1. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [46519/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

I strongly welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to the implementation of CETA and to the growth of our trade relations with Canada. However, I want to raise EU competitiveness. It is over a year since the publication of the Draghi report yet the European Policy Innovation Council, the Brussels-based think-tank states that only 11% of the recommendations are on the road to implementation. We are seriously falling behind in Europe in terms of competitiveness. One of the areas is network resilience and our digital infrastructure. We are shortly to publish the new national digital and AI strategy. The Taoiseach might give us an update on that. As part of Ireland's competitiveness strategy, will the Taoiseach ensure we will have the necessary digital infrastructure to be able to compete in this century?

Sentiment score: 0.17

13. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [46520/25]

Sentiment score: 0.00

We are seeing an expanding war in Europe now and Russia’s campaign of aggression against Ukraine but also others. We are seeing horrific things. Up to an estimated 20,000 children have now been abducted from Ukraine and taken into Russian territory. We also know about the hybrid and cyber attacks from Russia on member states of the European Union and, indeed, other European countries. We have seen drone attacks and violations of airspace in recent months on Poland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Those counties know that combat aircraft have had to be scrambled. We know Russian vessels are in Irish waters yet, while I have sought it since we resumed after the summer, we have not had a debate in this House around the escalating war in Europe. I welcome from Pat Leahy’s insightful reporting in The Irish Times yesterday about Ireland preparing for potential drone attacks during the EU Presidency. We need assurances. When every other parliament in Europe is debating the fact that there is an increased risk of war, we are not debating it in this House.

Sentiment score: -0.40