Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have also taken part in a unique Swedish political event, Almedalen Week, which takes place every summer and brings all the political parties in Sweden together to try to reach consensus around political issues. Some of the debate in Sweden around foreign policy and human rights is something useful that we could share. In this House, we have talked about how we should work more closely with non-aligned countries who are members of the European Union. I look forward to the reopening of the embassy.

With regard to our partnership in the European Union, I welcome the decision of the EU Council last night to impose further sanctions, particularly a ban on all seaborne oil from Russia. However, I am concerned by the continued approach of Hungary and Viktor Orbán. His actions are facilitating the ongoing war in Ukraine and his relationship with Vladimir Putin should be of serious concern. The EU must be based around values and there has to be responsibility on the part of EU leaders.When those leaders do not exercise responsibility to defend EU values, we need to take action.

This is blockchain awareness week. Blockchain is a technology that could transform public administration in many ways. For example, an Irish company, AID:Tech, is transforming how we look at the development of overseas development aid and ensuring that it is done in a very efficient way. I call again for a debate about how technology is changing our lives and how we all need to upskill and reskill for those challenges. We are going to see the introduction of a digital euro within a few years. We are going to see blockchain underpinning a lot more of the technologies that we use. It is important that we debate those issues in this House.

Yesterday at Wexford County Council, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, launched Wexford's second age-friendly strategy. It is a comprehensive strategy to ensure that as we get older, we live in age-friendly communities. Some 22% of our population will be over the age of 65 within the next decade. We have to ensure that our communities are as age-friendly as possible. I pay tribute to the team in Wexford County Council, Ann Marie Laffan, Ger Mackey and also the volunteers led by Kevin Molloy, who brought about the production of this age-friendly strategy. I wish them well in the implementation of the strategy.