Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [4389/25]

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [4451/25]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February. [4524/25]

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [4534/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the European Council’s informal summit on 3 February 2025. [5806/25]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the informal EU leaders' meeting in February. [7610/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders’ informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [9486/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the informal EU leaders' retreat on 3 February 2025. [9490/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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19. To ask the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the informal EU leaders' retreat on 3 February. [9493/25]

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [11136/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [12370/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February 2025. [12469/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Taoiseach provide a report on his attendance at the EU leaders' informal retreat on 3 February? This meeting focused on European defence, addressing critical topical issues such as enhancing defence capabilities and financing EU defence priorities. We have seen the need to improve our own defence capabilities in this country, and I look forward to hearing the Taoiseach's response.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Taoiseach goes first.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 22, inclusive, together.

I attended an informal leaders’ retreat on 3 February hosted by the President of the European Council, António Costa, in Brussels. The main focus of our discussions was European security and defence. The meeting was an important opportunity for leaders to offer strategic guidance ahead of the publication of a White Paper on the topic by the European Commission, which I think happened earlier today.

Issues discussed included how best to mitigate some of the threats and challenges the EU collectively faces, and the capabilities needed to address these challenges. We discussed how new priorities within the security and defence area can be financed. Leaders also considered how to strengthen our strategic partnerships. We are in an individually tailored partner with NATO, for example, on cybersecurity and maritime security. The United Kingdom Prime Minister addressed the meeting's dinner event with respect to the broader security issues that are now facing Europe and the Secretary General of NATO addressed a lunch meeting and gave his organisation's perspective.

As I said, Prime Minister Starmer also joined us for part of the discussions. That was the first time a UK Prime Minister has met with the European Council since Brexit. The UK is an important partner for the European Union, and there are issues we can collaborate. Economically, from an Irish perspective, it is also good to see a more harmonious relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Ireland is and will remain militarily neutral, and that is well understood and respected by our fellow European Union states. Our policy of military neutrality, however, does not remove us from the new types of security threats, nor compromise us helping to create a more secure European Union as we continue to invest and modernise our own Defence Forces.

Continuing support for Ukraine, as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s brutal, illegal and amoral invasion, was also an important aspect of our discussions. In this context, European Union-US relations were also discussed. At a time of heightened tensions around the world, we need a strong transatlantic relationship. Leaders emphasised the need to continue engaging with President Trump and his administration. Following the meeting, I had a short bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at which we discussed European Union-UK relations and British-Irish relations ahead of our summit.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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That is interesting. To get the Taoiseach's attention, I just call another Deputy, and he very quickly got back.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I had my chance but it got complicated.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I do not want to repeat what Deputy Ó Cearúil has said but the meeting of 3 February is part of a series of meetings that are extremely important for Ireland with regard to planning our security and defence.

It is a changed world. We have an unstable Europe and an aggressive Russia. Unfortunately, we have evidence since 3 February that perhaps the US is not going to be a reliable security partner in the future. There are concerns that the future of Europe is being discussed over the heads of European partners in the European Union and the UK by Russia and the United States. That is of increasing concern. It is extremely important that Ireland increases and strengthens its co-operation with the European Union under the common security and defence policy and under PESCO. We realise that we are militarily neutral, but we are not a neutral country. We need to have this debate. We need to strengthen our own defences, both in the sea and in the air. We also need to strengthen our capability with radar. We also need to invest heavily in countering cybersecurity.

For people who feel that Ireland is not at war with anyone, we have been attacked repeatedly by Russia. We have been clear about the attack on the HSE. I know a practice in the west of Ireland, a small business, that was attacked and hacked. It cost the business thousands of euro in ransom and in putting its systems right. We are, unfortunately, in a hybrid warfare situation where Ireland is under attack. We need to take our position seriously. Most neutral countries, or countries that were neutral, such as Finland and Sweden, took their neutrality seriously and developed proper defence systems in their countries. We have been complacent and we need to grow up, mature and take our defence and security seriously. I am delighted that the Government is continuing the policy of co-operating with the European Union and strengthening that relationship.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I find myself in large agreement with Deputy Daly. Like the Taoiseach, I was born in 1960. Back in the sixties, for entertainment we had a very strong diet of American movies, TV programmes and sitcoms. That might have helped us come to the view of the US as the land of opportunity, a champion of democracy and human rights on the world stage and, if you like, a self-appointed world police force. If this was ever true, it certainly is manifestly not true today. The Irish people, our representatives and the Taoiseach are hugely invested in the plight of the Palestinian people and the case of the Ukrainian population. Our commitment to a fair and lasting peace is unquestionable. If we were to look to the US to be an honest broker and a defender of the rule of law and human rights, we see that everything has changed. We see Trump, whose politics repulse me. My revulsion at Trump's politics is not tempered in any way by the fact that he has been elected. Indeed, I am more concerned and apprehensive as a result of that. We see Trump trying to commandeer Ukrainian natural resources, proposing a discussion with Putin on the divisions of the spoils of war, the divisions of land and the remaining resources, such as who will have control of the nuclear power plants. We have also heard his appalling plan that Gaza would become the Mar-a-Lago of the East. I do not know if he wants to own it himself, but he sees American as owning it. This is a travesty and demonstrates clearly to us, and to any sane and sensible person in the world, that we need a new world order. We need new leaders to step forward. I put it to the Taoiseach that our own Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders in the EU such as himself have the capacity to provide the inspiration and moral leadership that we are never going to get from President Trump.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Ireland is one of the most exposed countries in the world to the US trade tariff war. Ireland exports relatively more to the US than most other European countries. Last year, we exported €72 billion worth of goods, €58 billion of which comes under the heading of pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Obviously, the Taoiseach sat in the same room as President Trump, and pharmaceuticals are a target of the US Administration. Under those threatened tariff increases, there would be a situation where these products would become more expensive to people in the US. If that happens, some of those firms will relocate the production of those materials to the US. That will lead to a fall in GDP, in corporation tax and in jobs. It would actually put our own budgetary situation in a very difficult position. We are enormously exposed in this regard. What is the Government's ability to influence the direction? I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach was in Washington DC last week to try to make a case for Ireland in that scenario, but it has to be looked at.

There is a situation where the European Union, in a retaliatory tariff, focused on the issue of Bourbon. By focusing on Bourbon, the EU put Irish whiskey in the sights of the US. A potential 200% tariff increase would make a significant difference. What influence do we have in terms of the EU's decisions regarding the trade war? How can we make sure that it protects Irish interests?

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I note that the Taoiseach said the focus of the informal meeting of EU leaders was on security. Clearly, there is a huge threat to European democracy as we see increasing authoritarianism, both from Trump's Government in the US and much closer to home from the threat of Russia on Europe's borders and the threat of the Russian dictator, Putin, and his regime in particular. It is very positive to hear most European leaders standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It is deeply concerning, of course, to see the approach taken by Hungary and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has repeatedly vetoed collective support at EU level for Ukraine. Hungary has taken increasingly authoritarian actions within its own borders. I note that the Hungarian Government has recently banned LGBT pride. What can the Taoiseach say and do to stand up for LGBT rights with the Hungarian Prime Minister and to ensure that the EU holds firm, notwithstanding Orbán's position, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine?

It is not just in Ukraine of course that we see democracy under threat. I recently attended a conference hosted by the Belarusian opposition. It was inspiring to hear Belarusian opposition leaders speaking out about the dictatorial regime of Lukashenko and the authoritarianism and suppression they face. Can we mark next Tuesday, 25 March? It is Belarus Freedom Day, and it is a day when democrats across Europe should stand in solidarity with the principles of democracy.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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The informal EU leaders' retreat in February 2025 focused on an increase in Europe's defence capabilities by 30%. It also discussed other issues of co-operation with the US and UK. I have heard the Taoiseach and other TDs in the Chamber today talk about the fact that we are living in a world that has becoming more brutal, more divisive, more militaristic and more nakedly imperialistic. However, the way to counter that is not for Europe to tool up and arm itself. In fact, some of the people who were supporting the naked imperialism in terms of Gaza are also constituent parts of the EU, namely Germany and France. All of these people are sending weapons and arms for the Israeli attacks on Palestine, for example.

The other thing is that the Taoiseach said he would go to the US and be honest, but he was not honest in that he deliberately foregrounded Donald Trump as being an agent of peace. Now we have seen a brutal attack on Gaza, leaving 400 people dead in the biggest single attack since 2023, and all I have heard from the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste has been very meek condemnation. The Taoiseach has not called it a war crime.

You have not called out what happened. You can roll your eyes-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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You have not condemned Israel.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am moving on. The Deputy is eating into her colleagues' time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I absolutely did. The Deputy just made that up.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The death toll in Gaza in the past two days is estimated to be 1,000. Hundreds have been slaughtered in their beds by Israel. Will the Taoiseach admit and condemn the fact that the horrific slaughter of 50,000 or so people over the past 15 months could not have been done without the weapons provided by the United States under Biden previously and now Trump, whose ethnic cleansing plan for Gaza has egged on and clearly emboldened the Israeli regime to start to commit further atrocities, and the weapons provided by European Union states? These European states, particularly Germany, but also France, Italy and Britain, which is not a member of the EU but which is coming to these meetings, have the blood of dead Palestinians on their hands. Will the Taoiseach acknowledge that fact and condemn it? That is why people will be protesting outside the Dáil tonight and at the weekend.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Please, Deputy.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is because of the complicity of European and western countries with the slaughter in Gaza.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Can the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach give everyone an equal amount of time?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am now. I missed it at the start but I will do my best.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Can I point out that we are about 40 minutes over time?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I have only taken the Chair-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not mind. I am not giving out. This could be over by now.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I appreciate that. That is why I am trying my best. I just took the Chair.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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This could and should be over by now if the Deputies were following all the rules all the time.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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We are not chairing the meetings.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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They are trying to dictate to all of us.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am doing my best to be fair.

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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During recent European Council meetings, I understand Ireland has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine's bid for fast-tracked EU membership. Could the Taoiseach elaborate on the specific role Ireland has played in these discussions? Has he proposed any concrete measures or timelines to facilitate Ukraine's integration into the EU, especially given the challenges of aligning with EU standards while the country is still at war? How does Ireland balance its support for Ukraine with the concerns of other candidate countries, which may have been waiting for many years to progress their accession process?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputies. I kind of responded to Deputy Ó Cearúil. I agree with what Deputy Daly said. We need to strengthen our defences and capability. What Deputy Daly said about a small business in his constituency is interesting. Some people in the House are oblivious about the level of cybersecurity attacks on the private sector in Ireland. Many companies are spending a lot of money on their cybersecurity defences because it is very disruptive. Universities have been hit. The HSE was paralysed during Covid by the Conti group, which is a group in Russia that did enormous damage. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the level of cyberattacks in Europe has gone up exponentially. The Baltics are experiencing hybrid warfare at the moment, which many believe is emanating from Russia. The consistent theme in European meetings for the past year is the existential threat that Russia poses to European states. I was struck by Deputies Coppinger and Boyd Barrett not mentioning Russia once. That speaks eloquently to the lens through which they look at the world.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I have been on more protests at Russian embassies than-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the European Union meetings-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Russia is a brutal imperialist power. Is that what the Taoiseach is looking for?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputies had their chance and did not even mention Russia. It is a one-way ticket as far as the Deputies are concerned. The fact is that the Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden and others feel there is a genuine existential threat to Europe. Europe feels exposed, and that it does not have the necessary capabilities yet. It needs to enhance its capabilities. That is why there is a build-up and investment in security capacities across all the member states, particularly because Europe may not be able to rely on others as partners in the future and needs to be in a position to have the wherewithal to defend itself-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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And sell weapons to Israel.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and its member states. The geopolitical world is changing. The US is clear in saying that it will remain a member of NATO, but it seems to many in Europe that Europe will have to develop its own independent capacities and capabilities-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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To sell weapons to Israel.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----as will member states. On Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's point, Europe will have to stand up and be the bastion of a multilateral, rules-based order. It will have to maintain its focus on the United Nations in a world where that is being threatened and undermined. There is no doubt of that. Ireland as a small country needs an international, global rules system. It is what we always stood for. Deputy Tóibín mentioned that we are exposed. We are. We should not forget that it is not about goods alone. If one factors in services, one can see that Ireland is actually in deficit in its trade with the US. European Union-US trade, if you factor in services, is about €50 billion in surplus out of approximately €1.7 trillion. America does not look at its services figures at all, but in any trade balance, services have to be factored in as well as goods. We are engaging with companies and with the European Union.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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How?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union will take a strategic view on how it responds to whatever tariffs are imposed. We do not quite know yet what tariffs, at which level or in which sectors, will happen. We will know on 2 April and then Europe will take some time, though not too long, to see how it responds. Europe does not want any tariffs. Europe believes that tariffs are damaging to the economy, to jobs and to consumers because inflation will rise as a result of them.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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How do we respond?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In response to Deputy Bacik, in the past, I have defended LGBT rights at the European Council meeting in the face of decisions taken by Prime Minister Orbán to curtail such rights, and will continue to do so. Hungary's behaviour on the Council on a number of fronts has been a matter of grave concern in recent times.

In respect of the Middle East, I have condemned the Israeli attack. I have said it is in breach of humanitarian law, as is the refusal to allow aid into Gaza. Ireland has been very supportive of Palestinians, with humanitarian aid, UNRWA and a whole range of other measures that we have taken on the issue. There are different perspectives across Europe and in the United States on the Middle Eastern question.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Brostaigh, le do thoil.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will indeed. All the focus of Deputy Boyd Barrett's remarks was on the European Union, without a mention of Russia.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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The question was on the European Union.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have said consistently that the conduct of modern warfare is appalling, no matter where is waged. It leads to the killing of civilians in huge numbers. In Ukraine, it has been absolutely appalling. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, with devastating impacts for ordinary people. There has been massive displacement of 12 million people. The population of Ukraine is estimated to have gone from 40 million to 28 million, which is devastating.

In response to Deputy Brennan, we have consistently called for acceleration, which has created an acceleration on the western Balkan front too. There was a pause in the enlargement of the European Union for well over a decade. There has been much movement over the past two years. I have a geopolitical perspective that the European Union needs to enlarge, otherwise Russia will meddle in the neighbourhood. North Macedonia or Montenegro could be next. We are working with Ukraine, as is the European Commission. It has proven itself responsive and effective in moving forward with the process.