Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Brasseur, and thank her for her address to this House. She has opened the eyes of some of us, including myself, who did not know a great deal about the Council of Europe. Other Members of the Houses, including Deputy O'Reilly and Senator Mooney, know a great deal more about the Council and have much experience of it. I will give Ms Brasseur an opportunity to add to what she has said. Could we have a brief overview of five achievements of the Parliamentary Assembly in the past year? Russia will play a large part in this and I understand the crisis in Ukraine must have put huge pressure on the Council of Europe. Will the lack of trust that has grown between Russia and Ukraine damage the Council of Europe? If Russia withdraws its €23 million contribution to the Council, which it has not yet done, will it mean the Council will be unable to function as competently as in the past?

Ireland has been involved in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE. That organisation has several hundred people involved in the Ukraine crisis. Is there a danger the Council of Europe will duplicate this work or will its work complement that of the OSCE?

What is Ms Brasseur's view on the rise of extremism in Europe? This is a concern for everyone, though extremism varies depending on the country. Some countries have shifted sharply to the right and some to the left. Can we learn from this and what can we do about it?

What deficits in legislation does the assembly see in Ireland? Where should our focus be as legislators and what should we do differently?

I thank Ms Brasseur for the insight she has given. I apologise that I will not be in the House for the next few minutes but I hope to return for her answers.