I welcome and commend the fact that Ireland was one of the voices in recent days to put forward the suspension of the EU-Israel Association agreement. It is insane that that has not happened to date. Europe is operating with hypocrisy in sanctioning Russia but not Israel. I remind the House that the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement does not involve sanctions. Rather, it is the revocation of a privilege. Israel enjoys a preferential status in trading with Europe and to suspend the agreement is not to apply sanctions, which is what we need to do. Our first step towards the application of sanctions is dropping the preferential treatment we currently provide to Israel. What will the Government continue to do in this regard? As I said, I welcome that we were one of the countries pushing for this. How will we keep it on the agenda and make sure that the EU-Israel association agreement, in line with its human rights commitments, is fully suspended? I want to talk about the digital omnibus, which I have raised on previous occasions. In the Taoiseach's contribution at the outset of this debate, we heard a lot about the competitive elements of AI and the enterprise and innovation space, all of which is welcome. I acknowledge that there is a place in a simplification agenda for small businesses, in particular, to address the duplications in different directives that require them to meet compliance standards in multiple ways. I get that. However, what nobody in the Government ranks seems to want to admit is that the simplification agenda has been hijacked by big tech to push for deregulation. The Taoiseach used those words in his contribution. He said the work will reduce administrative burdens for business. It is deregulation under the guise of simplification and harmonisation. One thing that was lacking in the Taoiseach's speech was any reference to rights and protections. Normally, he at least pays lip service to the issue but there is nothing in his contribution about the fact that while we allow businesses to flourish and create systems and ecosystems for businesses to use technology to advance business and enterprise in Europe, we must also protect the rights and protections enjoyed by citizens and consumers in the European Union. That is, essentially, what the European Union is most proud of. I would like to understand this, in particular in light of the security risks and privacy concerns around the European digital identity wallet. What assurances can the Minister of State provide that any digital omnibus package will address those vulnerabilities, rather than accelerate their adoption without the adequate protections that citizens require? I want to speak to something else the Taoiseach failed to mention. I will read out the direct quote from the conclusion of the Council meeting: On the basis of the lessons learned from the 2015 migration crisis and to avoid a similar situation, the EU is ready to fully mobilise its diplomatic, legal, operational and financial tools to prevent uncontrolled migratory movements to the EU and preserve security in Europe. Based on those conclusions surrounding migration at the EU Council, why has the Government committed to the Chișinãu process? What is the precise reason? How can the Government reconcile that with our previously outspoken record on human rights, particularly in areas like the Middle East and Ukraine? We are putting ourselves forward for membership of the UN Human Rights Council in the second half of next year. We consider ourselves as a State to punch above our weight when it comes to human rights diplomacy. What this is doing and what the Irish Government has committed to do in undermining the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, is launch a full-frontal assault on human rights. We all notice that it is not called the “European convention on human – unless you are a migrant – rights”. That is essentially what this is trying to do. It is trying to say that we want the ECHR and that we have created this framework above member states within the European Union to which we are all accountable. Indeed, it is across the Council of Europe and allows us to ensure member states build their economies and societies within a human rights framework. The word “human” is sacrosanct in this regard, however. Everyone gets to enjoy those rights. To carve out a little bit around immigration so that we can essentially drop our standards for inhuman and degrading treatment and torture when it comes to those individuals is a precedent that I am not willing to tolerate and one everyone in this House should be enraged at. If we start coming after migrants, we are going to see various other groups in society targeted quite quickly after that. It is not okay and I seek assurances from the Government, particularly as we approach the EU Presidency, as we are looking to take a seat at the UN Human Rights Council and in a time of increased global conflict, that the Government will commit to the ECHR and remove any suggestion to follow the Chișinãu process.

Sentiment score: 0.13

Earlier, I referenced three topics: the digital omnibus, the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ECHR. I welcome Ireland’s moves on the EU-Israel Association Agreement but I want to know what more is going to be done. How are we going to keep the pressure on to suspend the agreement and bring Europe's response to the Israeli genocide into line with our actions against Russia? Second, I wish to ask about the digital omnibus. Last week, in error, I referenced the Fianna Fáil grouping as the EPP. I apologise for that. I sometimes get mixed up between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael; who would have thought it? I would be curious to know about the Renew Europe grouping. When I first spoke to the Minister of State’s Renew grouping colleague, Michael McNamara MEP in Brussels about this, he said there was more of a split in the Renew grouping. I want to know what Fianna Fáil's position is on the digital omnibus specifically and whether it is supporting the digital omnibus. Within that, there is a move back towards self-regulation by the tech sector, and the removal of the high-risk systems we are all seeking in relation to tech regulation, particularly in light of the European digital identity wallet. Finally, and crucially, I want to understand Ireland’s position on the ECHR and why, after criticising the UK for attacking the ECHR, we have followed in its footsteps and chosen to commit to the Chisinau process. Why and for what reason? How can we square that with our own human rights record and our ambition to be on the UN Human Rights Council?

Sentiment score: 0.13

I am asking what we are doing.

Sentiment score: 0.00