Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role that the Government will seek to play to ensure that all European Union Member States adhere to the rule-of-law functions which guarantee fundamental protection of rights and values for all its citizens. [49073/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU is a union of laws and values. The rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States and it is of vital importance that the rule of law is preserved, protected, and promoted across the Union. I welcome Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s strong words on protecting the Rule of Law and our European values in her most recent State of the Union address.

Ireland has consistently supported the development of a more robust range of tools by the European Commission to ensure that Member States adhere to rule of law obligations as enshrined in the EU treaties. These tools include the Annual Rule of Law Report process and the Regulation on a General Regime of Conditionality for the Protection of the Union Budget.I welcome that this year’s Annual Rule of Law Report introduced new country specific recommendations as a means to further encourage progress on Rule of Law across all Member States and address difficulties. Ireland has also been a clear advocate for the budget conditionality regulation that aims to ensure rule of law challenges do not adversely affect sound financial management of EU funds.

Ireland remains concerned by the situation in those EU Member States where there are persistent challenges with respect to upholding the rule of law. We will continue to participate actively in the Article 7 Treaty on European Union (TEU) processes in relation to Poland and Hungary which were launched on foot of concerns regarding these Member States’ adherence to EU values. We will also engage fully in the upcoming Council of the EU discussions that will ultimately determine if EU funding to Hungary is suspended pursuant to the budget conditionality mechanism.

Ireland will continue to engage comprehensively with the EU’s multifaceted response to internal rule of law challenges and encourage continued dialogue on these issues among Member States.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement that he has had with his European Union counterparts regarding the unusual leaks at the Nordstream gas pipeline; his views and concerns on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48893/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is deeply concerned by the sudden and extensive gas leaks detected in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines last week.

There has been ongoing contact with our EU partners since early last week at political and senior official level on this issue. I spoke with my Danish counterpart on Wednesday last week to express Ireland’s support and solidarity with Denmark and the Danish people and to get an update on what occurred. We are also in close contact with our Swedish partners.

All the analysis to date indicates that these leaks are the result of deliberate acts of sabotage. We understand that at least two detonations occurred underwater, damaging the pipelines and causing major leaks of natural gas into the Baltic Sea. The magnitude of the explosions was measured at 2.3 and 2.1 on the Richter Scale, corresponding to an explosive load in the region of several hundred kilos.

The immediate priority must be to ensure maritime safety and avert the risk of a climate and ecological disaster.

The irresponsibility of such acts cannot be overstated and must deeply concern us all. That such acts might occur now, in the midst of a global energy crisis and with winter fast approaching, makes it all the more appalling.

The EU has made clear that any deliberate disruption of European energy infrastructure is utterly unacceptable. As we also stated at the UN Security Council last week, Ireland and our fellow EU Member States will ensure that it is met with a robust and united response.

We strongly support the on-going investigations in the most affected Member States to determine the full facts behind the leaks. Sweden, Denmark and other affected Member States have our full support in managing the consequences of this indefensible act and we stand ready to provide any assistance necessary.