Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the situation in Malta; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51216/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Maltese Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, announced on 1 December that he will step down as his party's leader on 12 January 2020 and as Prime Minister in the days after. This follows a number of significant arrests made in late November in relation to the October 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Allegations have been made against senior Government officials and a number of resignations have taken place.

Immediately following Ms. Caruana Galizia's murder, Ireland condemned it as an unspeakable attack on freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right in a democracy. It is essential for a healthy democracy that journalists feel safe to pursue their work. It is Ireland's hope that developments in the investigation will lead to those responsible for Ms. Caruana Galizia's murder finally being brought to justice.