Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 20 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business today. Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the shooting of a member of An Garda Síochána this morning and I am sure we all share Senator Ardagh's sentiments in that regard. I know that there was a call for a debate recently on community gardaí. Community gardaí play a very significant role in my own area. It seems that there is a shortage of community gardaí in some areas, while in other areas they are plentiful. That is an issue that I will bring to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Senator also raised the issue of home repossessions. Again, I am happy to raise that matter with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and to ask him to come to the House for a debate on it.

Senators Grace O'Sullivan, Gavan, Craughwell, Warfield, O'Reilly, Higgins, Davitt and Ó Clochartaigh all raised the issue of PESCO, on which I have a note. PESCO is a mechanism provided for under the Treaty of the European Union to enable countries to come together voluntarily, on a project by project basis, to jointly develop military crisis management capabilities for use in the support of CSDP operations. On Monday, 13 November, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, attended by foreign and defence Ministers, 23 member states signed the PESCO notification which sets out the agreed framework on which PESCO will operate. The formal launch of PESCO is expected to happen at the December Foreign Affairs Council. Ireland was not in a position to sign the notification document as we have a clear national decision-making process that must be followed. When Ireland approved the Lisbon treaty in 2009, the requirements to join PESCO were set out in legislation. As the PESCO notification provides for contributing to the enhancement of capabilities for UN mandated missions, the Government decided that Ireland should participate in the initiative. The next phase in the decision-making process will be a Dáil decision, which will take place on Friday, 8 December.

The matter will be debated in the Dáil but it has been agreed that a Minister will come to this House to discuss it. Unfortunately, however, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, is currently answering Leaders' Questions in the Dáil and following that he will be tied up with the Brexit negotiations. The Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, is not in the House today. The Taoiseach is also tied up today. It has been agreed, therefore, that a Minister will come to the House next week to discuss the matter. A number of Senators asked that the Taoiseach would come to the House. I wish to confirm that he will come to Seanad Éireann in early January. He is coming in to discuss this and many other issues. That has been confirmed and a date has been provisionally set and is awaiting approval by the party leaders. Unfortunately, neither the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade nor the Minister of State at the Department of Defence is available today. They will be available next week to debate the matter. I hope that is satisfactory.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the meeting of the SeanadPublic Consultation Committee on Tuesday last on the national anthem and called for further debate in the House on the matter. I am sure that will be facilitated in the near future, following the publication of the recommendations of the aforementioned committee. Senators Gallagher and O'Reilly raised the issue of the Scott medal and made particular reference to those who have waited 41 years for the awarding of such medals.I pay tribute to the seven gardái who will be honoured tomorrow for their bravery and heroism, two of whom, sadly, are no longer with us.

Senator Warfield also raised the issue of PESCO and Ireland's neutrality.

Senator O'Reilly raised the issue of President Trump's proposal to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has expressed his concerns on that matter but I will bring the Senator's remarks to his attention. Senator Colm Burke raised the same issue and I will also bring his comments to the attention of the Minister.

Senator Higgins asked that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House today for a debate on the PESCO. I have already set out the position in that regard.