Yes. I have already brought up this particular issue. The Tánaiste is going to be dealing with the issue of services until we see delivery. The timeline is vital. I agree with Deputy Murphy. The Tánaiste has to elaborate to some degree on what the legal issues are. It cannot be beyond us to find a solution in order that we can deliver the occupied territories Bill as soon as possible and before we see the absolute end of the Palestinian people. Mahmoud Nawaja, when he was here, spoke about the need to see a tipping point. That tipping point is only going to be reached when states like Ireland take action and, as the Tánaiste said, we see action further afield that makes Israel feel like the pariah state it is as it carries out this genocide. Is the State looking at any means by which the Central Bank would not facilitate the sale of these war or genocide bonds?
Sentiment score: 0.16
In the West Bank, people face regular slaughter and what is modern-day colonisation and land grabbing. In Gaza, the Palestinians are facing wipeout. Time is not on our side. Legal minds' belief that it is possible to include services is already in the public domain, whatever the Tánaiste's conversations are going to be with the Attorney General. Those conversations would need to be positive but they need to happen as soon as possible because we need to have this done. I agree with what Deputy Connolly has said. Whatever about the fact that we have an insufficient amount of divestment from firms that are involved in Israel and the occupied territories, it is not in any way acceptable that we would be investing in these war bonds. Have we looked at any means by which the Central Bank would not facilitate the sale war bonds that are facilitating genocide? I know the arguments that have been made but infringement proceedings from the EU are not a good enough reason.
Sentiment score: -0.11
I ask the Tánaiste to outline his engagements and position regarding the Mercosur trade agreement. We know the issues that exist for Irish farmers in this regard. They are afraid of 100,000 tonnes of South American beef entering the EU at the expense of deforestation. That means our farmers will need to do more while receiving less from the CAP. We are talking about this in the context of the Irish Government's failure to deliver a workable forestry framework. I attended a meeting with the IFA recently. Its representatives had been in Brussels and spoke about the feeling they had, no more than when we got the briefing last week from the Commission, that this was a done deal. They believe they are being sold out because they are being told they will have to accept this if they want anything on the derogation, which is obviously unacceptable.
Sentiment score: -0.02
The Tánaiste is well aware of the fears in rural Ireland and particularly among farmers. I was worried when we had that briefing in the AV room where it was stated that, to a degree, all deals were done. It is unacceptable if this is a take it or leave it-type scenario, which is the way it was proposed. I ask for detail on the engagements that are happening. What are the engagements with the European Commission at this time? What are we looking at? We all know the issues, which have already been stated, around South American beef. We all understand that, to a degree, what is being done here is a deal to facilitate the sale of German cars and other goods. While that is obviously going to be part of any trade deal, we cannot be the whipping boy and Irish farming cannot suffer on that basis. We also know that there will be issues in terms of food security into the future. We are always talking in this House about the sustainability of family farms. We have worries about the maintenance of the derogation. Some farmers have been impacted by the loss of the previous nitrates directive derogation. What is the Government's plan in terms of engagement with other like-minded countries? What are its plans for what can be done? What has the engagement with the Commission been like? The Minister mentioned that there had been a meeting on 10 April with other EU countries that opposed Mercosur that Ireland did not attend but he said that there had been a significant amount of engagement. What are the plans coming out of that engagement? What has the engagement with the Commission been like and, more importantly, what answers have been given by the Commission?
Sentiment score: 0.13
The Tánaiste has indicated that we will have some element of clarification by the end of quarter 2 as to what the agreement looks like but we still do not have clarity as to how agreement is to be determined. The Tánaiste is promising the State will be resolute in the sense of what we understand this agreement to be. Mercosur is utterly unacceptable and I cannot see how there will be any movement in that respect. I assume, on the basis of what the Tánaiste said, that the European Commission has not offered, by way of this clarification, that there can be real wins from our point of view. Beyond that, it is a case of maintaining a relationship with those member states that have similar positions and ensuring we look after Irish farming and opposing any agreement that would be detrimental to it. At this point, we have a promise from the Tánaiste and the Government in that regard. The Tánaiste made reference to CETA. Most of the parts of that trade agreement are in operation. Our big fear is the investor court system and the chilling impact it has had across the board.
Sentiment score: 0.34
243. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on his recent engagement with the family of a person (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27220/25]
Sentiment score: 0.16
Up to 25 people, including British state agents, could be linked to this murder. We know that surveillance was lifted for agents under surveillance. We know there are a significant number of issues regarding absolute collusion. I agree with what was said earlier. This was British state policy in Ireland. It was a matter of taking out Irish citizens. We commend the family of Sean Brown, Bellaghy GAA and the wider GAA. The Tánaiste is talking about supporting a full public inquiry as directed by the British courts. When the Taoiseach spoke about this previously, he conflated it to some degree with repealing the British Government's action with regard to the Legacy Act. This would not be sufficient for the family and a number of us in here. I welcome what the Tánaiste said so could I get some reiteration regarding that? How will we put pressure on the British Government regarding delivering for Sean Brown and his family, who have been failed over many years?
Sentiment score: 0.05