this Israeli regime and the actions it is carrying out, particularly in attacking hospitals. When we talk about Germany and its particular-----

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Can we stick to this question, please?

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----guilt, I do not think it is okay for the Palestinian people to pay for the crimes that were carried out everywhere from Babi Yar to Sobibor, Dachau, Treblinka and Auschwitz. I do not think that is okay. Beyond that, the Germans did not exactly rush-----

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy, the Taoiseach cannot answer questions on that.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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-----after Yom Kippur to help the Israelis or when NASA was engaging rocket scientists.

In fairness to Deputy Haughey, he spoke about the Taoiseach's visit to the demilitarised zone. We have had a complete realignment of politics. We have seen what has happened across the world. We have to take into account the heightened relationship between Russia and North Korea and how this will continue. All these conflict plays can impact on a wider scale. We are not entirely sure. Has the Taoiseach garnered any learnings when he was there?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Pacific strategy, which Deputy Haughey mentioned, was launched by the Tánaiste quite recently. Our relationship in the region is flourishing, including at political level. We have already exceeded our target of €100 billion in two-way trade with the region. The world around us has been transformed in recent years, not just by the pandemic but by geopolitical developments. That is why the Government updated the strategy, renewing Ireland's level of ambition with more than 50 specific commitments. The cross-government stakeholders group, including the State agencies, will continue to drive implementation. My trade mission to Korea with the Ministers, Deputies Coveney, McConalogue and Harris, as well as the Tánaiste's recent visit to China, signal our increased level of engagement with this dynamic region.

On the assessment of North Korea, from talking to people in the region, they have two concerns about potential flashpoints. One is Taiwan. They are concerned that what is happening in Ukraine could happen in Taiwan and that would destabilise the region and cause a lot of suffering. The other concern is the risk caused by North Korea. One thing I was not aware of, which I learned, is that North Korea largely funds its nuclear missile programme through sophisticated cybercrime and cyberextortion. It is a world leader in that regard and that is how it funds much of its military programme. It is also co-operating with President Putin. I understand it provided weapons to Russia to assist it in its attack on Ukraine. It is not clear what President Putin has provided the North Koreans. I certainly think that provocation should be avoided.

I really feel for the people of North Korea, who have had 70 years of experiencing state control, communism, socialism and dictatorship. If anyone wants to see the contrast in different systems, just see the difference between North Korea and South Korea. North Korea was previously the more economically advanced part of the peninsula. Now it goes significantly in the other direction. People do not have basic human rights in North Korea, which is the only way that a regime of that nature can possibly stay in power. Thankfully, we do not have too much of that in Europe anymore, and have never had to experience it here.

In response to Deputy Murphy's question, my understanding is that the fuel cell-powered data centre is not on the electricity grid, which is an advantage. While it may not be powered by renewable gases initially, it could be. I was not at the meeting so I do not know all the details.

Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned High Representative Borrell's statement. It is important we acknowledge that Hamas uses human shields. It currently has hundreds of hostages in Gaza. There is evidence it has used churches, mosques, hospitals and schools. That does not for a second justify the destruction of those buildings or installations. We have dealt with terrorism here in Ireland, including terrorist organisations that wanted to bring down this State and terrorist organisations that committed terrible war crimes in Northern Ireland. I do not remember anyone ever thinking it justifiable to destroy a whole hospital because there might be a terrorist in it.