Deputy Kenny should tell him that she does not have an army.

Sentiment score: 0.00

We got them this morning. It is all happening.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Regarding Sudan, it is not that Kaja Kallas made comments yesterday. It is that the foreign Ministers discussed the issue of Sudan yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council, and Kaja Kallas, as the high representative, spoke on behalf of all the governments. While it was discussed at the European Council recently, although not directly at the last one, it has been on the agenda of foreign Ministers on a regular basis. We share the Deputy’s concerns about Sudan, and there is no question about that. The Taoiseach has also expressed them. Regarding sanctions, today, we got Hungary and Slovakia to remove blocks on the 20th package of sanctions, and that hopefully will be enacted tomorrow. We will then work towards the 21st package of sanctions, and any extra entities or people that need to be included will be considered as part of that. We have achieved a huge amount by getting through 20 packages of sanctions, including significant sanctions on the Russian economy. That work will continue.

Sentiment score: 0.08

The digital omnibus is something the Government supports. What members of the European Parliament do is a matter for them. Just because they might not support an initial proposal does not mean they will not try to amend it and agree to it at the end. We will leave the European parliamentarians to do that job. They do an excellent job. That is one side of the democratic process, and the governments are on the other side of the democratic process in the European Union in terms of enacting this legislation. We have a very good crop of active MEPs on all of these files at the moment, and they are available to talk to anybody. They engage with us, but they engage with constituents as well. On the EU-Israel Association Agreement, this is not a decision for Ireland. Ireland made its decision in the sense that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, went to Luxembourg with some other member states to achieve a suspension of this. However, it requires other member states to agree to this, and clearly that agreement was not-----

Sentiment score: 0.34

What we are doing was announced by the Minister yesterday. We were pushing to have this agreement suspended, but it was not possible to reach an agreement. With regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Council of Europe, that matter is a separate from the European Council. We are strong supporters and strong activists in the Council of Europe, as a government. I am meeting the General Secretary, Mr. Berset, this week. We will continue to support the Council of Europe and all of its work. In relation to any declarations or policy positions that may be made by member states, that has been discussed by the member states. I reject the earlier comments. I know the Deputy did not say this directly, but the implication given was that, somehow, we want to torture migrants. That is not the case. What is the case is that we want to make sure we have control of our borders, as member states of the Council of Europe. That is a reasonable position for governments to take. We want a firm migration policy, one that is fair to migrants and is human rights-based, but also fair to the citizens of Ireland.

Sentiment score: 0.14

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Hungary. A new government has been elected, but it has not actually been appointed by the parliament yet. The party has been elected with a massive vote, but even before that, the outgoing government this morning dropped the veto on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine, and dropped the veto together with Slovakia on the 20th sanctions package. We very much welcome this. The approach that we will have to Hungary is, frankly, one that gives value to the votes of the people of Hungary. It is not that we like all of the policies of the Tisza party or anything like that. However, what the Tisza party stands for is the rule of law, liberal democracy and fundamental values. We can have a political debate within that, left and right, but essentially, what they are standing up for is a free media. It is quite shocking that Mr. Magyar was never on television during the campaign. He did not appear on radio until after he was elected. Frankly, I think a lot of the civil servants, diplomats and media are quite relieved that pressure is off them. They did not fully buy into the Orbán system, but it was forced upon them. From an Irish point of view, we will have a generous approach because a successful Hungary benefits us, and it is a country that should be successful. Irish businesses can benefit from a successful economy in Hungary because we are such an exporting country. Why do we support Ukraine? We support Ukraine for two broad reasons. One is that it is the morally and legally correct thing to do. They were invaded by Russia and they are standing up for their rights, and I think the Irish people saw that very clearly. It is also the economically correct thing to do for us. The threat from Russia, which we have seen actioned in Ukraine, is also a threat to other countries in that region on the eastern flank of the European Union. If anything were to happen to those countries, we would see a really serious economic shock here, and there is no question about that. We also see Russia very active in the information space and the hybrid warfare space, messing around in terms of what it might do with drones to transport links and various interconnectors, whether of information or energy. It is essential that we continue to support Ukraine. While we have been generous with regard to Ukraine, the idea that somehow we are making choices between the Irish people and the people of Ukraine, as a government here, is completely wrong. The narrative that Deputy Nolan put forward in this regard is shameful. She also spoke about the Mercosur agreement. We have accepted that there are issues for beef farmers. That was said all along, and that is why the Government voted against it. The Deputy should also recognise that there are farmers in her constituency in Offaly who supply Tullamore Dew, one of the most important whiskey brands we have. That product is seriously enhanced and protected by the Mercosur agreement, and the Government has acknowledged that. There is a balance that we have taken to oppose it, but it is not totally negative, as she seeks to point out. I compliment Barry Cowen MEP who has been very balanced in his approach and recognises the benefits to the whiskey industry in his county, while also recognising the difficulties for farmers. With regard to the Common Agricultural Policy, which was also raised by Deputy Byrne, it is our strong policy to protect the policy and to have it strong, separate, robust and suitable for farmers. Again, we can come into the Dáil to talk and, as the Opposition has done, to castigate the Government. Recently, the former Deputy, Barry Cowen MEP, and a number of other MEPs came to Mullingar to discuss the negotiations on the CAP and it was a very instructive meeting. My officials in Brussels are available to any MEP who wants to talk about CAP and the negotiations we are in, and I will continue to keep Members informed. Our policy here is to ensure there is a robust CAP that protects rural Ireland and serves the fundamental purposes of the CAP, which is to keep farmers on the land and keep the food supply coming to Europe.

Sentiment score: 0.23

The issue with regard to the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council on the EU-Israel association agreement is as I said it was, namely, that the Irish Government has engaged with member states to try to bring forward a proposal which is sitting there but needs to be supported by a sufficient number of member states. However, we are not able to do that. That is a fact. I would encourage - we are doing this and we encourage everyone else to do it - is engagement with other member states to see why they do not agree with us. They have other reasons for this. I also reject utterly any suggestions that somehow this Government or politicians in this Government are connected to or complicit, or whatever the phraseology is that the protesters and the Deputy's colleagues in political life use about complicity in genocide. I totally reject that. We have always stood firm on the side of democracy and human rights. To start throwing those allegations around the House is completely wrong. Any sanctions packages we have ever done we have done in recent times at a European level because that is where trade policy is. It is also where one has the most impact. No sanctions have ever been done where the damage to us would be greater than the harm we are seeking to impose to change ways. If he is setting out a policy, as the Deputy is, he has to set out for the people the economic consequences in Ireland of his various proposals.

Sentiment score: -0.06

Is this on the Mercosur agreement?

Sentiment score: 0.49

The case has been brought by the European Parliament against the Commission. The practice, and this is a decision for the Commission and the member states which supported it, is to implement the trade provisions of the Mercosur agreement, whenever that happens in the coming period of time, notwithstanding the fact that we voted against it. There are measures to protect farmers, particularly beef farmers in the case of price shocks-----

Sentiment score: 0.35

The case is between the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Sentiment score: 0.00

There is a very exciting agenda ahead of us during our Presidency on what is called the one market approach. I have a copy of it here that was given to member states last night. There is a list of items there. At the last count - it may have changed overnight - there were 42 items in that to help bring the Single Market to reality and to give us greater economic prospects. Some 17 of those were slated to be organised, done or agreed during our Presidency. We will wait and see what the leaders agree. It is a big challenge for us, the European Parliament and everybody to bring these measures in in the timeframe proposed. At the same time, if we were to do so, we would have a transformed economy that would be much more resilient to economic shocks. It would enable greater opportunities for the Deputy's constituents and all of our constituents to prosper and for the Single Market to be brought to a reality. We would be able to trade and buy products and services from across the European Union in a way that we are not at the moment. There is a huge opportunity now and I am happy to update the Dáil as this goes along. There is also a lot of work going to take place in Brussels between the governments and in the European Parliament, where our MEPs will be working hard on lots of files but especially these ones over the next few months. We will engage with MEPs as well to try to make sure we get this agenda across. The Taoiseach said that this is going to be a Presidency defined by action and I think this agenda gives us plenty of action to carry out, which will result in serious and solid benefits for consumers and citizens right across the Union.

Sentiment score: 0.30

People complain sometimes about EU rules and ask why the EU has rules on certain issues that maybe do not suit us in particular moments. The reality is those rules enable the Single Market to operate. They should be there to enable us to operate on a level playing field. The Taoiseach has already-----

Sentiment score: 0.02

I agree, and I am not saying the Deputy is wrong. I am just setting that out as an objective. We all ask why the EU is looking for this. It is always important to remember that the Single Market is there and the rules are there to facilitate the Single Market to give us as equal a shout as the Germans, French or whoever. That makes it all better for everybody. The Taoiseach said he wrote to Ursula von der Leyen on some of the issues the Deputy mentioned in regard to looking for an understanding and flexibility in regard to proportionate temporary national measures designed to address the immediate consequences of the current fuel market disruption, while preserving our shared long-term decarbonisation goals. The Taoiseach has done that and we will continue to do that. I have absolutely no doubt that when all the leaders arrive in Cyprus, as they will this weekend, that what is being said in this Parliament is the same as what is being said in their parliaments and every parliament in Europe, particularly on energy costs, and it will be ringing in their ears. I have no doubt they will continue to put pressure on the European Commission to come up with solutions that can be used, adapted or adopted by member states in their own particular circumstances.

Sentiment score: -0.03

I fully agree. Orbán basically wrecked the economy. It shows that the link between adherence to the rule of law and democratic values and a free media is essential for economic growth. We did not get involved in the election. We did not tell the Hungarian people how to vote. We were very careful about that, even though the temptation was very strong. Over many years, the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, and I and various Ministers who have been in government have been very strong in calling out what the Hungarians are doing. That included negotiating the conditionality regulation and working at my Council on rule-of-law issues and holding Hungary to account for some of the things its government had done, which were opposed to the foundational values of the European Union. All of that had resulted in over €17 billion of funds being withheld from Hungary. I met Hungarian politicians from the cities, which would not be as Orbánist as the rural areas, and they were crying out for the money. They really felt their areas were losing out big time because of this and their economy was losing out. We had to take a hard line, though. The Hungarian people have reacted. They realised that Orbán had taken them to a place where they should not really have been. I say again that Péter Magyar was not allowed on the television, which is incredible. I met Mr. Magyar in Munich at the security conference a couple of months ago. I had a brief conversation with him and wished him the best of luck but I did not encourage anyone to vote for him. He did that himself. Looking back at how he did his campaign over a year and a half, it is an incredible example of coming from almost nothing to getting two thirds of the vote by sheer persistence. I discussed this with the Taoiseach before I spoke today. Our view is we should be generous to the Hungarian people. We should give them the value for the vote they have taken and work with them very quickly. It will be a task for our EU Presidency to unlock those funds. Obviously, there has to be some conditionality attached to that to make sure Hungary reverses some of what has happened. There is a generosity required and Ireland will benefit because Hungarian people will be spending money and seeking products and services, many of which will come from Ireland, if we are honest about it. This will benefit us too.

Sentiment score: 0.17

I would be happy to get an answer for the Deputy but as the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, I just do not have sight of documents about Cuba. I will get my officials to come back to him directly on that point.

Sentiment score: 0.16

As I recall, there was nothing at the last European Council meeting but that would be a matter for a more international level.

Sentiment score: 0.04

That is the point. I will get the Minister to come back to the Deputy.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gcuid ráiteas agus ceisteanna. Tapóidh mé an deis seo le labhairt go gairid faoi mhíreanna eile ar chlár gnó Chomhairle Eorpach Mhí an Mhárta, lena n-airítear slándáil agus cosaint na hEorpa, imirce, cruinniú mullaigh an euro, sciath don daonlathas agus cosaint leanaí ar líne. Tháinig ceannairí le chéile i gcruinniú mullaigh an euro chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar chúrsaí eacnamaíocha agus airgeadais reatha agus tionchar na coinbhleachta leanúnaí sa Mheánoirthear agus i Murascaill na Peirse á chur san áireamh. I measc daoine eile, chuir Uachtarán an Bhainc Ceannais Eorpaigh, Christine Lagarde, agus uachtarán an ghrúpa euro, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, leis an bplé. Ina ráiteas, chuir Kyriakos Pierrakakis béim láidir ar an ngá atá le comhoibriú idirnáisiúnta ollmhór chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an éagothroime eacnamaíoch agus ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an obair leanúnach a dhéantar chun ról idirnáisiúnta an euro a neartú agus an t-aontas coigiltis agus infheistíochta a chur chun cinn. Tharraing Kyriakos Pierrakakis aird ar iarrachtaí an ghrúpa euro chun córas airgeadais na hEorpa a ullmhú don ré dhigiteach, ar a ról comhordaithe chun inbhuanaitheacht fhioscach a chinntiú agus an grúpa ag tacú le tosaíochtaí straitéiseacha agus ar a obair lárnach chun iomaíochas agus acmhainneacht a neartú. D'iarr ceannairí ar an ngrúpa euro monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar fhorbairtí eacnamaíocha agus rioscaí maidir le hinbhuanaitheacht airgeadais agus cur leis an díospóireacht faoin éagothroime ar fud an domhain. Chuir lucht an chruinnithe mullaigh fáilte roimh ghlacadh rathúil an euro sa Bhulgáir ón 1 Eanáir 2026 i leith chomh maith. Tá an tAontas Eorpach ag gníomhú le níos mó cinnteachta, uaillmhéine agus luais chun dul i ngleic leis na bagairtí atá romhainn go léir, rud a bhí le feiceáil go soiléir le linn na sraithe cibirionsaithe agus ionsaithe hibrideacha a rinneadh le déanaí, chomh maith le hionraí naimhdeacha in aerspás de chuid bhallstáit an Aontais. Ag Comhairle Eorpach Mhí an Mhárta, lean ceannairí ar aghaidh lena ndíospóireachtaí faoi ullmhacht na hEorpa ó thaobh cosanta de. Chuir siad fáilte mhór roimh an moladh leagan nua de straitéis slándála na hEorpa a fhorbairt agus d'áitigh siad gur cheart go mbeadh na Ballstáit féin i gceannas ar an bpróiseas. Chun freagairt éifeachtach a thabhairt ar an iliomad bagairtí atá romhainn go léir mar phobal, ní mór cur chuige ilghnéitheach agus caolchúiseach a chur i bhfeidhm ag an leibhéal náisiúnta agus ag leibhéal an Aontais. Glacfaidh Éire le cur chuige fiúntach agus dearfach i leith fhorbairt na straitéise nuaí. Ní mór go mbeadh Éire páirteach sa phróiseas seo toisc gur cuid den Aontas Eorpach sinn, go gcuireann na bagairtí atá romhainn ár modh maireachtála i mbaol agus go bhfuil an straitéis fite fuaite inár leas náisiúnta féin. Is ábhar mór imní é an méadú leanúnach ar scála na gníomhaíochta hibridí a dhéantar i gcoinne an Aontais. Táimid ag plé, ar bhealach gníomhach agus tairbheach, le forbairt beartas an Aontais Eorpaigh arb é is aidhm leo troid i gcoinne bagairtí hibrideacha agus ár seasmhacht ina gcoinne a neartú. Áirítear leis sin cosaint na gcáblaí fomhuirí agus cosaint bonneagair eile atá ríthábhachtach d'fheidhmiú ár ngeilleagar. Mar gheall ar a cuid feachtas hibrideach gan stad, is baol mór an Rúis maidir le seasmhacht, daonlathas agus comhtháthú sóisialta ar fud na hEorpa agus níos faide i gcéin. Maidir leis an daonlathas, phléigh ceannairí an tábhacht a bhaineann le hathléimneacht dhaonlathach a neartú i gcomhthéacs an mhéadaithe ar bhagairtí ar shláine an daonlathais ar fud an Aontais. Táimid ar son dualgas níos láidre a chur ar ardáin ar líne ionas go mbeidís freagrach sa chomhrá in aghaidh bréagaisnéise agus ábhar mídhleathach. Léiríonn sin tiomantas na hÉireann dá chinntiú go gcuirtear an Gníomh um Sheirbhísí Digiteacha i bhfeidhm go héifeachtach agus go gcoinnítear creat rialála digiteach an Aontais ar bun. Leis an nGníomh um Sheirbhísí Digiteacha, ceanglaítear ar ardáin ar líne modhnóireacht a dhéanamh ar ábhar digiteach san Aontas agus an riosca a mhaolú go mbeadh ábhar mídhleathach ar a n-ardáin. Is príomhuirlis é chun tacú le seasmhacht dhaonlathas an Aontais Eorpaigh. Maidir le himirce, labhróidh mé faoin mhachnamh atá ar bun i réimse na himirce chomh maith. Labhróidh freisin faoi chosaint leanaí ar líne agus an plé a bhí déanta ina leith. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked me about children being stolen from Ukraine and brought to Russia. That was discussed at the European Council as well. I want to put on the record that it was something that was important to us. I am grateful for all of the contributions Members have made in the debate today. I can leave the full script because I did not get through it all.

Sentiment score: -0.05