Dáil Debates - By Topic

[Statements] Tá áthas orm labhairt os comhair na Dála inniu faoi chruinniú Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh a bhí ar siúl sa Bhruiséal an 14 Nollaig agus an 15 Nollaig. Bhuail an Chomhairle le chéile i gceithre bhfoirm difriúla le linn an dá lá. Bhí an phríomhchruinniú ar siúl Déardaoin, 14 Nollaig,...

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[Statements] The Friday morning euro summit which met in its extended format took place in the presence of outgoing President of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem and the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, whom I welcomed to Dublin late last year. Both noted that the economic sit...

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[Statements] Is léir nach raibh cruinniú na Comhairle Eorpaí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair chomh práinneach agus a cheapamar roimhe sin, cé go raibh ceist Brexit beagnach réitithe roimh an gcruinniú. Is maith an rud é sin ach bhí go leor rudaí tábhachtacha le plé ag na rialtais éagsúla ag an gcruinniú cho...

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[Statements] On 28 and 29 June, I will attend a meeting of the European Council in Brussels. I will also attend a meeting of the European Council in its Article 50 format and a eurozone summit. The meeting of the European Council proper on Thursday will focus on security and defence, migration, jo...

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[Statements] Partners are respectful of Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality in these discussions. We are founding members of PESCO and support greater EU-NATO co-operation where it contributes to international peace and security. This ensures better coherence and effectiveness on t...

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[Statements] The European Union is not just an economic entity, it is also fundamentally based on the values of liberal democracy which include fair elections, a balance of powers and respect for rights. The attempt by the Polish Government to take direct charge of the judiciary is clearly against ...

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[Statements] Did the Taoiseach write a letter?[Martin, Micheál]

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[Statements] Beidh mé ag roinnt ama leis an Teachta David Cullinane.[Adams, Gerry]

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[Statements] The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, will speak on the other issues on the agenda of the European Council including innovation and digital, the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and external relations.
I look forward to engaging with my EU colleagues at the European Council, wh...

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[Statements] Aontaithe.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I note the Taoiseach is a bit more informed today about the eurozone budget proposals than he was yesterday. That is to be welcomed.
This week's summit was due to mark a moment of significant progress on Brexit. Unfortunately, this will not now happen. For Ireland, many warning sig...

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[Statements] Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Tá súil agam go raibh sos maith aige i dTír Chonaill.[Adams, Gerry]

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[Statements] Sin ceart, bhí.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] Bhí mé ann fosta, leis an fhearthainn. Ahead of the crucial meeting of the European Council last month, Sinn Féin made it clear that it was vital that the Government secure additional guarantees from the British Prime Minister about the legal standing of the joint report issued by the ...

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[Statements] Hear, hear.[Cullinane, David]

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[Statements] We want the Taoiseach to move beyond the rhetoric. We want him to drill down and ensure there is delivery on some of what he has been saying.[Adams, Gerry]

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[Statements] Are we warming up for a coalition?[Martin, Micheál]

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[Statements] Rock solid, iron-clad guarantees that resolve the contradictions were required to allow the negotiations to move to the next phase with the approval of the Irish Government. That is what has happened, but the question is whether we have rock solid, iron clad guarantees. I can only ass...

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[Statements] The backstop was sold by the Taoiseach, to quote just a few of the descriptions he has used, as "bulletproof", "concrete", "cast-iron" and "rock-solid", yet six months on there has been no progress on turning it into an agreed legal text or in reconciling the Taoiseach's interpretation ...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] There should be no shying away from this because it came from Sinn Féin. We do not care who gets ownership of it or what it is called. I urge An Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and Ms Foster to examine once again the proposals contained in the various policy documents and discussion docum...

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[Statements] My comments will relate particularly to the Friday meeting in Article 50 format and the issue of Brexit. This Council meeting is crunch time, as I have said to the Taoiseach before. We need to see realistic and workable solutions from the British Government as to how it proposes to av...

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[Statements] Three issues emerged from the last European Council meeting: Brexit, defence and monetary reform. All three are crucial and central to the future of the people of this island. All of these Council meetings are at a time when there is a focus on the future of Europe and discussion on t...

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[Statements] I call Deputy Brendan Howlin.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Fáilte romhat ar ais.[Howlin, Brendan]

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[Statements] Go raibh maith agat.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] It is nearly a month since the December European Council meeting. Significant progress was made on Brexit and on the leaders' agenda, discussed prior to Christmas. It is unfortunate that debate on many of the changes under way in Europe has been limited and more often lost in the unde...

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[Statements] It cannot be allowed to happen. Make no mistake: it is the considered strategy of the British Government. It is playing for time for precisely this reason. Much is at stake and in the past two years we have had nothing but chaos and division from the British Government. We have had ...

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[Statements] The proposal from the leaders' agenda to envisage an ERASMUS programme for young artists would be a fitting legacy to and expansion of his work, as well as a tangible benefit for all EU citizens. The outcomes of the Council also refer to a proposal to encourage the emergence by 2024 of...

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[Statements] This will mark the Taoiseach's fifth EU Council meeting. It will also mark two years since the UK citizenry voted to leave the European Union. Unfortunately, little progress has been made on addressing Ireland’s core concerns to date. The bulletproof backstop that was agreed last Dec...

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[Statements] I am sharing time with Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett.[Murphy, Paul]

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[Statements] Is that agreed? Agreed.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] The meeting of the European Council which took place last Thursday and Friday dealt with several issues of importance to the Union. It began on Thursday afternoon with a substantial discussion about the complex issue of migration, which remains, quite rightly, a priority for the Union....

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[Statements] I want to raise the question of Palestine and the EU's relationship with Israel. I know it was on the Council agenda.
I must say goodbye to the Taoiseach. I note his regular departure once Solidarity-People Before Profit Members start to speak.[Murphy, Paul]

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[Statements] I have been here for the past four hours. How long has Deputy Paul Murphy been here?[Taoiseach, The]

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[Statements] Has the Taoiseach ever stayed for any of our contributions in any of the debates he leads off on?[Murphy, Paul]

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[Statements] Last Thursday and Friday, I travelled to Brussels for a meeting of the European Council where I joined with other leaders to discuss a range of important issues facing the Union. This was my first meeting of the European Council since being elected Taoiseach and it was a very useful op...

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[Statements] Regularly.[Taoiseach, The]

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[Statements] No. For every single European Council debate, the Taoiseach stays until the Labour Party, with its seven Members, speaks, as he rightly should. Then he leaves when Solidarity-People Before Profit, with six Members, starts to speak because our ideas are not worth listening to. I am su...

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[Statements] The Rural Independent Group has seven Members. I do not get the Deputy's point.[McGrath, Mattie]

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[Statements] The Taoiseach should also stay and listen to Deputy Mattie McGrath's group. He should stay to listen to what all Members have to say in these debates in which he leads off.
Obviously, the question of Jerusalem was on the agenda of the European Council meeting. The European Union is ...

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[Statements] Apparently, it will be a 24-hour marathon meeting to finalise a White Paper on its plans for a future relationship with the EU. The emerging position of Mrs. May appears to be a form of maximum facilitation rather than a customs partnership, so it will leave the customs union in a mann...

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[Statements] The reaction of the right wing is appalling. The education minister stated that she should end her life in prison. Ahed Tamimi is still in prison, as is her mother. She should be released. Their case illustrates the treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli occupation. Some ...

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[Statements] I hope progress can be made as quickly as possible in order that some certainty can be provided early in the withdrawal process to citizens and their families and friends.
Prime Minister May then left the meeting and we continued as 27, in Article 50 format, discussing issues relating...

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[Statements] This openness is one of the reasons international companies locate here and why Irish companies, particularly SMEs, do so well exporting and trading on the international stage.
The Government, while watchful of our own interests, continues to support free trade agreements where the su...

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[Statements] The world is watching what is happening in the US with horror as the attacks by Trump on migrants increase, with the upholding of the Muslim ban, the separation and caging of children of migrants and the speech he made to a conservative political action committee, PAC, in recent days in...

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[Statements] I also want to raise the issue of Palestine. I echo the comments about Ahed Tamimi and the horrendous treatment of a child and her mother protesting against the illegal and immoral occupation of Palestinian territory in defiance of any notion of a two-state solution or international la...

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[Statements] Last week's summit took no significant decisions and all its specific outcomes were well signalled in advance, yet this is an important moment for Europe, where the future shape and direction of the EU is receiving more attention than at any time in the last quarter of a century. This ...

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[Statements] Next March will be the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which created what is now the EU. Within days of the anniversary, the UK will submit formal notice of its intention to leave the Union. In spite of 60 years successfully fighting the extremism of the left an...

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[Statements] "Trump is a pig" ran the banner at the Roger Waters gig last night in the 3Arena. The audience at the gig erupted in applause and cheering when it saw the words emblazoned behind Roger Waters. The visual imagery conveyed the horror of Trump's racist, anti-migrant policies, his plans f...

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[Statements] I am sharing time with Deputy Clare Daly. Looking at the agenda from the EU summit, we noticed that security and defence played a big role. I know we have had a debate on PESCO. Those of us who have reservations and criticisms about PESCO aired those views. I hope those reservations...

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[Statements] Hear, hear.[Crowe, Seán]

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[Statements] The benefits of an open free trade policy for Ireland have not had sufficient articulation. There are many issues in respect of job creation and so on.
The summit’s conclusions on the energy union are, to say the least, disappointing. Given our level of connectivity in energy and co...

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[Statements] Tá áthas orm seasamh os comhair an Tí le labhairt faoi chruinniú an Chomhairle Eorpaigh na míosa seo, a bhí ar siúl sa Bhruiséal Déardaoin agus Dé hAoine seo caite. Ar an Déardaoin, rinne an Chomhairle Eorpach plé ar inimirce, an Eoraip dhigiteach, cúrsaí slándála agus cosanta agus an ...

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[Statements] Is the Taoiseach's script available?[Martin, Micheál]

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[Statements] I do not know.[Taoiseach, The]

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[Statements] Normally it is circulated.[Martin, Micheál]

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[Statements] I apologise if Deputies do not have it yet.[Taoiseach, The]

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[Statements] I will check with the ushers.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I rewrote it somewhat this morning and so there may have been a delay.
This is reflected in the conclusions we adopted. Without a level playing field internationally if Europe were to act unilaterally, we might end up handing an advantage over other non-EU economies. As Ireland has ...

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[Statements] The previous budget for frontier officers, which was €4 billion for the previous five years is now going up to €25 billion. There will be more officers to keep desperate migrants coming from North Africa, Syria and elsewhere out of Europe with the consequence that 35,000 men, women and...

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[Statements] I know that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade called on all sides to be respectful, but one side definitely is not. Recently eight regional leaders, with one Jesuit who is working with them, were called "an axis of evil". There is the intimidation and harassment of civil soci...

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[Statements] In light of the good progress that has been achieved, however, we agreed that Mr. Barnier and the Council should start internal preparations among the EU 27 for the next phase.
It is worth recalling that, for there to be sufficient progress, we do not need to see the three issues full...

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[Statements] No one knows what Ireland's position is. More importantly, we are not building alliances and shaping discussions. While we talk about Europe in Dáil Éireann a lot more than in the past, this has become almost solely focused on short-term discussions. I acknowledge there are substanti...

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[Statements] Let us remember something very simple. Russia is responsible for a brutal dictator refusing to hand over power to democratic forces. It is Russia which is using bunker-busting bombs to hit civilian hospitals and residential areas repeatedly. To compare this to the bombing by America ...

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[Statements] I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the upcoming Council meeting, which is important on several issues such as Brexit, migration and neutrality. Even if we get everything we want through the Brexit deal, we will come out worse off because of the threats Europe is p...

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[Statements] At December's meeting the assembled Ministers discussed migration. Yet again, we are told the discussion was based on a note circulated by President Tusk which focused on "preventing mass arrivals at external borders and tackling the root causes of the migration crisis". In the short ...

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[Statements] The Taoiseach mentioned that the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, will respond to the statements but I understand the Order of Business provides for eight ten-minute slots. I apologise, there will be questions as well. I call Deputy Micheál Martin.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I call Deputy Gerry Adams who is sharing time with Deputy Seán Crowe.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I ask the Minister of State to be truthful when she gives her interpretation of what is happening in respect of England leaving the EU.[Healy-Rae, Danny]

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[Statements] I wish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister of State a happy new year.
The outcomes of the European Council meeting before Christmas are important and cover many areas. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, I will refer mostly to the Brexit negotiations....

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[Statements] Last week's summit reached no major or unexpected conclusions. While it was an important summit, unfortunately, it was not decisive in changing the direction of the European Union on any of the topics it discussed. If the House looks back to the early months of the Taoiseach’s predece...

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[Statements] Last week's European Council meeting, being the first one attended by the new British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was a significant one. There was obviously a significant focus on Brexit. While it is now over four months since the Brexit referendum, the British Government still seems...

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[Statements] During the pre-Council statements, I raised the pressure the Parliament of Wallonia was under to ratify CETA. Many parties in Europe would see this decision by a small region as an irritant or democracy gone mad. I see it, however, as a victory for democracy and citizens all over Euro...

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[Statements] We were given the impression before Christmas by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that all was rosy in the garden and that there would not be a hard border. I do not know how or where that interpretation came from because it seems that everything is still up in the air. I believe the di...

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[Statements] The full and final solution which takes into account the particulars of the Irish Border has not been found yet. We know what the parameters of it are but not how every little piece will work or what exactly regulatory alignment is and in what areas it is needed. The EU will need to g...

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[Statements] We welcome this agenda but it is important to realise that there are certain problems with what has been proposed. At the most basic level, far too little work has been done on the specifics of proposals and on defining the realm of what is and is not achievable through legislation tha...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] Such a role does not fit within the Commission's standard approach.
Before the start of the summit, I attended a meeting of party leaders from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE, which included various Commissioners and prime ministers and the European Parliament'...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] Does the Taoiseach agree that the democratic political process in Belgium must be respected and that all threats against the people of Wallonia should be lifted? There is a need for a serious rethink of the EU trade policy agenda, particularly the secrecy surrounding such deals, an iss...

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[Statements] I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the senior Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, for the way they have been working diligently on this important issue of Brexit and the implications and problems we are all facing. We are going to face them together in a workperson-like way...

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[Statements] I wish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Minister of State and everyone in the House a happy new year. As there was no time to do so on the Order of Business, I did not sympathise on the sad passing of Dolores O'Riordan, the famous singer. She was an excellent ambassador for Ireland thro...

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[Statements] Beidh mise agus an Teachta David Cullinane ag caint ar an ábhar sin.
During statements in advance of the European Council, I raised a number of very important matters with the Taoiseach, including Brexit, the plight of Ibrahim Halawa and the ongoing political crisis in Catalonia. Tha...

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[Statements] The Deputy should conclude. He has significantly exceeded his time.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] In many cases it has to do with security checks made by institutions.[Taoiseach, The]

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[Statements] I am happy to be able to address some of these issues. As I understand it Minister - the Taoiseach is gone - the European Council will be discussing economic and monetary union, EMU, which governs the euro area as well as the Union's budget. We know that one of the major illegal activ...

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[Statements] You are being presumptuous but you have reminded me you are over time. To put some structure on this, there are 20 minutes for questions and answers and five minutes for the Minister of State to wind up. If Deputies who wish to ask questions would indicate, we will deal with them. I ...

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[Statements] Shame.[Murphy, Paul]

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[Statements] To do this, we need to have sufficient staffing and expertise in place. The review of staffing resources engaged on Brexit, which was first promised almost a year ago, needs to be finished and its recommendations implemented. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his forbearance.[Mart...

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[Statements] Following on from the European Council meeting last week, it would be easy for all of us in this Chamber to focus on Brexit. I will certainly make some references to it. Given that the British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May, took only a few minutes to set out her views at about 1 a.m....

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[Statements] I have two questions. Obviously, the main focus in this country in regard to the summit was the Article 50 negotiations, where it was decided that sufficient progress had been made during the first phase of the Brexit negotiations and where guidelines for the second phase of the negoti...

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[Statements] That is not Fianna Fáil policy. We do not bully our councillors. We have a bit more tolerance than that.[Martin, Micheál]

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[Statements] My apologies to the House.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] That is tolerance of racism.[Barrett, Richard Boyd]

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[Statements] I hope we will all be shown the same latitude.[Barrett, Richard Boyd]

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[Statements] It tolerates bigotry.[Cullinane, David]

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[Statements] With another European Council gone, another opportunity has been missed to put forward Ireland's demands and another chance has gone to tell the European Union that while moral support and rhetoric are fine and well, what this country, North and South, needs is real practical support. ...

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[Statements] It is racism.[Howlin, Brendan]

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[Statements] Am I getting injury time, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle?[Adams, Gerry]

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[Statements] Ar aghaidh leat, Deputy.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] It must be noted that there are hundreds of Border roads, that there are tens of thousands of people who would be affected and that the Border has been in existence for nearly as long as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. What have they done about it? We all know that a European frontier woul...

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[Statements] I will confine my remarks to Brexit and the lack of progress by the European and British negotiators recently in respect of the critical issue of Ireland. My understanding is that some progress has been made on the common travel area, which I welcome. It is the only area in respect of...

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[Statements] We have to settle our own scores but I appeal for the EU, at this summit, besides mentioning Brexit, to deal with the smuggling regimes and the abuse of human beings that is being carried out on those who are travelling to EU countries and who are exploited by the merchants of sex and s...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] The House needs to be informed every step of the way so that we can scrutinise these projects and give them our agreement if they are compatible with our traditional policy of military neutrality.
It seems that President Donald Tusk attempted to launch a major review of the EU's migra...

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[Statements] That is progress, but there will be issues arising in regard to the rights of EU nationals who are not Irish citizens. While this will be a concern for some people, it is a step forward that at least on this issue there appears to be agreement. However, there is no agreement on the is...

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[Statements] Tá sé náireach go dtacaíonn ár gceannairí i mballstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh le córas ina bhfuil dídeanaithe atá tarrthála ó bhaol a mbáite curtha ar ais go priosún sa Libia i gcoinníollacha uafásacha.
These Council meetings will become a regular part of the Taoiseach's agenda and, on b...

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[Statements] As the UK and Ireland often found themselves on the same side in debates on critical decisions, a valuable ally will be lost in terms of future arguments. As my colleagues have mentioned, huge issues arise for this country with regard to the North and the South, the common travel area,...

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[Statements] I refer to the comments made about Deputy Boyd Barrett. Were the comments made directly by the Deputy, I would have considered them problematic. However, he was referring to a poster that was displayed at an event recently.[An Ceann Comhairle]

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[Statements] As there are so few of us and we have 20 minutes remaining, perhaps we might go back and forth.[McEntee, Helen]

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[Statements] There will be a questions and answers session later.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I hope that the Taoiseach enjoyed his first Council meeting. I congratulate the Minister of State on her new responsibilities and wish her well in that regard. It seems from reports that the Taoiseach enjoyed his visit to Brussels and had a busy schedule there.
Last week, Deputy Mic...

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[Statements] I appreciate that the Taoiseach has remained in the House, as I realise he is busy and probably in a hurry to leave. I will set aside the normal political debate we might have in a debate such as this and raise a specific and urgent issue on which I hope there can be all-party agreemen...

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[Statements] As the Taoiseach indicated, I will address the other issues on the agenda of the European Council this week, including the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, innovation and digital, and the external relations items. We are making statements today, but next week Deputies will have t...

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[Statements] Yes.[Barrett, Richard Boyd]

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[Statements] The EU Council came to a number of important conclusions last week on migration, digital Europe, security and defence, external relations and Brexit. Since we last spoke on this issue, a number of significant developments have progressed. In his remarks prior to the Council meeting la...

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[Statements] Sinn Féin supports the motion.[Adams, Gerry]

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[Statements] I wish everyone a happy new year and success throughout the year.
I will answer Deputy Haughey's two questions. The House agreed that Ireland would join PESCO at the initial stage so that we would have an input into what happened in future and not join later as a third party country....

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[Statements] Last week, five Kurdish migrants were found in a shipping container in Wexford. One of them was a three year old girl. They had made an 18 hour journey from Cherbourg in a sealed container containing perishable goods. The migrant camp at Calais currently being dismantled contains 1,3...

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[Statements] Next are Deputies Cullinane, Boyd Barrett and Mattie McGrath. Will we take the three together?[An Ceann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I did not signal, so I do not need to speak.[Cullinane, David]

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[Statements] In that case, I call Deputy Boyd Barrett.[An Ceann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I will follow up on my statement and the questions about Gaza with which I concluded. Jerusalem was discussed at the Council meeting, but I would like a response on the issue of Gaza. I do not know whether the Minister of State can tell us much about what the Minister, Deputy Coveney,...

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[Statements] I cannot speak on the Minister's behalf, but I can send that request to him. If I outline some of what the Tánaiste did on his visit, perhaps the Deputy can ask him for more detail and about what happened at the next Question Time.
He met the Palestinian President and the foreign Min...

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[Statements] I will raise a similar matter regarding PESCO. We debated it before the Christmas break. Assurances were given by the Tánaiste, the Minister of State and others. Will the Minister of State ensure that those commitments will be lived up to so that our personnel who are serving on UN m...

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[Statements] We have also contributed to a series of fully crewed naval vessels to assist with humanitarian search-and-rescue efforts in the Mediterranean, working initially with the Italian Navy as part of Operation Pontus, during which 17,500 people were rescued. More recently, we contributed ves...

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[Statements] We are respected far and wide because we are a neutral country. I hope we will not be sucked into any of the areas against which we railed during that debate. I certainly opposed it and voted against it. In that context, I ask the Minister of State to reassure us that our personnel w...

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[Statements] The Taoiseach reportedly said that Ireland is keen to take part in PESCO but will not make a formal expression of interest until the latter's full remit is clarified. It appears that the Government has concerns about neutrality and is unsure whether the State can join. The Taoiseach r...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] On Brexit, to date the Government has focused on high-level issues. It also needs to begin planning in respect of the mitigation of impacts which we know will come. Three core policy areas in particular require attention: investment in infrastructure, state aid rules, and making the E...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] I share the opinion of the Irish Immigrant Council that this is not acceptable. In fact, I would say that it is shameful.
Last week, "Match of the Day" presenter Mr. Gary Lineker called on the UK Government to do more and to take more child refugees into the UK. Although he was crit...

Vol-926 Book-2

[Statements] My party leader has already comprehensively addressed the key Brexit issues in advance of the upcoming EU Council meeting. However, as Brexit spokesperson for my party, I will take the opportunity to make a few key points before I address other issues coming before the Council.
The f...

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[Statements] I can repeat and absolutely confirm that Ireland's neutrality will not be impacted by our membership of PESCO. In fact, we were one of the last countries to sign up to it and that was because officials in the Department were making absolutely sure that there was no possible way that ou...

Vol-963 Book-5 Page [586]

[Statements] I am sharing time with Deputy Paul Murphy.
The Taoiseach is once again walking out of the Chamber as a Deputy of the left begins speaking. That has become a consistent pattern. Apart from the high-flown rhetoric, the videos and the photo ops, the Taoiseach is not on the moral high g...

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [965]

[Statements] I am quite amazed at the bland, anodyne, passionless statement we received from the Taoiseach about the challenges which face the European Union, some of which are dire and which include issues such as migration, global security and economic and social challenges. That bland, anodyne, ...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [502]

[Statements] As the Minister of State will be aware, Deputy Clare Daly and I have been raising the issue of the Calais camp for several months now and have been pleading with the Government to do something proactive. Sadly, only last week I was told in this Chamber that the Government could do noth...

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[Statements] We will have two final supplementary questions from Deputies Haughey and Boyd Barrett.[An Ceann Comhairle]

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[Statements] We are in new territory in terms of the relationship of capitalist classes here with our so-called European partners and the relationship of the establishment here with that elsewhere.[Murphy, Paul]

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[Statements] I welcome the conclusions of the summit relating to Jerusalem. The European Council reaffirmed its firm commitment to the two state solution and confirmed that the EU's stance on Jerusalem is unchanged, which I welcome. My question relates to climate change. I note that the summit en...

Vol-963 Book-5 Page [586]

[Statements] I will not rehearse the debate about PESCO again. As the Minister of State knows, we are against involvement because we believe it is the slippery slope towards involvement in a European army. The Minister of State and the Government dispute that but I will not get into that debate no...

Vol-963 Book-5 Page [586]

[Statements] Regarding Deputy Haughey's question on climate action, it will not be a problem to provide the information to which the Deputy referred and I will engage with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on that. As the Deputy said, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, rep...

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[Statements] That concludes our discussion on the European Council meeting, pursuant to Standing Order No. 111.[An Ceann Comhairle]

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[Statements] That should be recognised in the context of pay and conditions. I urge the Government to consider this in the context of pay talks and the upcoming budget and seriously address the shortcomings and failures and look after those serving in our Defence Forces. We have no problem request...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] It is clear that a section of the European elites wants to drive ahead with a capitalist integration process in respect of militarisation, the development of permanent structural co-operation, an EU military fund, common culture in the military, and capacity for independent European mil...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] That says a lot about what is happening in this country. The vulture funds swoop in to buy up the land and property assets which NAMA sells to them, and the housing crisis is thereby exacerbated and perpetuated. Apparently that is good for us. It indicates how it was actually encoura...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] They are afraid to go back because their lives are in danger but the EU is talking about doing a deal with Afghanistan to send them back.
We are now talking to the Africans. At a Brussels conference recently there was talk about sending people back to Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal an...

Vol-926 Book-2

[Statements] Following the previous statements in advance of a Council meeting, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach promised we would see real and significant progress at this summit in June on Brexit, the Irish issues associated with Brexit and the December and March agreements, which in the past were c...

Vol-970 Book-8 Page [941]

[Statements] I had a read of President Tusk's statement of 24 October. He stressed the point that the leaders agreed on the previous Friday that the priority was unity among the 27 member states. His words were that his intention is to build on what connects, not on what divides. On the question ...

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [967]

[Statements] I call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan who is sharing her ten minutes with Deputy Wallace.[Breathnach, Declan]

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[Statements] I am delighted to speak today after the European Council meeting. I spoke ten days ago before the council meeting. There can be no doubt but that Europe stands on the threshold of fundamental change. Many of the crises facing the EU are the products of its arrogance. That cannot be ...

Vol-926 Book-2 Page [582]

[Statements] The European Council will have an important discussion on Brexit, and I echo the statements made by Teachtaí McDonald and Cullinane. However, Brexit will not be the only issue discussed. Migration and defence matters are also on the agenda and I will focus on the issue of migration. ...

Vol-970 Book-8 Page [942]

[Statements] I first wish to speak about the Malta declaration, which is supposedly about capacity building, training and adequate reception capacity in Libya for migrants. In April, €20 million was added for the protection of migrants on top of the at least €120 million already provided. The real...

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[Statements] I thank the Minister of State for the work he has been doing, past and present, in his role.[Healy-Rae, Michael]

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[Statements] I congratulate the Minister of State on her new appointment. I again express my disappointment that the Taoiseach does not feel we are worth listening to. Perhaps we need to give him more reason to show some respect.
The EU tends to view the refugee crisis as a defence and security ...

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[Statements] They will be beaten, tortured and raped. These incidents have all been documented. Many of the people will be disappeared into the system and we do not know where they will go. Many will probably be killed and others will be sold as slaves at public auctions. This is what we are pus...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] They are caught in this no man's land between Syria, Israel and Palestine. If we are committed to defending human rights, there is a need to consider the people who are living there. As I said, we met them recently and heard about the situation on the ground for people there. Some 95...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] On a different subject, I want to touch on the role of the European Union, and in particular the European Commission, during the establishment of NAMA. When NAMA was originally set up in late 2009, it was in clear breach of the EU state aid rules, under Article 107 of the Treaty on the...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] I appreciate the Minister's work. With regard to the humanitarian crisis, I compliment the people working in our Naval Service. As Deputy Wallace rightly said, they are picking people from the water they should not be in. We should not have allowed the humanitarian crisis to get to w...

Vol-926 Book-2

[Statements] I am delighted to have a brief opportunity to contribute to the debate. The next meeting of the European Council will take place in Brussels tomorrow and Friday, where there will be discussions on migration, including reform of the Common European Asylum System, CEAS, the economy and m...

Vol-970 Book-8 Page [943]

[Statements] I am pleased to speak about this interesting meeting. I note from the report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament following the meeting that he is “obsessed by unity". This is interesting. He must be having a very anxious time of it when we recall the recent outcome of...

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[Statements] I wish to share time with Deputies Danny Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath.[Healy-Rae, Michael]

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[Statements] It is useful for us to be able to review the European Council discussions. It is useful to have a debate beforehand and afterwards. It is where so much of our key political discourse is taking place and it is appropriate for the House to spend time giving attention to it. This brings...

Vol-926 Book-2 Page [584]

[Statements] I am sharing time, by agreement.
I welcome the outcome of the European Council last week which discussed many of the key issues for the EU at the moment, such as migration, defence, external relations and, of most interest to us, Brexit. The special European Council on the Article 50...

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[Statements] Is that agreed? Agreed.[Breathnach, Declan]

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[Statements] At the outset, I wish the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, well. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, I wish to say on behalf of the committee that we look forward to engaging with her in the very near future. Like many in this room, I am as interested in the issu...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [506]

[Statements] It is what was not spoken about at the meeting that concerns me. As I said previously, the decrease in the value of sterling is seriously impacting on small businesses right around the country who are exporting to Britain and the North of Ireland. Such people are experiencing a reduct...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [507]

[Statements] I too am pleased to speak here today. I wished the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, well already.
In the remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meetings on 22 and 23 June 2017 he indicated that the leaders made three important decisions. The first was th...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [508]

[Statements] We cannot allow this terrible pressure of the Brexit negotiation. I appreciate the pressure the Government is under in this regard. The Government will be judged by this in the forthcoming general election, whenever it happens. It would be reprehensible to use the pressure of Brexit ...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] Alongside the Brexit negotiations, we must continue the work of the European Union in other areas. It is encouraging that the approach to the migration crisis is finally yielding results and delivering a lasting solution. This must remain a priority. It is one of the trickiest public...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] It is astonishing that European Council President Tusk has said, "As a matter of fact, Brexit took up very little time at this European Council." He said "as a matter of fact". He nearly told us not to worry about Brexit at all, that he was just trying to protect the EU. He went on t...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] It is interesting in some ways that the European Union is constantly, correctly in my mind, telling the United Kingdom that in any negotiation on Brexit the movement of goods and people cannot be separated. This issue is connected to trade because the fear is that the European Union ha...

Vol-926 Book-2

[Statements] I welcome the news from the Tánaiste today that the Government has given extra funding to the UNRWA for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. I understand Ireland will give €250,000. I am raising the issue because UNRWA has stated that it is experiencing its worst funding crisis of the...

Vol-970 Book-8 Page [945]

[Statements] The IFA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and all other farming bodies are concerned about our €2.5 billion beef deal with England. That is how much we depend on the British market. If we were to lose that, it would be disastrous for the whole of the country, espe...

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[Statements] The Deputy's time is up.[Breathnach, Declan]

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[Statements] There is provision for questions and answers.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] I thank everyone who contributed to this debate on what will be an important and wide-ranging meeting of the European Council over the next two days.
While Brexit is clearly the priority for Ireland, migration is a crucial issue for the Union as a whole, and it is likely to be a major...

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[Statements] Sure, you took up the whole time the other day.[Healy-Rae, Michael]

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[Statements] The Minister of State, in her new very important role, understands the Border counties as she is quite near them. We need action and we need to be treated as good Europeans, as we have always been, not lapdogs. We need respect now and support, not his kind of baloney where Tusk says t...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [509]

[Statements] I welcome the debate and the fact that we are allowed to have post and pre-summit debates, as in the case of the Bratislava and Brussels summits. The reform was introduced following the rejection of the Lisbon treaty.
A lot of the discussion in the House has centred on Brexit. I not...

Vol-926 Book-2 Page [586]

[Statements] It is unusual for Deputy Danny Healy-Rae to exceed his time.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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[Statements] The Deputy is way over time.[Breathnach, Declan]

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[Statements] I will deal with the issue of Russian intervention in Syria in my closing remarks, given that we are operating within time constraints.[Murphy, Dara]

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[Statements] While a specific reference to Ireland in the conclusions of the 20 October European Council meeting is welcome, it is with growing alarm that we note a complete absence of detail regarding what the new EU external frontier will look like post Brexit. I do not know how many more times w...

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [971]

[Statements] It was with interest that I noted the remarks of President Donald Tusk following the most recent European Council. He wanted to emphasise the point that Brexit had in fact taken up very little time at the Council. On the one hand, I am delighted that elements such as the Paris Agreeme...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [509]

[Statements] I want to make three points in response to the Taoiseach's report back from the European Council. I regret he is not here but I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. It is a real issue in terms of speaking arrangements that the Taoiseach is never in the Chamber for later cont...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [510]

[Statements] PESCO provides a mechanism through which crisis management capabilities can be developed by member states in support of Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, operations. Participation in PESCO in no way changes our policy of military neutrality, contrary to what some Members of thi...

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] Michel Barnier was not overly optimistic about the potential to avoid a hard border when he spoke to us in the Chamber earlier this year. Whether one accepts that there is potential to address the movement of people, he was bordering on the pessimistic in respect of the movement of goo...

Vol-960 Book-8

[Statements] Any rational assessment of Dublin that is done by the end of July will look at how it matches up to the competing cities. I am sorry to say we do not have the public transport and housing infrastructure in place. I hate to say this about my own city. This supports the case for such i...

Vol-9560 Book-1

[Statements] On that point I will answer the Deputy's other question by describing the sense I have of the position taken by our colleagues in other member states regarding the unique position that we have in Ireland. There are many areas where we and other member states have significant areas of co...

Vol-926 Book-2

[Statements] Sitting suspended at 4.02 p.m. and resumed at 5.02 p.m.

Vol-970 Book-8

[Statements] That concludes contributions. As per the Order of Business, there are now 20 minutes for questions and answers. We will start with Deputy Haughey. I ask Members to bear in mind that the Minister of State will have five minutes at the end.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [973]

[Statements] There are approximately 20 minutes left for questions and answers. The Minister of State will have five minutes to respond at the end. Deputies Haughey and Tóibín have indicated. In the interests of giving everyone an opportunity, I ask them to curtail their questions to the Minister...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [511]

[Statements] Perhaps the Minister of State could ask about a note I had asked of the Taoiseach on the migration crisis. I have asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade at various venues if he would come up with a note. I believe the Taoiseach was indicating that he might be able to supply ...

Vol-926 Book-2 Page [588]

[Statements] The Taoiseach met President Macron of France yesterday and it is reported that he agreed with the latter's proposal for democratic conventions on the future of Europe. I am not quite sure what that means, but the Taoiseach informed the House this afternoon that as Minister of State wit...

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [973]

[Statements] I congratulate Deputy McEntee on her appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. As a member of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, I look forward to working with her.
Obviously, the big issue of security and defence was discussed at the Euro...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [511]

[Statements] Sorry Deputy?[Murphy, Dara]

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[Statements] Last week, I asked the Minister of State and the Taoiseach about the human rights situation in Turkey. Both indicated that they would look at the matter, specifically the first hearing in the case of ten human rights defenders from Amnesty International, the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly...

Vol-960 Book-8 Page [973]

[Statements] I thank the Deputy for his question. It is absolutely the case that our neutrality will not come into question in this context. I think our long-standing policy of military neutrality is sufficiently safeguarded, particularly through the existing constitutional provisions, including t...

Vol-9560 Book-1 Page [512]

[Statements] The migration crisis. The asylum process is clearly broken in Ireland and other European countries. There is a problem in Italy, for example, around the system there. There is a handful of people coming from Greece but there are clearly problems there. I, and other Members, meet peo...

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[Statements] I know Deputy Tóibín is anxious to raise a few matters. If time permits, we will get around to a second round.[Breathnach, Declan]

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[Statements] Time Deputy.[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle]

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