Please, Deputy Lawless-----
Sentiment score: 0.32
Please-----
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An Teachta Lawless-----
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I am delighted to be able to speak in this debate. I wish the Minister of State the very best in his job. He will know my views from previous debates here when he was previously a Minister of State. It was interesting for me when I was sitting in the Chair for the last few minutes to listen to Deputies Lawless and Ward. We have to have a balanced debate. We have people in Ireland who think their voices are not being listened to and who believe the Government is not representing all of us. I am one of those people who wants to be able to ask questions about Europe's role, how it is behaving and about the EU spending on defence. Of course, that is necessary but we must cut our cloth according to measure. I honestly believe that while we are at the table and are an equal member in Europe, on this and many issues over the last number of years, including the Covid so-called pandemic which I do not believe it was, the EU dictated totally. There are huge questions to be asked about the whole situation regarding doctors here in Ireland who have concerns. They are genuine, qualified people - of course they are. There are thousands of people out there who have issues with our ongoing and strong efforts to be at the top of the class in Europe. That is the difference between me and Deputy Lawless. I know we cannot tell people to go and get whatever else - it is not a nice thing to say - but we need to be heard. We need to stall the horses a bit here. We are and have always been a neutral country but the triple lock is now under question. The Taoiseach has said that our neutrality is an outdated concept.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I do not believe it is and the Irish people will have to have a vote if we want to meddle with the triple lock. It was given as a sop. I am old enough to remember canvassing in favour of Nice I and Nice II. If it was today, I would not be canvassing in favour. Nice II was passed because of concessions, one of which was the triple lock. We need to have our voice heard in Europe and our concerns need to be listened to. More balance is needed, especially from our current Taoiseach and Tánaiste. For them, everything goes. We are top of the class and will do whatever Europe wants. We have seen that with many pieces of legislation as well. I may be straying from the European Council now, but I also recognise the European Court of Justice has given access to justice to people here when they could not get justice in Ireland. We have seen many cases like that, where the European Court of Justice gives people a hearing when they do not get a fair hearing at home. As regards the post-European Council and our issues there, we are in a very volatile time. What is going on in Gaza is incomprehensible. Words cannot even describe how people feel but we need to be careful. We need to be an cúramach ar fad. Hopefully, that will end soon. By God, it cannot end soon enough, the slaughter of children and everything else is horrific, but we need not to make too many enemies out there either. Why are other European countries, in spite of the horror they see, being so careful and prudent? Why are they not rushing out? I say this in the context of the clamour here for Senator Black's Bill and all of the emails we get about Gaza. We are the only people making these noises. We have to have a balanced and more nuanced view. We have to accept that we are a small island and while we are part of Europe and need to be an equal player, we do not have to be the best boys in the rang gach lá. Some days we can be the buachaill or cailín dána, assert ourselves and assert the hard-fought freedom we have here as an independent State. I also canvassed for accession to Europe in 1973. I am probably showing my age now but a lot of things have changed since then, with Ms Merkel and others. There are huge issues, and I am not even talking about immigration. There are huge issues with migration here. There is funding there to support it but I do not even know how we claim that funding, as a partner in Europe. We are entitled to it to pay towards the costs of migration. We cannot have completely open borders. We must be seen and heard at these meetings to be standing up for the voice of an independent, neutral country, not in a cosy cartel, trying to be the best boy in the class. We do not need to be the best buachaill in the class gach uair. That is difficult. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response to the debate. People in Ireland want more of a balance. They do not want us running headlong into every issue in Europe, trying to be at the front line and the centre of it. We need to have balance and we need to have respect for the electorate here in Ireland.
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I call Sinn Féin.
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The Deputy should be prudent. It depends on how many Members are offering but there are only two Deputies doing so at the moment.
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Is it not good to have it?
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An bhfuil aon cheist eile ag aon duine?
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Will an tAire Stáit answer the question? The Deputy can come back in afterwards.
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An bhfuil aon cheist eile ag an Teachta?
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Teachta, I hate to stop you, but this is not really relevant. I know you have to promote Kerry, but-----
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Brostaigh ort.
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Not in Kerry, though.
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Good try.
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Before I call on an Teachta Gibney, I want to issue a fíorfháilte to my guests from south Tipperary, who are in the Gallery.
Sentiment score: 0.08